The Golden Age of Basketball

Chapter 688 Underfoot
There is a story about Napoleon Bonaparte selecting generals that I like to share with others.

It is said that after the death of his best general, Napoleon sent one of his aides to find a successor to the general's position.

A few weeks later, the aide-de-camp returned and described a perfect candidate to succeed the deceased general, a man with extensive military knowledge and excellent management skills.

After the aide-de-camp finished speaking, Napoleon looked at him and said, "That sounds very good, but is he lucky?"

Before I achieved real success, Tex Winter would often comfort me by saying, "You just need a bit of luck."

It sounds a bit hurtful, and sometimes I comfort myself with that thought: I just lack some luck.

There are many situations in basketball that are beyond your control, which is why you should focus most of your energy on what you can control.

You can't prevent players from getting injured or other bad things from happening to the team, but in fact, we didn't encounter such bad things in our experience with the Bulls.

I think our real bad luck is that someone always gets there first, climbs higher, and goes further.

I've always believed that there's another kind of faith that's more important than luck—a faith where we all understand and share with each other on the same intellectual level, transcending the kind based on emotion.

That's why I had the players sit together quietly. Sitting together quietly, undisturbed by the outside world, allows for a deeper connection between them.

As Friedrich Nietzsche said, "The unseen threads are the strongest bonds."

Throughout my career, I have witnessed the birth of such bonds several times.

These fine lines, like a spider web, are densely interwoven among the players, uniting them and creating a strong sense of brotherhood that generates immense power, sweeping away all fear of defeat.

However, there is one exception: the Portland Trail Blazers.

They also have strings, but not spider webs; they are marionettes.

A gigantic figure stood behind everyone, connecting each person with thin threads.

This is a horrifying image, and it's one of the reasons why I've always disliked Bobby Bellman.

However, I must admit that he was much luckier than me.

—Excerpt from Phil Jackson's autobiography, *Christ, Hippies, Indians, Zen, and Basketball*, published in 2014.

In June 1992, the U.S. government released an economic report showing that the national unemployment rate had reached 7.8% in 1992, a peak in nearly 10 years.

The last time the United States reached such a high unemployment rate was in March 1984, when Reagan was seeking a second term as president and Gan Guoyang was vying for his NCAA championship.

Economic cycles rise and fall like waves. After the boom of the Reagan era in the 80s, the United States experienced a recession in the early 90s, and the society needed new growth points.

The poor economic environment resulted in less than ideal poll numbers for George W. Bush. Although many major events that changed the world order occurred during his term, when choosing a president, people were more concerned with their own interests than with distant Iraq and the Soviet Union, which had always been regarded as an enemy.

Meanwhile, across the ocean in China, as the market economy struggled to take off, the leader made an inspection tour to the south and delivered important speeches in various places.

The timing of the inspection was clever, coinciding with the Portland Trail Blazers' strong run in the playoffs, and the leaders frequently cited the basketball hero's example in their speeches.

Gan Guoyang led the Trail Blazers to the finals, making it to the top stage for the third consecutive year and aiming for his second three-peat.

After the Western Conference Finals, Gan Guoyang publicly stated at a press conference that he would represent the Chinese men's basketball team at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics and win glory for the country.

On the same day, the leader delivered a speech in Shenzhen, saying, "Science and technology are the primary productive forces. To achieve faster economic development, we must rely on science and technology and education. Basketball is a good example. A remarkable athlete proved with his achievements that, with scientific and reasonable training, Chinese people can achieve extraordinary success. We are still lagging behind in many aspects, and we must catch up quickly."

"The purpose of development is to unleash productive forces, allowing some people to get rich first, and then the rich to help the poor get rich, so as to achieve common prosperity. Just like advanced basketball skills can drive the level of basketball in the later stages, eventually reaching a high level."

In this important speech, Gan Guoyang was mentioned twice as an example, which shows his status in Chinese sports. He is an unattainable benchmark and a figure destined to be written into history.

Meanwhile, in the East, the Chicago Bulls defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 4-2, advancing to the NBA Finals for the second consecutive year and setting up another showdown with the Portland Trail Blazers.

The Cavaliers once again became the backdrop for the Bulls and Jordan.

The NBA Finals, which fans across the country had been eagerly anticipating all season, arrived as scheduled. Although there were some twists and turns along the way, the outcome was generally without suspense, with the Bulls and Trail Blazers being unbeatable in their respective conferences.

Before the match, the topic of Gan vs. Joe was hyped up to the skies, with almost every TV program discussing it, making it even more exciting than in 1991.

It also included the topic of a possible meeting between the US Olympic men's basketball team and the Chinese men's basketball team, as well as the rivalry between the United States and China—the relationship between the two countries began to change after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1992.

A significant number of American fans still support Forrest Gump. From 1982 to 1992, over a period of 10 years, this guy is a part of many people's basketball memories.

If not specifically emphasized, some people wouldn't even think Forrest Gump was a foreigner until he explicitly stated after the Western Conference Finals that he wanted to represent China in the Olympics. Only then did everyone realize: Forrest Gump is Chinese, not American.

This garnered Jordan more support. He was American, would represent the United States in the Olympics, and, more importantly, people wanted him to win a championship.

"Sonny already has five championships. I think it would be more balanced to give Jordan one, and that would be a true comparison of their abilities. We want Jordan vs. Forrest Gump, Magic vs. Bird, or even Russell vs. Chamberlain. Chamberlain defeated Russell in 1967 to win the championship. In short, I think it's time. Michael deserves a championship."

Similar comments have appeared frequently in well-known magazines and media outlets such as Sports Illustrated, The Sporting News, and The Sidelines.

Television programs such as "Insider" and "Sports Center" conducted numerous interviews with the Trail Blazers and Bulls to build momentum for the 1992 NBA Finals.

NBC interviewed Gan Guoyang and his wife before the game.

Gan Guoyang was asked many questions as always, but this year's questions sounded more pointed than in the past.

"Would you still resort to violence during the finals?"

Gan Guoyang's fighting record in the finals is unmatched, but this question is clearly malicious.

"Whether I take action always depends on how my opponent plays. You should ask the Bulls players. Last year's Finals proved that our games were highly competitive but very clean, and I had no need to take action."

Gan Guoyang responded well, emphasizing that he took action because his opponent acted recklessly. In fact, both times he got into a fight, it was against the Pistons. There were no conflicts when he played against the Celtics, Bullets, and Bulls.

"Why haven't you become a U.S. citizen? You could easily become an American citizen, which would bring you many more advantages."

This question was equally sharp and rude, testing Gan Guoyang's ability to answer questions.

"The United States already has many high-level basketball players like me. Adding one more player like me won't fundamentally improve the level of American basketball; the US national team will still be number one in the world. But by staying in China, I can help raise the level of Chinese basketball, and the level of basketball as a whole in the world. So, keeping my Chinese citizenship and representing China in the Olympics is more meaningful for the development of basketball."

Gan Guoyang skillfully avoided the pitfalls of race, culture, and politics, focusing firmly on basketball and resolving this difficult situation.

Besides Gan Guoyang, Wang Fuxi also gave an interview. Compared with Gan Guoyang, she was more gentle, confident, and humorous, leaving a very good impression on the audience.

But after the interview, Wang Fuxi lost her temper and argued with the production team because she felt that the interviewers were deliberately making things difficult for Agan and asking a lot of sharp and rude questions.

"Luckily, my husband handled it reasonably. If he had said one wrong word, you know what the consequences would have been. Is this what you wanted to see?!"

Afterwards, Wang Fuxi decided to put pressure on NBC and the NBA through advertising sponsors such as AVIA, urging them not to be so harsh.

Gan Guoyang, in turn, comforted Wang Fuxi, telling her to calm down, "My answers are impeccable, and they can't influence me through one or two interviews."

"Besides, these media outlets are getting more and more outrageous and unscrupulous these days. Do you remember Michael's live performance last Saturday? That was the worst live stand-up comedy show I've ever seen. That idiot wasn't used to that kind of setting."

While comforting his wife, Gan Guoyang couldn't resist mocking Jordan, saying that the young Jordan's performance on the show was a disaster.

Of course, Jordan's performance on the basketball court was by no means a disaster; his overall performance in this year's playoffs surpassed Forrest Gump's.

Against the Cavaliers, Jordan once again consistently averaged 31 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2.5 steals, displaying impeccable performance on both offense and defense.

It's no wonder everyone hopes the Bulls can win the championship this year. Jordan has worked hard and performed for eight years, and emotionally, the audience really hopes he can realize his dream.

Just like in 1990, when everyone was looking forward to Gan Guoyang and the Portland Trail Blazers' triumphant return, the fans' emotions change every season.

The media keenly sensed the shift in the audience's emotions and then hoped to portray Gan Guoyang as a major villain through interviews, press releases, and television programs.

The dragon-slaying hero has become the dragon himself, and a new hero is about to challenge the dragon once again—what a perfect script!

On June 3, the 1992 NBA Finals opened at the Chicago Arena. With home-court advantage, the Bulls were looking forward to a good start to the Finals.

That night, the Chicago Arena was packed with people as the grand duel began. When Gan Guoyang stepped onto the court, the crowd erupted in deafening boos.

Gan Guoyang didn't do anything bad, but he's the kind of person everyone wants to beat, so there will be endless boos, which is a necessary part of the path to the ultimate goal.

He was expressionless, and nothing from the outside world could disturb him in the slightest. The only thing that could affect him was his own heart.

On the other side, Jordan and the Chicago Bulls were preparing for this revenge moment, having waited an entire season for it.

During the regular season, the Trail Blazers defeated the Bulls twice, so they should theoretically have a psychological advantage.

But in the Finals, the situation was completely different from the regular season, and the Bulls' morale was soaring.

Jordan learned from the lessons of the 1991 Finals and did not engage in a head-to-head battle with Gan Guoyang. Instead, he played entirely according to the rhythm that the Bulls were familiar with.

Jordan was on fire against Reggie Lewis's defense, and he was unstoppable in the second quarter, hitting mid-range and long-range shots one after another.

Three points, two points, three points, three points, two points, one goal after another, until Gan Guoyang had to personally defend him.

But it was too late. When Gan Guoyang came to defend Jordan, Jordan began to use passing to mobilize the whole team, and the balance of the triangle offense was brought to its fullest potential.

The Bulls led the Trail Blazers by 13 points at halftime. In the third quarter, the entire Bulls team played cautiously to prevent the third-quarter king, Agan, from having an explosion.

Gan Guoyang did indeed have a breakout performance, scoring consecutively, but the Bulls kept up, responding continuously and maintaining a lead of over 10 points.

Gan Guoyang scored 41 points, 15 rebounds, 4 blocks, and 5 assists, but it was not enough.

The Bulls defeated the Trail Blazers 107-119, winning the first game of the series and taking a 1-0 lead in the series.

The atmosphere in the Trail Blazers' locker room was somber after Game 1, marking their first loss in the opening game of their six NBA Finals appearances.

Were the Trail Blazers playing badly? Actually, they played quite well. With this kind of performance, they could easily dominate any team in the league except the Bulls.

But the Bulls played better. Jordan scored 44 points tonight with an astonishingly high shooting percentage, including 6 of 8 three-pointers, an unprecedented feat.

Although Gan Guoyang performed very well, he always felt that something was missing—not that others thought so, but that he himself felt so.

This problem has been bothering him since the playoffs. He has been thinking about it and seeking a mental breakthrough, but what exactly is missing?

On June 5th, in the second game, the Trail Blazers regrouped and fought the Bulls to overtime. The first overtime ended in a tie, leading to a second overtime.

With the Trail Blazers trailing by 2 points in the final moments, Bellman called a timeout. On the last possession, with only 1.4 seconds left, Gan Guoyang received the ball beyond the three-point line and made the shot!
What was expected to be a spectacular three-point game-winner turned into a two-pointer, as the referee ruled that Gan Guoyang had stepped on the three-point line, sending the game into a third overtime period.

NBC repeatedly broadcast footage of Gan Guoyang attempting a three-pointer.
In the third overtime, both sides were exhausted, and to make matters worse, Gan Guoyang had five fouls.

At the start of overtime, the referee called a defensive foul on Gan Guoyang, and Gan Guoyang was ejected from the game.

This athletic monster is the Trail Blazers' biggest asset; when he's on the offensive, the Trail Blazers are on the verge of collapse, both tactically and physically.

Even so, Petrovic and Reggie Lewis put up a fierce fight, hitting consecutive jump shots and once leading the Bulls by 4 points.

But Jordan stepped up, driving to the basket, driving to the basket again, drawing fouls, and scoring 7 points in a row, completely turning the tide for the Bulls.

When the lights came on, the score was 110-114, with the Bulls leading by 4 points and defeating the Trail Blazers in triple overtime, taking a commanding 2-0 lead!
The first championship trophy beckoned to Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls as they left the Chicago Arena in triumph, ready to head to Portland.

The Bulls are ready to lift the trophy in Portland; there's no better revenge.

Suddenly, the Trail Blazers faced the most perilous and critical situation of their six NBA Finals appearances.

On the plane back to Portland from Chicago, the entire team fell silent.

Head coach Bobby Berman wanted to say something, but looking at Forrest Gump's expressionless face and silent expression, Berman didn't know what to say for a moment.

Gan Guoyang performed flawlessly in both games, scoring high, rebounding high, and assisting high, maintaining his unparalleled efficiency. However, it felt like something was missing.

In fact, throughout the playoffs, Bobby Berman felt that Gan Guoyang seemed to be missing something. Was it fighting spirit? Desire to win? It didn't seem to be either.

Was it just a lack of luck? That three-pointer in the second overtime, where he stepped out of bounds, certainly lacked luck, but Forrest Gump never relied on luck to win or lose.

Only Forrest Gump himself knew what it was, and the occasional emptiness in his eyes made Behrman feel somewhat unfamiliar with him.

He tried to talk to Gan Guoyang, but at that moment, Bellman realized that for many years, it was Gan who had been comforting and helping him.

When Forrest Gump encountered a problem, Behrman didn't know how to start. What kind of problem could this kid have? He was so strong, so perfect, like a perpetual motion machine on the court, never stopping, invincible.

No one comforted Forrest Gump along the way. It wasn't that people didn't love him, but they genuinely didn't know what to say.

Gan Guoyang also said nothing. When he arrived in Portland in the early morning, many fans came to pick him up and held up signs to support Gan Guoyang and the Trail Blazers.

Gan Guoyang looked up at the dark sky. It was another overcast day, and the moon was shrouded in clouds, so there was no light at all.

There were two days of rest between the second and third games, which were quite agonizing for Gan Guoyang.

The media was flooded with reports that the Trail Blazers would fail to defend their title and that a new king was finally about to ascend the throne.

Even the most objective commentators have to say, "The chances left for Forrest Gump and the Trail Blazers are running out."

As a person continues to create brilliance, they will attract more and more attention.

Some of this attention stems from admiration and affection, while others are simply waiting to see you fall.

The higher you climb, the harder you'll fall.

Of course, fans in Oregon and Portland still believe in Gan Guoyang and the Trail Blazers.

They faced the same situation in 1977, trailing 0-2, but eventually managed to turn the tide.

But if miracles always happen, then it wouldn't be a miracle anymore, and people would have a big question mark in their minds.

The day before the start of Game 3 of the finals, Gan Youwei arrived in Portland, driven there by Gan Guohui.

He brought a lot of things with him: fresh chicken, fish, eggs, meat, vegetables, as well as his own pickled vegetables, preserved eggs, beef, and so on.

Upon arriving home, Gan Youwei went into the kitchen to cook, and even asked Gan Guoyang to help him, saying that he hadn't been there in a long time and wanted to prepare something delicious for his son, daughter-in-law, and grandson.

"Dad, aren't you tired? You came all this way, you should rest."

"Cooking is my forte, why would I get tired? Do you get tired playing ball?"

Gan Guoyang had no choice but to help his father in the kitchen.

Gan Youwei asked Gan Guoyang what he wanted to eat, and Gan Guoyang said, "I want to eat Chinese food, I also want to eat Western food, and I also want to eat Italian food. Mexican food is also good. Are you okay with that?"

Gan Guoyang was deliberately making things difficult for his father, but to his surprise, Gan Youwei said, "It's fine, I know a little about everything, I'll make it for you."

Over the past 10 years, not only has Gan Guoyang improved his ball skills, but Gan Youwei, as a chef, has also not been complacent. Instead, he has continuously integrated cuisines from various countries and improved his culinary skills.

In San Francisco's Tenderloin district, Gan's Restaurant is no longer an ordinary Chinese restaurant, nor is it a celebrity restaurant relying on Gan Guoyang's reputation. Instead, it is a genuine, high-end restaurant that is most popular with locals.

Gan Youwei's superb culinary skills deserve much credit. His dishes can suit the tastes of people from different countries, cultures, and ethnicities. One can only imagine the hard work and extensive learning he has put in.

"Cut the meat."

"Ingredients".

Peel the garlic.

"Crush the spices."

Gan Guoyang hadn't helped his father in the kitchen for a while; he was too busy every day, and the hustle and bustle of the kitchen was becoming increasingly distant from him.

"Dad, how many dishes are you making? How many people are we going to eat?"

Seeing Gan Youwei's impressive display, Gan Guoyang realized he could prepare two large banquets.

This reminded Gan Guoyang of when he got married, and Gan Youwei cooked a banquet for everyone in the community.

"Never mind that, just do whatever I ask you to do. I think your knife skills have deteriorated."

"No, this knife isn't handy."

"I think you haven't cooked in a long time."

"I'm not a cook."

"Playing ball is like cooking; you have to cater to everyone's tastes, and each ingredient should be used to its fullest potential... Chop faster."

Gan Youwei was unusually stern, and Gan Guoyang, not knowing what his father was up to, sped up.

For a chef like Gan Youwei, cooking two large tables of dishes by himself is no problem at all; it only takes a little effort.

To Gan Guoyang's surprise, Gan Youwei actually knew how to cook several dishes from other countries, such as steak, tacos, and pasta sauce, all of which he handled with ease.

"Dad, are you trying to win over an old lady from another country by learning to cook and please her?"

"Don't talk nonsense. I only have your mother in my life. In America, you have to learn a little bit of everything. You're never too old to learn."

Halfway through cooking, Gan Guoyang's house suddenly became lively as his Trail Blazers teammates, including Sabonis, Petrovic, Lewis, Robinson, Porter, and Korsey, as well as retired players like Sampson and Walton, arrived one after another.

Upon inquiry, it was learned that Gan Guoyang had invited everyone to his home for dinner.

Gan Guoyang was confused; he hadn't invited everyone to dinner.

“I invited them,” Gan Youwei said as he brushed sauce onto the duck.

"You invited him?"

“I called yesterday and had Fu Xi send the invitation.”

"What...what are you trying to do? You don't think I'm going to lose the championship, so you're inviting everyone over for a meal to help me win tomorrow's game, do you? If eating can help me win the game, I'll treat everyone every day."

Gan Youwei put down the duck in his hand and looked at Gan Guoyang with a serious gaze.

To be honest, Gan Guoyang has never been afraid of anyone in this life, but he has a deep respect for Gan Youwei.

He rarely saw such a serious expression on Gan Youwei's face, and he immediately put away his smile as well.

“I spoke with John on the phone a while ago. I asked him about something and we also talked about you. He said you've been quite troubled lately, feeling like you've reached your peak and want to improve further, but you can't seem to reach it. Is that true?”

Gan Guoyang was surprised that Gan Youwei would talk to Stockton on the phone and chat about his own affairs. He thought to himself that John was such a chatterbox, saying everything.

"That's true. But as you know, when technology reaches a certain level, and you want to make a breakthrough, then..."

"So, you're arrogant and always looking up at the sky, wanting to go to higher places, right?"

"me…"

For the first time, Gan Guoyang felt like a child who had made a mistake at school and was being scolded by his father at home.

He didn't know how to explain it.

"Do you know why someone can climb so high and go so far? It's because that person doesn't focus on the heights or the distance, but on their feet. If you take each step well and for a long time, you'll rise higher and go farther. I know that most people can't achieve what you've accomplished in their entire lives. Some people call you the god of basketball and worship you like a goddess, but that's their business. Others can think that way and treat you like a deity, but you can't. You must always look at your feet and walk steadily to keep going."

"I invited your teammates and colleagues to dinner today for no other reason than to make you look at your feet, your surroundings, and the people fighting alongside you. Only by grabbing onto them and playing with them can you continue to play. I watched your first two games, and you didn't play very well. You didn't have your teammates in your eyes. Although you passed the ball and seemed to play well, your eyes were dead! I don't understand basketball, but I can see it. After all, I've been watching you play for many, many years."

Gan Youwei, unusually, launched into a long speech in front of his son. After he finished, his serious expression disappeared, and his eyes began to gleam, as if he were embarrassed by how much he had said.

He continued to coat the duck with sauce, preparing to put it in the oven to roast.

Gan Guoyang didn't say anything, he buried himself in chopping vegetables and also made a few of his signature dishes.

Gan Guoyang's house was very lively that evening; Curry's son and Thompson's sons all came.

They ran around the house with Gan Wenshan, playing and having a great time.

At the dinner table, everyone vented their frustrations and resentment from the previous two games.

Everyone offered their opinions and ideas, pointing out areas where the game went poorly, what problems existed, and how to deal with each player.

The Trail Blazers are a great team, but any team will stagnate and become stagnant if it doesn't communicate and exchange ideas for a long time.

The Trail Blazers have had it too easy these past two years. With just a little effort, their opponents fall to the ground, and the players are communicating less and less with each other.

Until tonight, everyone opened up to each other. Sabonis said that he sometimes wanted to play center and switch positions with Forrest Gump.

Petrovic said that he can actually start occasionally instead of always being the sixth man, and that he gets into form faster when he starts.

Reggie Lewis said he would be more comfortable at small forward, and shooting guard would be fine too, but he's not good at three-pointers, so he's always worried about it affecting the game's flow.

Porter said he can play shooting guard just as well, but playing point guard against the Bulls was torture; their defense against point guards has been even more ruthless this year.

Everyone chimed in, each with their own thoughts, thoughts that had been suppressed and buried in the past because of victory.

Finally, Gan Guoyang slammed his hand on the table and said, "Alright, all of you are thinking about this and that, isn't this just creating chaos? If you don't fight here and you don't fight there, who will fulfill these responsibilities!"

Everyone turned their attention to Gan Guoyang. Gan Guoyang understood: in the end, he was the only one being trained!
Of course, the whole team was joking to some extent. Bobby Bellman spoke on behalf of everyone to Gan Guoyang, saying, "Sonny, many times, we don't know what you're thinking, but we trust you unconditionally. As long as you have confidence, we still have confidence in winning the championship and completing our three-peat."

The entire team stared intently at Gan Guoyang. Gan Guoyang stood up and said, "The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you know why you were born. I, you, and the entire Portland Trail Blazers are born for the championship."

The night was cool and still, and Gan Guoyang couldn't fall asleep for a long time. He would sleep alone again tonight, as he wanted to think about some things.

Although everything Gan Youwei did today was inspiring, Gan Guoyang also understands that he can't always focus on the high places; he needs to look more at his feet and his teammates.

But the feeling of impending breakthrough still hadn't disappeared. He knew that something, some thought, must be holding him back.

Someone knocked on the door. Gan Guoyang got up and found that it was Gan Youwei standing at the door.

"Dad, why aren't you asleep yet?"

"I... I did some things and said some things today. I didn't go too far, did I? You won't blame me, will you?"

"What are you saying? I'm so grateful to you. You've made me realize that I've been holding my head too high and have forgotten where I'm standing."

"Actually, you're not wrong. You should look up. Didn't that Kant guy say something about the starry sky and morality? We should look up to those things."

Gan Guoyang laughed and said, "Dad, I really underestimated you. You've started reading Kant."

"Hey, you're never too old to learn. Your dad isn't illiterate. I'm just chatting with you casually because I'm worried you might be upset. You're feeling bad about losing the game, and so many people are hoping you lose. I can't stand it."

"Dad, I didn't expect you to know so much about basketball. You didn't like basketball before."

“My son is a big star now, how could I not like basketball? Even if I don’t like it, I still have to watch it. A while ago, I even read a Japanese manga about basketball. I originally wanted to buy it for my grandson, but when I read it, I found it quite interesting. The drawings are good, just a bit childish and exaggerated, but it’s quite suitable for children.”

"Comics? You read comics? What comics?"

"Well... what, SLAMDUNK, the main character is a red-haired kid."

Gan Guoyang immediately understood; it was "Slam Dunk," the popular basketball manga that Inoue Takehiko began serializing in 1990, a work that influenced a generation's youth.

Upon hearing about this comic, Gan Guoyang suddenly felt a sense of disorientation. This work, which had influenced him, was currently being serialized.

Gan Youwei continued, "I know about this comic. I heard from someone that the author is a fan of yours and started drawing it after watching your matches. I wanted to see if this story had anything to do with you. But when I took a look, it was a high school story, and the protagonist didn't even know anything about basketball. He was playing for a girl. He's nowhere near as good as you..."

Gan Guoyang couldn't hear or remember what Gan Youwei said next.

He felt as if he had suddenly figured something out, and all the things that had bound him had disappeared.

"Breakthrough? What breakthrough? I'm the best! Nobody knows how to play basketball better than me, nobody!"

In that instant, Gan Guoyang took a giant stride, traversing the high mountains of time and space, and stood in an even higher, more elevated place.

(End of this chapter)