The Golden Age of Basketball

Chapter 758 Little Man Bull

When Kobe saw Gan Guoyang on the training court, his eyes lit up, and for the rest of the training session, he couldn't take his eyes off Gan.

How long had he waited for this day? Five years? Eight years? No, it was ten years, two months, and nine days, starting from July 1986 when he first met Gan Guoyang in Italy.

He still remembers watching Gan Guoyang's match at the Paratriest Arena, and seeing Gan up close in the locker room after the match.

Forrest Gump sat there like a god, radiating divine aura. The impact of that moment was etched firmly into Kobe's mind.

Over the next decade, in his pursuit of becoming the greatest basketball player of all time, Kobe always used that moment of awe to inspire himself.

When Kobe was exhausted, frustrated, injured, failed repeatedly, or stagnant, he would close his eyes and recall a moment from his childhood, and confidence and motivation would follow.

"You must approach him, then become him, and finally surpass him."

Kobe told himself countless times that this was the goal he had set for himself.

As time went on, Kobe found this goal increasingly unattainable: one championship, two consecutive championships, three consecutive championships, four consecutive championships.

He scored 81 points in the regular season, 60 points in the playoffs, and 60 points in the finals. He was standing at the foot of the mountain, not even having started climbing yet, and the mountain kept getting higher and higher.

But the more this happened, the stronger Kobe's inner motivation became, and the more demanding he became of himself, to the point of obsession.

Many times, his father, Joe Bryant, couldn't understand, saying, "Why do you push yourself so hard? I really can't understand you, Kobe."

Kobe remained silent. He trained on the court until late every day, with the ball almost always in his hands. His love for basketball was beyond the comprehension of ordinary people.

After he became a nationally renowned high school player, a basketball prodigy like him should be very popular with girls at school, and he would have plenty of female admirers around him.

But in fact, his female classmates revealed that if she had become Kobe's high school girlfriend, the only thing they could do together at night would have been watch basketball videos.

And it was even a recording of Forrest Gump's basketball game.

Kobe was very sad when Gan Guoyang decided to retire.

That day he made many phone calls to Gan Guoyang and sent many pager messages.

Gan Guoyang had to comfort the enthusiastic fan over the phone, telling him, "I'm just leaving temporarily, and I might come back later."

"Really? You have to come back, or I won't be able to beat you up."

Gan Guoyang was so angry he laughed. He thought to himself, "I'll come back here so I can beat you up in the future."

After graduating from high school in 1996, Kobe Bryant decided to run for the NBA draft under immense pressure, hoping to enter a higher level of basketball competition as soon as possible and follow in Forrest Gump's footsteps.

Kobe's situation was different from other high school players who entered the draft early, such as Moses Malone and Shawn Kemp, who wanted to earn money as soon as possible.

Kevin Garnett and Jermaine O'Neal were too poor to get enough SAT scores to get into good universities, so they decided to run for the draft.

Kobe was not short of money. His father, Joe Bryant, played professional basketball for many years and earned a considerable income in the NBA and Europe, so his financial situation was definitely very good.

Kobe scored 1080 on the SAT (out of 1600), which was enough for him to apply to any university, but he didn't.

His decision to jump directly from high school to the professional league and challenge the highest basketball stage demonstrates the courage and determination he possessed.

He couldn't wait even a minute longer.

In comparison, Jermaine O'Neal, who announced at the same time that he would skip college and enter the NBA draft, was in a better position because he was an inside player.

The draft risk for interior players is much lower than for perimeter players, especially guards, so the pressure on Jermaine O'Neal cannot be compared to that on Kobe Bryant.

The final draft results surprised everyone. Kobe Bryant got his wish and went to Portland to play with Jermaine O'Neal, which sparked a lot of controversy.

What appears to be a simple, smooth, and uneventful talent show is actually rife with intense battles of wits and high-risk intrigues.

The Trail Blazers' controversial acquisition of two high school players represents a high-risk, high-return investment in the future, while their actions have disrupted the draft plans of many other teams.

Jerry West really wanted Kobe, and the Philadelphia 76ers also considered using their number one draft pick to acquire Kobe, but ultimately chose Allen Iverson due to risk concerns.

The New Jersey Nets had a chance to draft Kobe Bryant with the 8th overall pick, but Jerry West, through Kobe's agent, Tellem, sent the wrong message to the Nets:

If the Nets draft Kobe, he won't report to New Jersey; he might play in Italy.

There were many college talents in the 1996 NBA draft, and the Nets didn't want to take the risk on Kobe.

They backed down at the draft and used the 8th pick to select the more reliable Kittles.

Jerry West worked out with Kobe in Los Angeles, had a long talk with him, and was quite satisfied with Kobe, saying that Kobe's performance was the best he had ever seen.

He only watched for 20 minutes and already knew he could get him. With Kobe, Kidd, and Shaq as the core, West was certain that he could return to the top of the Western Conference within three years.

When the Nets skipped Kobe with the 8th pick, Jerry West breathed a huge sigh of relief, thinking that the biggest obstacle to drafting Kobe had been removed.

The Trail Blazers, who would acquire the 10th pick, would select Jermaine O'Neal. The 11th and 12th picks would also be selected. The Lakers would go all out to acquire the 13th pick, willing to give up anyone except Kidd.

West knew perfectly well that Hornets head coach Dave Cowens would never welcome a high school player like Kobe; the Celtics veterans were just that inflexible.

But with the 9th pick, the Dallas Mavericks surprisingly intercepted Kobe, and Kobe was immediately traded to Portland in exchange for another young guard, Michael Finley.

Many years later, when Jerry West talked about Kobe being intercepted, he still shook his head and said it was cheating. Someone on the Trail Blazers must have cheated and obtained some key information.

Trading a young shooting guard who averaged 15 points per game in his rookie season for the 9th pick in exchange for a high school shooting guard seems absurd.

It's like in a chess game, when someone suddenly makes a move that no human brain could have imagined, and you see dozens of moves ahead, anyone would want to overturn the chessboard.

Jerry West was frustrated by the Trail Blazers' move for many years, and he even suspected that Bobby Bellman had betrayed them again.

It wasn't until one day that he learned that Forrest Gump had made the decision to draft Kobe. He pointed to Kobe's name at the draft and then had Buckwalt call all the managers with high draft picks to ask who was willing to trade.

As it turned out, Don Nelson was willing to make the trade, and Kobe was traded to Portland.

Upon learning the truth, Jerry West was relieved. It turned out to be that bastard Forrest Gump, and everything made sense.

Kobe never imagined he would become a member of the Trail Blazers. He never tried out for Portland, but everything there fascinated him.

What fascinated him most was Forrest Gump. He kept a close eye on Forrest Gump's every move, trying to figure out something from his training.

Seeing Kobe staring at him like a freak, Gan Guoyang knew what he was thinking and said, "Hey Kobe, how about we practice together for a bit?"

Kobe, who was sitting on the floor, immediately sprang up, wiped the sweat from his brow, and stepped onto the court without hesitation.

Shaquille O'Neal, who had just changed his clothes and was warming up, whispered, "Take it easy, Kobe."

Without turning his head, Kobe said, "Just watch, Jermaine, I'm going to surprise Forrest Gump."

Kobe was confident, but not so arrogant as to think that he could beat Forrest Gump one-on-one at the age of 18.

He hoped to make a lasting impression on Forrest Gump.

But Kobe overestimated himself, or rather, underestimated the gap between himself and his idol.

Gan Guoyang and Kobe Bryant played several rounds of one-on-one, and Gan Guoyang completely and utterly crushed Kobe.

First of all, there is a complete imbalance in height and weight. After two months of recovery training, Gan Guoyang's weight and strength are at the peak of his career.

Kobe was still a kid at heart. He was tall and strong among his peers, but compared to Forrest Gump, he looked like a sugarcane wearing a jersey.

Gan Guoyang showed no mercy, using his excellent physical attributes and various simple and efficient techniques to overwhelm Kobe Bryant, leaving him with no chance to fight back.

Jermaine O'Neal and the other rookies watched from the sidelines and realized that Gan Guoyang didn't rely on explosiveness and speed at all, but rather on skill, strength, and timing.

On the first play, he dribbled sideways, relying on Kobe to squeeze inside. Kobe couldn't move him at all. Gan Guoyang easily squeezed to the basket like a scarecrow, without even jumping. He made a light hook shot with his left hand and scored.

On the second play, facing the basket, he received the ball and made a harmless triple threat. He then moved to the right side without accelerating, relying solely on his physical strength to drive to the sweet spot on the baseline. He then easily made a jump shot while standing on one leg.

On the third play, Kobe got a little impatient and started to lower his center of gravity to bite back on defense. However, Gan Guoyang used his extremely skillful dribbling techniques to make Kobe run around in circles, and finally made an easy mid-range jump shot with a KiKi-step step-back.

This effortless ease, excellent rhythm, and natural moves allowed the Trail Blazers rookies to experience firsthand what it means to be the greatest of all time and why Forrest Gump was able to win seven championships.

As an inside player, his skills are so comprehensive that many of his techniques and experiences have surpassed those of most outside players.

Moreover, he hadn't even truly shown his inside game yet, and Kobe was already covered in bumps and bruises, completely powerless to resist.

Kobe, of course, wouldn't let this opportunity to spar with Gan Guoyang slip by. He was extremely excited and became more determined after each setback, increasing his intensity on defense.

Some of his actions went beyond the bounds of normal defensive play, such as occasionally using his elbow to bump Gan Guoyang in an attempt to disrupt Gan's dribbling.

However, Gan Guoyang's size and strength were like a mountain in front of Kobe, and Kobe's small stature, agility, and speed advantages could not be fully utilized.

Despite the one-sided brutality, Gan Guoyang appeared relaxed, but in reality, he was extremely serious and showed no signs of letting up. Every move he made was the culmination of over a decade of training.

Jermaine O'Neal, watching from the sidelines, was terrified, thinking that if he were to go up there, he would probably lose confidence after three rounds.

What's the point of fighting? Just surrender, it's too embarrassing.

Kobe didn't think that way; he was fully committed to this asymmetrical contest.

Even though he knew he couldn't win, Kobe kept adjusting and trying to find weaknesses in Gan Guoyang's offense.

Finally, after Gan Guoyang scored 10 consecutive baskets, Kobe found a loophole in Gan Guoyang's defense and interfered with Gan Guoyang's shot.

Gan Guoyang protected the ball, but lost his balance and could only toss it carelessly. The ball hit the front of the rim and missed.

Kobe finally got his chance to attack; it was his turn!
However, a whistle blew from the sidelines, drawing everyone's attention away from the game.

"Alright, alright guys, time to wash your butts and get ready to start today's training."

It was Larry Bird. He had been standing there watching for a while, but no one had noticed him.

As the new head coach of the Trail Blazers, Bird decided to personally attend the team's rookie training camp to observe the team's young players up close.

He also knew the Trail Blazers' tradition: Forrest Gump would definitely use physical and intensity training to toughen up the rookies at the rookie camp as the first hurdle to overcome before they could join the team.

Bird, dressed in a simple white polo shirt, accompanied by Dick Hart and Rick Carlisle, blew his whistle to signal everyone to assemble.

Kobe looked very unhappy. He was just about to get going when he was interrupted.
Why did you have to end the one-on-one when I had successfully defended and was about to launch an offensive attack?

Bird noticed Kobe's displeasure and stepped closer, saying, "Forrest Gump only deliberately created an opening to end this pointless one-on-one; otherwise, he could have scored a hundred goals against you. Go to the assembly, rookie!"

Kobe blinked, and although he was very unhappy, he ultimately didn't talk back due to the pressure from Bird and obediently went to the assembly.

One advantage of having a superstar as a head coach is that they bring their own aura of authority, making players, especially young players, hesitant to disobey them.

Bird observed Kobe during the Summer League in August, and after watching a few of Kobe's games, he immediately understood why he should be selected.

He is indeed a rare genius. If you watch the game for just two minutes, you won't be able to take your eyes off him. This is a common trait among all superstars in their youth.

Bird knew this all too well, because that's how others saw and judged him when he was young.

Gan Guoyang talked about Kobe several times during his conversations with Bird. Both of them acknowledged Kobe's talent and believed that if he were properly nurtured, he would have a bright future.

Although Bird only plans to coach for three years, what about after that? He could easily become the general manager of the Trail Blazers.

Buckwolter is nearing retirement, which is just around the corner in the next couple of years. Bird will be the perfect successor, and Portland's future looks very promising.

So while Bird focused on becoming a championship coach, he gradually changed his original intention and began to pay attention to the development of new talents.

Players like Kobe and Jermaine O'Neal are promising talents; they both showed great potential in the Summer League.

A few days ago, I was at Agan's house trying to get some freebies. The two of us talked about Kobe and Jermaine O'Neal, and Gan Guoyang gave a very accurate assessment of the two.

He believed that Kobe was confident and arrogant, and his sharp edge was too obvious. If properly nurtured, he could become an unparalleled weapon, but he could easily hurt others and himself at the same time.

Therefore, it's necessary to appropriately restrain him, let him experience setbacks early on, temper his arrogance, and help him calm down and focus more on basketball, thus reducing his overly inflated ego.

Jermaine O'Neal, on the other hand, lacks confidence. He feels a lot of pressure about his high school identity. He actually wants to go to college, but he has been pushed to where he is today.

He's too young, even younger than Kobe, and unlike Kobe, he doesn't have a father who plays in the NBA and guides his child in every way from a very young age on how to pursue a career in basketball.

Jermaine O'Neal's story is a classic example of a Black child's early life: he had a mother but no father, and his mother had several boyfriends, each of whom offered him some guidance and help, but it was far from enough.

He needs more encouragement and guidance, including how to play, how to handle his emotions and life, how to train and work seriously, and how to take responsibility like a man rather than a boy.

Bird completely agreed with what Forrest Gump said, but he was also puzzled and asked Gan Guoyang, "You're so confident, who gave you lessons in adversity? Who has ever put you down?"

Gan Guoyang just smiled and said, "You don't understand, and you never will, Larry. I am me, and everyone else is everyone else."

Bird liked to trash talk on the court, but off the court he never went on and on; he preferred direct communication.

He gave a brief and straightforward speech, telling everyone: "Some of you will stay, and some of you will leave. Good luck, guys, and cherish this opportunity."

Bird then began his first training session, which was very simple: physical conditioning. Stars like Bird, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Forrest Gump, and Jordan have a morbid fascination with physically torturing their bodies through exercise.

They rely on a lot of exercise and marathon training to release enough dopamine and endorphins to achieve a certain level of comfort and pleasure.

Although Bird didn't appreciate Bill Fitch's venomous tongue and overly demanding personality, he liked Fitch's training methods.

Bird loved the feeling of being constantly engaged in intense, physically demanding training that left him exhausted and with weak legs.

During the off-season, he would run for more than ten kilometers on the asphalt roads of Indiana under the scorching sun, his shoes sticking to the ground.

This self-destructive training severely damaged Bird's body and shortened his career, but it also forged Bird's iron will.

Although he lost to the Lakers and the Trail Blazers in the Finals, he lost because of his lack of skill and ability, rather than because of a breakdown in willpower.

"If you still have the energy to do things other than eating, sleeping, and defecating after today's training, then it is my dereliction of duty."

Before training began, Bird spoke casually, and then for two and a half hours that morning, Bird began the grueling physical torture, timing it precisely.

Regular shuttle runs, bottom-touch shuttle runs, dribbling runs, backboard runs and jumps, one-on-one man-to-man offensive and defensive runs... all kinds of aerobic and anaerobic training related to running and jumping tormented everyone in the training camp like there was no end.

Aside from Gan Guoyang, Kobe, and Jermaine O'Neal, the rest of the training camp consisted of undrafted players and short-term contract players who spent the summer at different training camps, earning some salary while hoping to find a stable and secure job.

The Trail Blazers' rookie training camp is known for its rigorous standards, and players who make it through are highly regarded elsewhere.

In particular, they can say something like, "I trained with Forrest Gump, who was the first in the NBA."

Everyone who has trained with Gan Guoyang naturally marvels at his abundant physical strength.

For Gan Guoyang, the physical training courses that Bird prepared for the newcomers were just an appetizer.

When the training session was more than halfway through, during a break, Gan Guoyang shouted at Bird, "Larry, if this is your coaching and training level, I don't think you're worth the price!"

Gan Guoyang used the phrase "you are overpaid," a phrase that Auerbach often used to describe players when he was at Celtic.

If a player's performance doesn't meet his expectations, the red-haired man will puff on his cigar and yell, "You're not worth the price! I've overpaid!"

Bird thought to himself, "This kid is really sharp-eyed; he even knows Redhead's catchphrase."

He retorted, "Right now, you're the least valuable person in the entire alliance. Thirty million, my God, can you even build an atomic bomb?"

Gan Guoyang boasted shamelessly: "On the basketball court, I'm an atomic bomb!"

After two and a half hours of physical training in the morning, almost everyone was exhausted.

There are only two people who seem to be without any problems: Gan Guoyang and Kobe.

After practice, Kobe even approached Gan Guoyang and said, "We should continue that never-ending one-on-one battle."

Gan Guoyang did not refuse and said, "Sure, I can play with you until you don't want to play anymore."

"I'll never want to stop playing, watch out Sonny, I'll keep improving."

Gan Guoyang smiled but did not respond; he admired Kobe's spirit.

On the one hand, he didn't want to extinguish Kobe's passion and drive.

On the other hand, he felt that this kind of enthusiasm should be properly guided.

From the draft to now, Kobe has always had a sense of urgency.

In fact, he doesn't need to rush at all. He's only 18 and has plenty of youth ahead of him.

But Kobe didn't think so. He was eager to improve and didn't want to waste a single second.

After the morning training session ended, Kobe spent the entire afternoon in the training facility with Gan Guoyang and Jermaine O'Neal, continuing to practice.

Kobe's one-on-one offensive performance was not much better than his defense. He was invincible among high school players, but he had no way to deal with the best defender in the NBA.

Gan Guoyang's historical status as the best defender is much more secure than his status as the best offensive defender.

When it comes to offense, people mention Jordan and Chamberlain, but on defense, Forrest Gump is the best.

After gaining weight to 280 pounds, Gan Guoyang's movement speed has declined, and his starting and lateral movements are not as good as at his peak.

But his experience and skills are unparalleled, his predictive ability is extremely strong, and he knows Kobe's habitual movements like the back of his hand.

Kobe repeatedly tried to use speed, explosiveness, or repeated dribbling and crossovers to get rid of the defender.

He discovered that Forrest Gump, a 280-pound, 32-year-old center, was incredibly agile.

Meanwhile, his verbal attacks never stopped, tormenting Kobe both physically and mentally.

"If I were five years younger, you wouldn't have scored a single goal today."

"I'm old, but why do your legs look older than mine?"

"Your dribbling is too rigid and too predictable. I can tell your next move just by looking at your toes."

"Faster, faster! You offer no resistance, you're as limp as a lump of cotton!"

"You know what? I'm the one who got Buckwalt to pick you, and now your performance is disappointing... I'm going to block you!"

Gan Guoyang left an opening for Kobe to drive to the basket, and then blocked Kobe's layup from behind.

While exploiting the openings, Gan Guoyang, with his experience, stuck close to Kobe, preventing him from having any chance to retaliate.

The lack of physical contact made Kobe's layups weak and ineffective. A whole day of training and one-on-one battles left his legs feeling like lead.

Kobe was not only blocked, but also knocked off the court. He lay on the floor, staring at the high steel ceiling, feeling dizzy.

Throughout the entire afternoon, Kobe Bryant scored only a handful of baskets, while Gan Guoyang scored countless baskets.

When Kobe was in junior high school, he was already able to beat his former professional player father, Joe Bryant, in one-on-one matches.

In high school, Kobe was unbeatable in one-on-one battles. When he played against his teammates in high-scoring games, he often achieved exaggerated scores such as 100:5 or 100:8.

Now, Kobe finally understands what it feels like to have an opponent score 100 points while he only gets single-digit points.

Kobe's vision suddenly went dark, and a huge figure stood beside him, reaching out his hand.

As Kobe lay down, he looked at Forrest Gump standing up, his huge, strong body like a god. He felt as if he had returned to that summer in July 1986.

The statue radiated a dazzling light, towering and boundless, gazing down upon him with compassionate eyes.

Kobe turned around, dodging Gan Guoyang's outstretched hand, and got up by pushing himself up with his hands on the floor.

After getting up, the two temporarily stopped fighting. Kobe, though stubborn, wasn't stupid. He understood that he was no match for Forrest Gump at the moment.

By this time, most of the people had left the Willamette University training facility, and Bird and two assistant coaches went to have afternoon tea.

Those who were too exhausted went home at noon, and those who stayed behind for extra training couldn't handle being with these two lunatics, so they all took showers, changed clothes, and went home.

Only four people actually stayed: Gan Guoyang, Kobe, Jermaine O'Neal, and a black player who didn't seem particularly remarkable.

He wasn't much taller than Kobe, but he played power forward, a typical short center, and it's quite difficult for a player like that to survive in the league.

After a brief adjustment, Gan Guoyang suggested conducting two-on-two training sessions. He said, "One-on-one is only a small part of a basketball game. Getting too caught up in one-on-one situations is not conducive to grasping the overall game. We should try some team-based drills."

So, Jermaine O'Neal was paired with Kobe, and Gan Guoyang was paired with that unassuming black player.

Gan Guoyang didn't even know this person's name. Every year, many people come and go in the new recruit training camp, but only a handful can stay.

These people are already the elite of the elite in the basketball world, even in the United States and the world. But the NBA is really too cruel. Even among the elite, a large portion of them still have to be eliminated.

"Two against two, you focus on defense, protect the rebounds, catch my pass and put the ball in the basket, that's all, understand?" Gan Guoyang instructed the nameless player.

He nodded and remained silent; in fact, he had already left a good impression on Gan Guoyang.

The fact that he was able to complete Bird's physical training in the morning and then continue training until now in the afternoon is enough to show that he is in very good physical condition.

He wasn't very tall, but he looked very strong, like a bull.

Subsequently, in the 2vs2 match, Gan Guoyang used his rich experience to take control of the situation.

Kobe and Jermaine O'Neal discovered that 2 vs 2 was even less of a viable game.

Gan Guoyang, you can't even stop him with two defenses against one, how are you going to play if he has more teammates?
Furthermore, Gan Guoyang's style is completely unlike that of a center; he is an all-rounder.

He skillfully controls the ball on the perimeter, and his dribbling rhythm is even more refined than in 1992.

Jermaine O'Neal had the same build as Kobe Bryant; he was like a sugarcane in a jersey, flying with the slightest bump.

On the defensive end, Gan Guoyang directed the little bull to stick with Kobe near the free-throw line.

He allowed Kobe to shoot while simultaneously protecting the rim and guarding Jermaine O'Neal one-on-one.

Jermaine O'Neal was at a complete disadvantage in terms of weight and physical strength.

Gan Guoyang also discovered that Jermaine O'Neal's registered height for the draft was 6 feet 11 inches, or 2.11 meters.

但实际上也就2米07左右，6尺9到6尺10之间，穿鞋可能接近2米10。

Moreover, Jermaine O'Neal had relatively narrow shoulders. He originally played guard, but his height increased dramatically in his senior year of high school, so he switched to playing inside.

Narrow shoulders, exaggerated height, and low weight make the supposedly 6'11" O'Neal appear significantly smaller than Gan Guoyang when they stand together.

Gan Guoyang's height is a solid 6 feet 10 inches (2.09 meters) barefoot, which is taller than many of the interior players who exaggerate their height.

In recent years, the practice of exaggerating height has become increasingly prevalent in the league, all in order to get a better draft pick.

So that the manager won't just glance at the height field and immediately pass on the candidate.

Jermaine O'Neal felt like he was fighting a mountain, with no chance of winning.

After more than half an hour of confrontation, both sides felt it was time to eat.

Kobe squatted on the ground, letting the sweat drip onto the floor.

He anticipated a large gap, but this gap is just too big.

He heard that during this year's Olympics, the Dream Team III, composed of Hakeem Olajuwon, Reggie Miller, Gary Payton, and others, was almost overtaken by the college team led by Tim Duncan during practice.

Kobe thought to himself, "If the Dream Team III was like this, and Tim Duncan could lead his team to defeat them, I can at least teach Forrest Gump a lesson in the rookie training camp."

Now I understand, the lesson wasn't taught to Forrest Gump; he ate so much he was about to throw up.

Kobe, of course, had no idea that Gan Guoyang had been studying him seriously for quite some time.

Today's game may have seemed effortless, but in reality, we were well-prepared and targeted at every turn, aiming to teach him a lesson.

When Kobe returned to the locker room to change, he was no longer as overly enthusiastic and arrogant as before. He took off his clothes and sat blankly on the bench, lost in thought.

O'Neal changed his clothes and sat down beside Kobe, hoping that they could find a place to have a good meal together once Kobe was in a better mood.

Gan Guoyang didn't pay much attention to the two little ones; today's training and lessons were enough for them to process for a while.

After changing his clothes, he went to the parking lot to find Quentin, where he ran into the little bull who had come out with him.

Gan Guoyang asked, "Hey! How tall are you?"

The little bull hesitated for a moment, then stammered, "Um... I'm 6 feet 9 inches."

Gan Guoyang laughed and said, "You're only a little taller than Kobe, maybe 6 feet 7 inches, or about 2 meters at most. It doesn't matter, the key is to see how you perform."

Little Bull seemed relieved to have gained Gan Guoyang's approval.

"What's your name?"

"Ben, Ben Wallace."

Gan Guoyang looked him up and down and asked, "Who introduced you to the training camp?"

Ben Wallace said, "It was Coach Bird. I was playing in the Summer League with the Celtics, and he thought I was good enough to let me try out in Portland."

Gan Guoyang nodded and said, "Keep up the good work, there will be a place for you on the Trail Blazers. Also, if you're not tall enough, remember to build up your muscle."

"Okay, thank you, Forrest Gump."

(End of this chapter)