The Golden Age of Basketball

Chapter 791 The Power of Truth

Before the game started, the Cleveland team invited Canadian pop singer Amanda Marshall to sing a song.

Then, renowned African American soul singer Brian McKnight and saxophonist David Samberg sang the American national anthem together.

"The Star-Spangled Banner" is probably the most adapted and covered song on the planet, with a new version appearing at every NBA game.

The players' entrance ceremony has also been revamped with a new twist: huge white hollow stars are placed in the two player tunnels, from which coaches and players emerge.

The visiting Western All-Stars took the stage first, led by head coach Tomjanovich, while the last to appear was Gan Guoyang, the All-Star vote leader—who received more votes than Michael Jordan, demonstrating his exceptional popularity.

Two years later, Gan Guoyang returned to the All-Star stage, and Cleveland fans greeted him with enthusiastic applause and cheers.

Off the court, David Stern applauded him with a smug smile. It was great that Forrest Gump could return for the 50th anniversary celebration in 1997; otherwise, it would have felt like something was missing.

The Eastern All-Stars, playing at home, then took the court. Their head coach was not Phil Jackson or Pat Riley, but rather Doug Collins, the head coach of the Pistons.

This year, the Bulls remain undefeated in the Eastern Conference, but Jackson has no intention of leading the All-Star team again. After a selection process, the league believes that the Pistons have made great progress and that Grant Hill of the Pistons is a rising star that the league is promoting. Therefore, the league gave Collins a chance to shine, so as to give Hill more opportunities.

In this All-Star voting, Hill ranked third in total votes, behind only Gan Guoyang and Michael Jordan, and slightly ahead of Charles Barkley.

This is enough to show how popular this forward from Duke University is with fans. He has quick breakthroughs and amazing speed on the court, and his beautiful playing style is loved by young fans.

Many people believe that Grant Hill plays like a young Michael Jordan, and given time, he might become a player who dominates the league's backcourt like Jordan.

Of course, Gan Guoyang knew in his heart that there would be no second Jordan, no second Bird, no second Magic Johnson, and certainly no second Forrest Gump.

Every superstar is unique. When this generation of stars leaves the NBA, new superstars will dominate the court, and they will all be the first of their kind.

However, in 1997, the entire NBA was enjoying the expansion benefits brought by superstars, and with the future uncertain, everyone was keen to replicate the path to success.

Grant Hill is considered the second Jordan, and his Duke classmate Chris Laettner is called the second Forrest Gump.

Leitner was selected for the All-Star team as an Eastern Conference reserve forward. Compared to his prime years in college, Leitner now looks much more weathered.

Now playing for the Hawks, partnering with Mutombo, he has led the Hawks to a top-three finish in the Eastern Conference, which has won him back the favor of fans.

In the early 1990s, players like Laettner, Hill, and Ball were incredibly popular across the United States, and along with Chris Webber and the Michigan Five, they were considered equals. The NCAA's popularity was no less than that of the NBA.

Otherwise, Leitner wouldn't have been selected for the 1992 Olympic Dream Team. At that time, he was very famous and extremely popular throughout the United States.

However, once he entered the NBA, people realized that Laettner was an excellent player, but he was far from his role model, Forrest Gump.

In fact, Laettner is a superstar in terms of personality, fighting spirit, willpower, and leadership. He was better than Hill at Duke and was a well-deserved leader.

But the cruel reality of the NBA is that physical attributes and other natural talents are often decisive. Without a solid physical foundation, everything else can only serve as icing on the cake.

Therefore, O'Neal was the undisputed number one draft pick in 1992, so after acquiring Kevin Garnett, a high school player, the Timberwolves immediately promoted Garnett to the starting lineup and traded him for Laettner.

Given Laettner's talent, if he had been born 20 years earlier, before the era of white centers was over, he could have dominated the scene like Dave Cowens.

If he had been born 20 years later, when the Alliance behemoths were all extinct, he could have fully unleashed his flexible and multifaceted talents.

Unfortunately, he entered the NBA in the 90s, an era that demanded the highest level of physical talent. Under Forrest Gump's leadership, a host of interior players emerged.

For a center of average size like Laettner who dominated the NCAA with his personality and skills, making it to the NBA All-Star game once would be quite an achievement.

When Leitner came on stage, the fans applauded and cheered for him, but it was far less enthusiastic than for Forrest Gump or Jordan.

For him, the craziness of his college days will never return.

After the opening ceremony, both teams took to the field with their starting lineups.

Western Conference: Center Gan Guoyang, Forwards Karl Malone and Kevin Garnett, Guards Stockton and Gary Payton.

Eastern Conference: Center Hakeem Olajuwon, forwards Scottie Pippen and Grant Hill, guards Michael Jordan and Penny Hardaway.

One of the biggest regrets of this All-Star Game was the large number of players who were absent due to injury.

Players like Charles Barkley, Drexler, David Robinson, Ewing, O'Neal, and Mourning, who are very popular with fans, are unable to participate due to injuries.

O'Neal didn't even come to Cleveland; he stayed home and watched TV.

This made the match less star-studded, but it also gave many young stars the opportunity to perform on stage.

Players such as Schrempf, Vin Baker, Joe Dumars, Kevin Garnett, and Chris Gatlin were selected to appear in front of fans across the United States.

In the center circle, Gan Guoyang and Hakeem Olajuwon are vying for the ball, the two old rivals standing face to face once again.

"Hakim, you've gained weight," Gan Guoyang said, concerned about his old friend's weight.

Hakeem Olajuwon smiled and shook his head, saying, "Please, Sonny, it's the All-Star Game, don't do this."

Hakeem Olajuwon thought Gan Guoyang was trash-talking again, and thought to himself that this guy had gone crazy, even resorting to psychological warfare in the All-Star game.

"I'm serious, you've definitely gained weight. I heard you married a young wife, she's only 18, is that true?"

This time, Olajuwon didn't shake his head; his smile turned awkward as he said, "This is a private matter, Sonny. Don't joke about it."

"I'm concerned about you. How are you feeling with a young wife? You seem to be in a bad mood."

"Stop talking, Sonny, let's play, let's play."

Most people wouldn't dare joke about something like this with Hakeem Olajuwon, but Gan Guoyang did.

In 1996, Hakeem Olajuwon married an 18-year-old woman, and it would be a lie to say that it didn't affect his performance.

Despite having assembled a formidable quartet of stars this season, the Heat's record is actually worse than last season.

On the one hand, Charles Barkley suffered a major injury mid-season and missed many games.

Another reason is that Hakeem Olajuwon, at 34, is not at his peak, and his young wife has drained a lot of his physical strength and energy.

Furthermore, the conflict between Olajuwon and Riley is deepening, and this could very well be their last season working together.

The referee tossed the ball into the air, and the All-Star Game, which fans had been eagerly anticipating, began.

Both players touched the ball at the same time, but instead of flying towards either side, the ball bounced off the sideline and was about to go out of bounds.

Gan Guoyang suddenly dove to save the ball, throwing it back while hovering in mid-air, and he himself flew straight to the scorer's table.

"Wow! Forrest Gump started off with a really difficult move. Is he really that hard-working? He's 32 years old."

Zhang Weiping, a CCTV commentator for the All-Star live broadcast, expressed concern for Gan Guoyang's health from the commentary booth.

Gan Guoyang quickly climbed out of the technical station, helped the staff member who had been knocked over to his feet, and then jumped out without any injury.

From that play, Hakeem Olajuwon knew that the gap between him and Forrest Gump had widened again, and he could no longer catch up with that beast.

Hakeem Olajuwon would never allow himself to make such a save again; he would break his back.

When Gan Guoyang returned to the field, the Western team had already completed their first attack.

Gary Payton attempted a 20-foot two-pointer from the baseline, but it clearly missed, and Pippen grabbed the rebound.

"I barely managed to save that ball!?" Gan Guoyang complained to Payton, saying that the kid's mid-range shot was completely unreliable.

However, it was soon the Western team's turn to attack. Hardaway attempted a three-pointer from the outside, but it missed completely and went out of bounds. It was the Western team's turn to get the ball.

At the start of the game, both sides played very relaxed with a fast pace of offense and defense, but their shooting percentages were not high, indicating that they had not yet found their rhythm.

Both sides kept missing shots. Payton took another shot but missed again. Jordan attempted a three-pointer, which bounced off the front of the rim.

Gan Guoyang played a beautiful through ball to Stockton, who was cutting inside, but Stockton's shot from the spot missed.

Hakeem Olajuwon tried to overpower Forrest Gump in the low post, but found he couldn't move past him at all. He was pushed further and further away from the baseline and eventually had to pass the ball.

It was clear that everyone was very relaxed, too relaxed. For over two minutes, through seven or eight rounds, they didn't score a single point, which was rather unseemly.

Gan Guoyang finally couldn't hold back anymore and angrily berated everyone, saying, "None of you can make a single shot, is this still an NBA All-Star game? You're not even as good as us in the CBA."

Just as he finished speaking, Gan Guoyang received the ball at the top of the arc, faced Pippen, and pulled up for a three-pointer, which went in!

"Happy weekend, Scottie!" Gan Guoyang said to Pippen after scoring the goal.

"Don't take it so seriously, Sonny, you're getting a little too excited," Pippen said with a long face.

However, Gan Guoyang's goal and trash talk did indeed get the stars excited even faster.

Penny Hardaway used his agile footwork to drive to the basket and, facing Kevin Garnett's defense, made a floater.

Gan Guoyang then received the ball in the low post, faced the basket with a Sigma step, used his footwork to drive into the paint, and slammed it home with a powerful two-handed dunk!

Gan Guoyang got off to a hot start, but Jordan responded with a precise mid-range jump shot, and the two sides gradually opened up the game.

Because the defensive intensity was relatively low, once the players warmed up, they began to showcase their unique skills.

Hakeem Olajuwon's low-post footwork, Karl Malone's pick-and-roll drives to the basket, Penny Hardaway's agile footwork, and Grant Hill's high-speed crossovers.

Aside from the initial shots where everyone tries to get a feel for the game, as the game progresses, shooting becomes impossible; once you get the ball, you have to drive inside – that's where the real show begins.

Halfway through the first quarter, the Eastern Conference called a timeout as both teams began rotating their starting lineups to give substitutes a chance to shine.

That's how the All-Star Game works; the players go up there to perform, and the fans want to see the stars show off their skills.

Compared to the All-Star Game of the 80s, the current All-Star Game has become increasingly entertainment-oriented, with players showcasing more and more flashy moves.

After the roster rotation, some young players came onto the court, such as Kevin Garnett, Chris Webber, Sprewell, Terrell Brandon, and others.

However, compared to the older generation of stars, they are still somewhat inexperienced, wavering between shooting and passing, and lacking experience in how to perform on stage.

Just like yesterday's rookie game, the scene became much more chaotic once the young stars came on stage.

The two sides began a high-speed hockey game of one side making a mistake and the other launching a fast break, and of course, there were some wonderful and beautiful goals.

Grant Hill received ample playing time, showcasing a back-to-the-basket dunk during a fast break.

Chris Webber put on a dribbling show, driving to the basket with a series of behind-the-back dribbles and finishing with a hook shot for two points.

Brandon then hit a difficult floater, and Sprewell received the pass, switching hands in mid-air for a left-handed layup.

Gan Guoyang sat with Stockton on the sidelines and said to head coach Tomjanovich, "Coach, let me play for another five minutes in the first half, that's about it. Give the young players more opportunities."

Tomjanovich said, "That won't do. You're the top vote-getter. If you only get a short playing time, the fans and the commissioner will complain. Play more, Sonny. You haven't played in an All-Star game in ages."

Gan Guoyang shrugged. Returning to the All-Star Game certainly felt familiar and warm, but for a veteran like him, it was essentially a tea party. Everyone would get together to exchange ideas and learn from each other. Occasionally, there would be a few rounds where everyone would give their all and show their skills, and the rest of the time would be show time.

As for making a name for oneself at the All-Star Game and leaving a deep impression on fans, that's something for young people to do.

Gan Guoyang thought that he had accomplished the task by getting the pot and stove heated up at the beginning and getting everyone into the zone, but little did he know that Lao Tang was not going to let him off the hook.

"Old Tom, you're not trying to wear me down so I can't beat the Rockets in the playoffs, are you?"

"What are you talking about? Rest a little longer and get ready to go back on the court. The fans can't do without you." This year, Tomjanovich's Rockets have emerged as a dark horse in the Western Conference, and with Chris Webber as their core, they are playing exceptionally well.

They are currently ranked third in the Western Conference, and they are very likely to face the Trail Blazers in the second round of the playoffs.

Coach Lao Tang has high emotional intelligence and is good at getting along with players, especially young players who obey him.

The Rockets are not a particularly unique team tactically, but they have high morale and strong internal unity, making them a formidable opponent.

Near the end of the first quarter, Gan Guoyang returned to the court and ran laps with the young players.

Of course, he wasn't just going through the motions. When he had the chance to shoot, he didn't hold back and drove to the basket to finish with a powerful dunk.

At the start of the second quarter, Gan Guoyang went to the bench to rest, allowing young players like Garnett and Webber to showcase their abilities on the court.

Gan Guoyang returned to the court in the latter part of the second quarter, at which point the game had become more intense, and the competition between the two sides became increasingly fierce.

Jordan and Glen Rice scored consecutive points, helping the Eastern team widen the gap. Gan Guoyang couldn't watch his team fall so far behind.

After entering the game, he first intercepted Pippen's pass to Laettner on the defensive end, and then made a fast break and drove to the basket for a layup.

He then blocked Vin Baker's shot, and in a half-court play, he backed down Dikembe Mutombo, pushing the 2.18-meter African giant out of the paint, and stunned the entire arena with a one-handed dunk.

Poor Mutombo, averaging 3.3 blocks per game this season and a strong contender for Defensive Player of the Year, looked as fragile and helpless as a paper doll in front of Gan Guoyang.

“You need to gain weight, Dikembe, and build some muscle,” Gan Guoyang began to gesticulate again.

All the star players are annoyed by this about him, but there's nothing they can do about it.

At this point, only Michael Jordan could step up and counterattack.

Jordan first easily broke through the basket and scored with a layup, then stole the ball and assisted Olajuwon on a fast break to score.

The Eastern team maintained their lead until the final seconds of the first half when Gan Guoyang hit a three-pointer.

Immediately during a defensive play, Gan Guoyang attempted to steal the ball from Olajuwon, but was called for a foul by the referee, sending Olajuwon to the free-throw line.

It seems the referees weren't giving Gan Guoyang much face tonight, but Olajuwon was, missing his first free throw.

"Go to bed early tonight, Hakim!" Gan Guoyang launched another psychological attack.

As a result, Olajuwon's second free throw also missed, and Gan Guoyang knew as soon as he took the shot that it was going to miss.

At that moment, Jordan, like a cheetah tamed in the grass, suddenly broke free from Richmond, who was guarding him.

He charged towards the basket, leaped high, and was about to complete a spectacular putback dunk.

However, Gan Guoyang rushed over from the other side and also pressed his hand on the ball.

The two collided in mid-air; Jordan held the ball with both hands, while Gan Guoyang pressed the ball down with one hand—a clash between two of the strongest players.

Gan Guoyang was still a step ahead, forcefully pressing the ball down, while Jordan landed smoothly, still holding the ball in his hand.

While everyone else was still in a daze, the strength, explosiveness, reaction speed, and balance of the two of them were evident, completely surpassing the others.

The referee blew the whistle for a jump ball, and Jordan shook his head. Wasn't it a joke to jump ball with Forrest Gump?
As expected, Gan Guoyang managed to tip the ball with his strength, but Stockton's long-range three-pointer missed, and the first half ended.

During halftime, another highlight of this All-Star Game will begin: the league will hold a grand award ceremony to recognize the 50 greatest players in NBA history.

This ceremony is undoubtedly more memorable than the All-Star Game itself. Many years from now, people may forget the process of the All-Star Game, but they will not forget this gathering that encapsulates fifty years of NBA history.

Gan Guoyang and his teammates returned to the locker room. He took off his sportswear and took out his red jacket from the locker.

He and the center forwards arrived at a tunnel in one corner of the field. The lights in the center of the field were all off, and the 50 greatest players were about to enter.

Standing beside Gan Guoyang are some of the greatest centers in history: Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Nate Thurmond, George Mikan, Willis Reed, Dave Cowens, and many more.

The center position is full of stars, and Gan Guoyang, standing among them, is not overshadowed at all; on the contrary, he is the most dazzling star.

Thanks to the pension policy, the veterans were very grateful to Agan. They all came over to shake hands with him to show their respect, and Gan Guoyang also hugged him to show his friendliness. He is undoubtedly the glory of the center.

George Mikan, a veteran of NBA centers and the first superstar in history, shook Gan Guoyang's hand and said, "You are a miracle kid. I knew about you when you were in high school and started to learn about you. You are an epic."

Faced with the high praise from his seniors, Gan Guoyang also became humble, saying, "No, no, I just stood on the shoulders of giants. Without you, there would be no NBA, and I wouldn't be who I am today."

As a commercial league, the NBA started as a regional minor league in 1946. It competed with many basketball leagues, experienced dismal operations, was on the verge of bankruptcy, and was almost swallowed up by the ABA.

Ultimately, through the combined efforts of several generations of presidents, talented players, and a vast number of basketball enthusiasts, it has grown into a commercial behemoth centered around the game of basketball, with influence radiating globally.

One thing the NBA does very well is that it attaches great importance to the inheritance of history, and values ​​the recording, commemoration and review of the league's past from weakness to strength, from decline to prosperity.

This is very similar to the Chinese tradition. The Chinese are good at studying history. With thousands of years of civilization, they have recorded where a nation came from and what paths it has taken by carving and writing.

This record is a weighty legacy, endowing a nation and country with national spirit and divinity, and enabling a country without a dominant religious tradition to possess extraordinary consensus and cohesion.

The NBA can be said to be similar. In its short 50-year history, countless people have written books and biographies about it, and a wealth of video footage has been carefully preserved, giving later generations the opportunity to understand and admire an era, and laying the foundation for the NBA to be regarded as a god.

Gan Guoyang is undoubtedly the most dazzling and unavoidable chapter in this history. Even though he did not return to the field in 1996 and his field honors did not improve, he is still the most magnificent chapter in this history.

Amidst the majestic music, the NBA's 50 Greatest Players emerged from the four corners of the court in turn. An X-shaped stage had been set up in the center of the court, and they each took their places in front of it in order.

Apart from the late Pete Maravich and Jerry West, who was unable to attend due to a conflict with the league over recruiting Shaquille O'Neal, a total of 48 of the 50 greatest NBA players were present, embodying the essence of 50 years of NBA history.

Starting with Michael Jordan in the guard group, the host introduced these superstars one by one, and each superstar introduced would stand on the stage to receive cheers and applause from the audience.

When Gan Guoyang stepped onto the stage, the audience erupted in thunderous applause and cheers. The television anchor bluntly declared, "This is the greatest player in NBA history, the most magical, and the most symbolic superstar. Seven-time NBA champion, seven-time Finals MVP, four-time regular season MVP, two-time Defensive Player of the Year, nine-time rebounding champion, and the 1984-1985 Rookie of the Year—undisputed number one in history, Sonny Gan!"

On camera, Gan Guoyang smiled and waved to the fans. Not only were the fans applauding, but all the other superstars were also applauding him. His achievements are unparalleled.

Finally, all the superstars gathered together for a group photo, leaving behind a memorable silhouette.

The second half continued, but after the halftime "awards," the veterans were all excited and lost interest in the outcome of the game.

The stage was handed over to the young players, to rising stars like Garnett, Webber, Rice, and Grant Hill, and the Eastern Conference team gradually gained the upper hand.

Knicks player Glen Rice had an outstanding second half, consistently hitting shots to help the East team take the lead and ultimately secure the victory.

Glen Rice scored 20 points in the third quarter, 24 points in the first half, and 26 points in the end, earning the biggest honor of his career so far: All-Star MVP.

For superstars like Jordan and Olajuwon, the All-Star MVP is just a game-like honor, and the so-called Star of Stars is just an honorary title.

But for Glen Rice, it was still an MVP award, and he was very happy to receive it, as it would leave his mark on NBA history books.

When Rice received the award, Gan Guoyang had already returned to the locker room to change. Tonight, he could go out for a drink and some good food with his old friends.

The locker room was full of people: reporters, NBA officials, bodyguards, and other casual acquaintances, including the children of the stars, all chatting and laughing together.

Gan Wenshan mingled among them, running around with his friends Curry, Thompson, Mike Stockton, and others, greeting different star players—a privilege many children don't have.

They are exposed to this at a very young age, which will have a significant impact on their future lives.

At that moment, Quentin walked in and whispered in Gan Guoyang's ear, "Sonny, there's one of your fans who wants autographs and a donation. He wrote to Avia before, and you promised to meet him in Cleveland."

"Oh? Really? I almost forgot about that."

“You have too much to do. This is in the memo: the child is outside.”

"Okay, let him in. Don't make things difficult for him."

A 13-year-old Black boy timidly entered the West Army locker room; without Quentin's guidance, he wouldn't have even been able to get through the passageway.

He glanced at Gan Wenshan, Curry and others who were playing around. The children were also looking at him. He wondered whose kids these were.

Walking up to Gan Guoyang, he took out several white T-shirts from his backpack and said, "Gan, I want some autographs to sell to fans and raise money for my travel expenses to participate in the game."

"I remember now, your coach wrote me a letter, and I even donated some shoes to you, right?"

"Yes, Thanks."

The child was a little shy. Gan Guoyang signed these T-shirts, which increased their value dozens of times over.

While signing autographs, Gan Guoyang asked, "Are you my fan?"

The Black boy nodded: "Yes, yes, I'm a big fan of yours."

"Really? Will you wear my number 11 jersey?"

"Forehead…"

The boy was speechless. Gan Guoyang looked up at him, his gaze unbearable for a 13-year-old.

"I...I wear jersey number 23...and sometimes I wear number 32."

Gan Guoyang smiled and continued signing his name on the T-shirt.

After all the T-shirts were signed, Gan Guoyang handed them to the boy and said, "Lying is inevitable, but the power of lies is weak, while the truth is much stronger."

The boy nodded as if he understood, said thank you again, and left the locker room.

After the boy left, Gan Guoyang asked Quentin, "What's the child's name?"

"Um... I think... I don't quite remember, what... James, an ordinary name."

In 1997, without Willie, we participated in the U.S. Amateur League for U12 and under, aiming to compete in the national championships held in Salt Lake City.

Considering the journey, we'll need a lot of money, so we'll go door-to-door asking for donations, or simply stand on the streets of Akron and beg for money like those homeless people with signs hanging around their necks.

With the help and advice of a business partner, Coach Drew found two ways for us to raise funds.

One way we sold tape was by getting hundreds of boxes of tape from a company for free. We carried bundles and bundles of tape around, knocking on doors to sell it and make money.

Secondly, Coach Drew wrote a letter to NBA superstar Gan Guoyang, asking for help in the form of some funds and equipment.

We were too embarrassed to ask for too much money directly, so we discussed having him sign some All-Star culture T-shirts at the Cleveland All-Star Game. Many people would buy them at high prices, and selling them would bring in a considerable income.

That night I had the opportunity to enter the Gund Center and, led by bodyguards, entered the Western Conference All-Star team's locker room. I was a little shy. I saw the children of several stars, including Forrest Gump's son, Gan Wenshan, Dell Curry's son, Stephen, and Thompson's son. They could come and go in the locker room at will.

I sensed the distance.

I asked Forrest Gump for his autograph, and he sat there like a god; his presence was the strongest I had ever seen.

He was signing those T-shirts, and I was so close to him, my heart was pounding. Suddenly, he looked up and asked me, "Are you a fan of mine?"

I wanted to nod, but then I realized something and shook my head, saying, "No, I'm a Michael Jordan fan, I wear number 23."

Forrest Gump smiled and said, "Truth will give you strength, kid."

We made enough money selling those T-shirts, and finally set off.

—Excerpt from LeBron James' autobiography, "My Brother, My Basketball," published in 2009.

(End of this chapter)