[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-golden-age-of-basketball":3,"chapter-the-golden-age-of-basketball-the-golden-age-of-basketball-chapter-1948":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","The Golden Age of Basketball",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1445315,1896,"Chapter 1948 25: Decision","the-golden-age-of-basketball-chapter-1948",1948,"\u003Cp>Gan Guoyang's return to Portland for a game ended in an unexpected manner, with an unexpected result.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the game, Gan Guoyang came out of the locker room for an interview, and faced with reporters' questions, he remained silent for a long time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a while, he said: \"This feeling is too complex, hard to put into words.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the post-game press conference, when asked why he didn't take the shot himself in the final play, Gan Guoyang said: \"I completely respect the coach's arrangement, it has nothing to do with who the opponent is. I was the third option in this tactical setup and a point of defensive attraction. The Glory Team is a collective, we all completed our tasks, and I am proud of them.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Throughout the game, Gan Guoyang scored 44 points, once again dominating the court.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, even with such a splendid performance, the Glory Team only won by one point, needing a buzzer-beater to secure the victory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he had been less efficient, not as terrifyingly high-performance, the Glory Team wouldn't have been able to beat the Trail Blazers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Trail Blazers' defense, under Rick Carlisle's guidance, indeed reached a very high level.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once an offensive team, now adapting to a defensive strategy, it proves that Carlisle is a highly adaptable coach.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ability to excel in both offense and defense shows that Carlisle has the potential to become a great coach.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the night of the game, the Glory Team flew away from Portland back to Las Vegas.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gan Guoyang took leave to stay in Portland, and the next day had dinner with Bird, Carlisle, and other old friends from the Trail Blazers Team.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To avoid media disturbance, they chose a very low-key Chinese restaurant, where everyone gathered to have a small drink.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bird's hair was sparser, and the wrinkles on his face were more than when he first arrived in Portland, showing that working in management is as grueling as coaching.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In 2000, when Gan Guoyang retired with a group of veterans, it led to half of the Trail Blazers' championship lineup collapsing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Over the past two seasons, Larry Bird has been working tirelessly, trying to reassemble a championship-level roster for the Trail Blazers through drafts and free agency.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Larry, you look much older. I left you such a good young roster, how come you still can't beat the Lakers?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then you might as well not retire and keep playing, wouldn't that be better? Who knew you'd run off to Las Vegas!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bird continued to complain, as after Gan Guoyang retired, he found working in Portland less enjoyable and fulfilling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Phil Knight, controlling the Nike Group, bought the Trail Blazers, and although they promised to entrust all basketball operations to Bird without interference,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>as the largest shoe brand in America, Nike couldn't possibly not get involved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Initially, after Ah Gan retired, Bird wanted to elevate Little O'neal, making him parallel with Kobe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As powerful as Kobe is, sharp as a knife, his overly edgy personality isn't quite suited to be the team's leader.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In comparison, Little O'neal is more harmonious, and how he blends with Little O'neal would benefit the team's management.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for the locker room, Bird hoped that Ben Wallace could become the locker room leader and defensive leader, as he possesses a streetwise bravado, best suited for interacting with other Black players.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under Bird's balance strategy, Kobe would focus on playing, Big Ben on defense and controlling the locker room, and Little O'neal serving as a balance, creating a very stable triangle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three of them all joined the NBA in 1996, providing a good relationship foundation, allowing the team to maintain a good atmosphere and stay competitive for a long time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, Nike didn't see it that way; they believed Kobe had to be the team's leader.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because Kobe has high popularity, can sell shoes, and has high commercial value.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sneakers and merchandise sold by Big Ben and Little O combined aren't even half as much as Kobe's.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, Nike is focused on elevating Kobe to the level of a top star in the league and, after his Adidas contract expires, capturing Kobe under the Nike banner, further exploiting his commercial value.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the NBA, business certainly outweighs basketball, so Bird's idea of a \"three-headed monster\" was vetoed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kobe was established as the heir of Portland after Ah Gan, being the leader both on and off the court, with everything centered around him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kobe's on-court skills are indeed not an issue, but in terms of personality, controlling the locker room, and relationships with teammates, he lags far behind Gan Guoyang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While having dinner with Gan Guoyang, Bird couldn't help but complain: \"Aside from basketball, Kobe is an asshole, I'm cleaning up after him every day.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gan Guoyang laughed and said: \"Come on, Larry, in the NBA, aside from basketball, who isn't an asshole?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bird nodded and said: \"You're right, you're the number one asshole. Aren't you going around telling people you've declined to become Larry Bird?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gan Guoyang replied confidently: \"Larry, look at it differently, it should be 'Larry Bird finally caught up with Ah Gan'. Doesn't that sound much better?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Fack, fack you, Sonny, you really are an asshole. But I also genuinely envy you, being able to still play.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'm grateful for it, truly. This season, many of my ideas have changed, I still want to win and get the championship. But as long as I can stay on the court, compete, watch my teammates grow, and the team get better, I feel fulfilled and happy.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Because you're old, Sonny. You know, I used to hate kids. But now, when I drive by a school and see kids playing and kicking a ball in the schoolyard, I actually feel peace and joy inside.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They reminisced about many past events and helped Carlisle analyze the team's current situation, providing some advice.\u003C\u002Fp>",984,"2026-06-06T01:42:08.816Z",1,"novelbin.me","eb8f3d0a33fe1f6b280c48739d6fe9de74a401f6017e6c29f427f52ee750d39f","the-golden-age-of-basketball-chapter-1949","the-golden-age-of-basketball-chapter-1947",2033,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-golden-age-of-basketball-cover.jpg"]