[{"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-741":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},1444308,1896,"Chapter 741 - 3 You Are Brave_2","the-golden-age-of-basketball-chapter-741",741,"\u003Cp>West’s purpose was clear: the 12th man on the team was Ah Gan’s bodyguard and enforcer; should the game get explosive, the 12th man needed to be able to step in and settle matters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If things couldn’t be settled, then they needed to take down the opposing side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the finals against the Pistons, Gan Guoyang was suspended for two games.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, the Trail Blazers won both home games, and it was a good thing that Isiah Thomas couldn’t play in the second game.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Similar incidents might occur in the future, so it’s essential to have a scapegoat and tough guy on the bench.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Apart from Davis, the Trail Blazers picked up several players in free agency to sign short contracts, supporting the training camp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sabonis missed the rookie training camp due to a knee injury, and his doctor advised him to rest well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the World Championships for men’s basketball, Sabonis was greatly exhausted, and his knee was swollen with fluid; it was his last time playing for the Soviet Union.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Petrović and Divac arrived in Portland on time to participate in the rookie training camp, but they had gone from being inseparable to being complete strangers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Previously, their lockers were next to each other; now, they were placed at opposite ends, very far apart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They used to joke and laugh during every practice and go home together afterward, returning to the training center together the next day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, they went their separate ways after training; Divac always left first, while Petrović would stay a little longer before leaving, ignoring each other during practice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At first, Bobby Berman didn’t know what had happened and scolded them, telling them not to act like petulant children.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Later, Beelman learned the whole story – Divac had become a national public enemy in Croatia, and Petrović faced immense pressure after returning to his country.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside Croatia, many fans wished for Petrović to leave Portland, believing he should no longer play with Divac.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Petrović didn’t want to leave Portland, where he was just beginning to rise in the League; besides, he had also won the championship – his basketball career was just starting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Here he had Coach Bellman, who valued him, Ah Gan, who was a figure to learn from and chase after for life, passionate and adorable fans, and a good locker room atmosphere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Petrović really couldn’t think of any reason to leave, but he also didn’t know how to interact with Divac.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The more intimate their relationship used to be, the more awkward it was now between them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beelman saw this, Gan Guoyang saw it, Jerry West saw it too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One day after training, as the players left one by one, only Gan Guoyang and Petrović were left in the gym.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These two always trained the hardest and for the longest time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Compared to last season, Petrović had changed quite a bit in appearance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before, he had a head of thick, curly long hair that made him look like a young, graceful boy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This summer, Petrović cut his hair short, changing the fluffy curls into a regular length.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This change disappointed many female fans who liked his handsome appearance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another point, Petrović’s body was significantly stronger than last season.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During the offseason, he hired a physical trainer to hone his body, increasing his muscle mass and weight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Last season he had already laid a good foundation, but the dense schedule and physical exertion didn’t allow for much muscle gain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After completing the World Championship, he had a solid block of time for training and rest, and his weight and muscle mass grew rapidly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Last year, Petrović was noticeably thin, and because his back muscles weren’t thick enough, he had a slight hunchback.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After systematic training over the summer, his body became broader and thicker, his hunchback disappeared, and his figure became more upright.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Ah Gan’s words, \"You look more like a man now.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every day after training, he would find time to play one-on-one with Gan Guoyang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was still no match for Gan Guoyang, but compared to last season, he clearly understood how to use his body, how to use confrontation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead of trying to rely solely on speed and technique to get past Gan Guoyang’s defense, this allowed him to succeed sometimes and score some beautiful baskets.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’m proud of your progress, Drazan. Now, the distance between you and me is merely 0.9 Michael Jordan,\" complimented Gan Guoyang to Petrović.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, Petrović wasn’t too happy about it; in fact, he was gloomy throughout the training camp, due to Divac and the political tension back in Yugoslavia.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gan Guoyang looked at the worry between Petrović’s eyebrows and said, \"Hey, Drazan, I heard you want to seek a trade, leave Portland.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing Gan Guoyang say this, Petrović quickly denied, \"No! No, I haven’t... I really like staying in Portland, it’s nice here, very nice.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then why do you look so downcast? This season is when we have to defend our championship.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ah Gan, you know the reason. I... I don’t know how to interact with Vlade, I can’t do it. Can you help me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gan Guoyang fell silent; at the Trail Blazers, he was always omnipotent, but he was powerless when it came to Sabonis, Petrović, and Divac.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gan Guoyang shot a three-pointer, scoring it perfectly, and said, \"Some things are impossible to compromise and smooth over; you should understand that.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing Ah Gan say this, Petrović’s gaze dimmed and he said, \"Maybe I really should leave... it’s better than this awkward situation now, instead of making it difficult for you guys.\"\u003C\u002Fp>",932,"2026-06-06T01:41:37.192Z",1,"novelbin.me","cdc25e8f4bfe5114a99ff146ebf55cf1e8f5c943cfeee514b7ce642886b22f18","the-golden-age-of-basketball-chapter-742","the-golden-age-of-basketball-chapter-740",2033,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-golden-age-of-basketball-cover.jpg"]