Chapter 938 - 7 Challenger

As the world approached 1992, at the end of 1991, a superpower vanished.

The deeply symbolic red flag slowly descended from the Kremlin, and a social experiment concluded after 69 years.

Even America, the Soviet Union’s greatest rival, was caught off guard by its rapid collapse.

Against the backdrop of such a monumental international event, the NBA’s Christmas matchup seemed inconsequential. President Bush quickly addressed the nation in a televised speech, interpreting the major news Americans had just seen reported.

He framed the event as America’s victory in a 40-plus-year struggle against the other camp. He declared the Cold War officially over, celebrating that America’s values and ideals had ultimately prevailed.

A few weeks later, in his State of the Union address, Bush stated, "It is by God’s grace that we have won the victory."

He also proclaimed that a new world order was taking shape, with America emerging as the sole superpower.

As for the fragmented Soviet Union, its massive corpse would serve as a feast for various political forces to devour.

It was akin to an NBA superteam suddenly disbanding, where other strong teams would inevitably benefit, and some might even ascend overnight.

For instance, if the Portland Trail Blazers were suddenly to split internally, with Gan Guoyang deciding to leave and the team undergoing a full-scale rebuild, the League’s dynamics would change drastically.

Any team acquiring Ah Gan would instantly rise to the League’s top tier, enabling them to build a lineup and pursue championships.

Other mainstays like Sabonis, Lewis, and Porter would disperse to different strong teams, boosting their strength.

As for the Trail Blazers, fragmentation would mean starting anew, and they might never find another Ah Gan.

Fortunately, the Trail Blazers remained united, and Gan Guoyang had no intentions of leaving.

Although injuries plagued the team repeatedly, things had been improving lately, and Gan Guoyang was enjoying his best offensive season since 1987.

His average points per game climbed back above 30. By the end of December, he was achieving 33.5 points, 17.9 rebounds, and 3.7 blocks per game.

His two-point shooting percentage reached a historic peak, an astounding 66% — an intimidating figure for a center.

However, the December Player of the Month accolade ultimately went to Celtics guard Jeff Hornacek.

After Larry Bird’s retirement, Hornacek had taken on greater responsibilities in scoring and playmaking. The unassuming White guard averaged 21.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 6.1 assists in December, delivering an all-around performance that steadied the Celtics’ playoff chances.

Hornacek’s versatility surprised Boston’s media, further affirming their belief that trading Reggie Lewis for Hornacek and Divac was a wise decision.

The two intelligent White players perfectly addressed the gap left by Bird’s departure. This season, their stats soared, and the Celtics’ record did not suffer too dramatically.

On the other hand, Reggie Lewis appeared as more of a role player after joining the Trail Blazers. Ah Gan’s brilliance overshadowed him, making Lewis less prominent on the offensive front.

Moreover, Lewis’s lack of three-point prowess rendered him somewhat out of sync with the Trail Blazers’ offensive schemes. He primarily took on defensive assignments, isolated plays on the perimeter, and fast-break duties—nothing more.

After all, the Trail Blazers’ roster was loaded with talent, especially perimeter players skilled in creating their own shots. Lewis didn’t stand out as much.

Nonetheless, Jerry West, the mastermind behind the trade, continued to defend it as a mutually beneficial deal.

The Celtics needed to facilitate the transition between generations, while the Trail Blazers needed someone with the external scoring ability and physical gifts to compete one-on-one with Jordan and Pippen.

As the calendar flipped to 1992, Reggie Lewis’s performance improved steadily, and he began to deliver surprising displays.

With Sabonis recovering from injury, Bobby Berman was in no hurry to push Sabonis back into the starting lineup, fearing it might disrupt the team’s current chemistry.

Sabonis gradually regained his minutes via the bench, while Lewis used the opportunities in November and December to elevate his scoring to second-best on the team, reaching an average of 20 points per game.

Lewis had always possessed the ability, and when given the chance, he made the most of it without hesitation.

Especially in the November 29th game against the Bulls, after scoring only 11 points, Lewis told his teammates in the locker room, "Next game, I promise I’ll score 30 points."

Sure enough, in the following game against the Spurs, Lewis poured in 31 points, helping the Trail Blazers crush their opponents and kickstart December on a high note.

By this time, Reggie’s mother had successfully escaped the clutches of addiction. She had embraced Christianity and moved to Portland, hoping to be closer to her son.

In familial matters, Reggie Lewis’s wife became pregnant in late November or early December, with the baby expected to be born in August.

The arrival of new life gave Lewis immense strength, elevating his performance on the court. He was beginning to show potential to surpass Sabonis and become the Trail Blazers’ second-in-command.

Of course, within the Trail Blazers, no one cared about titles like "second-in-command."

Anyone could be the second-in-command as long as their performance that night was outstanding enough.

Veterans like Porter and Kossie could step up and become the best support next to Ah Gan.

They were determined to learn from last season’s lessons to prevent opponents from entirely targeting Gan Guoyang, leaving the rest of the team unsure how to respond.