Chapter 983 - 24: The Long Wait_2

During the NBA summer overseas games, Asia has become a key area, especially China, whose vast market potential is gradually being released, and the profits behind it are quite astonishing.

Therefore, although Stern may not go to great lengths to ensure Gan Guoyang wins the championship, after all, this guy isn’t American, but he won’t cause trouble either, as no one objects to money.

Especially someone like Stern, a born businessman, who loves basketball but loves promoting it even more, making the NBA a world phenomenon is one of his core strategies, distinguishing him from other major leagues.

As Magic Team’s general manager Pat Williams said, "David Stern could sell anvils to drowning men."

Nowadays, NBA games are broadcast in over 80 countries worldwide, the league’s broadcasting fees have exceeded 20 million US Dollars, increasing by 400 percent over five years, and they continue to grow rapidly at an annual rate of 30%-50%.

Stern also envisioned that by 1994, the McDonald’s Open could be turned into a World Club Championship, held in autumn, during the preseason stage, where NBA champions and champions of other leagues around the globe would compete against each other.

This is Stern’s dream, to make the NBA a competition with true global influence, making the title of "world champion" for NBA champions genuinely deserving.

Ah Gan has played a crucial role in this process; besides Jordan, no player in the league is as well-known as he is. Many people first engaged with basketball and the NBA through Ah Gan, and they support him unconditionally in winning the championship—passerby fans are like this, they worship the strong, anticipate legends and miracles, and love straightforward heroic stories.

Jordan is strong and very popular, but he hasn’t won a championship; he can’t beat Ah Gan, and the Bulls can’t defeat the Trail Blazers, which is the biggest flaw.

The award ceremony has ended, and Gan Guoyang brought his fourth MVP trophy back to the locker room, placing it in the locker.

Reggie Lewis stared enviously at the MVP trophy, his eyes unblinking.

Gan Guoyang asked, "What, do you want it?"

Lewis nodded and said, "I want it, but not yours, I want my own."

Gan Guoyang patted him on the shoulder and said, "You’ll have a chance to compete for it; as long as you perform well enough, I’ll support you."

Lewis’s eyes lit up, but then he shook his head, saying, "Portland’s MVP will always be you."

Gan Guoyang waved his hand, saying, "MVP always belongs to the most outstanding person, if I’m the best, it belongs to me; if I’m not, and you are, it belongs to you. Keep it up, kid."

Lewis’s performance this season has been impressive, offensively becoming the team’s second scorer, defensively the top front line lock, the Trail Blazers’ vanguard against Jordan.

For the first time in his career, he was selected for the All-Star during the regular season.

In the playoffs, Gan Guoyang was able to relax on scoring because Reggie Lewis could take on a significant amount of possession, efficiently converting it into points.

Lewis’s playoff offensive performance was even better than in the regular season; in terms of versatility, he was not as good as Drexler, but in functionality, he was a better fit for Ah Gan than Drexler.

And he was only 26 this year, with enough room for growth under Ah Gan’s guidance, possibly achieving MVP one day.

Encouraged by Gan Guoyang, Reggie Lewis followed him out of the locker room back to the court.

The game between the Trail Blazers and Jazz team is about to start.

Jazz players have been waiting on the bench for a long time.

Karl Malone watched the entire award process intently.

Since entering the league in 1985, Karl Malone has always regarded Ah Gan as his target to advance and surpass.

When he was still a rookie, Ah Gan was already a world champion, equivalent to Ah Gan’s starting point being the endpoint of his lifelong pursuit.

This world is so unfair; other people’s starting points are often your endpoints, but this doesn’t mean the road you’ve traveled is meaningless.

Because only you can experience the scenery along the way to your endpoint.

Even if you can’t reach the end, the footprints along the way have their meaning.

Malone, like Stockton, was selected for the 1992 American Olympic men’s basketball national team.

This is recognition for his years of relentless practice; he is no longer that boy from Louisiana with poor free throws, falling down on the court, crying off the court.

Both teams are on the court, and Gan Guoyang is jumping with Mark-Eaton at midcourt, Malone stands nearby, calming his mind.

He stepped onto this stage to be able to look Gan Guoyang in the eye, and it would be even better if he could defeat him.

Malone told himself silently, I have come this far for so long, to come here, not just to see you, but to make something happen, or simply keep you in Portland.

Before the game starts, there’s always a myriad of ambitions.

When the game truly begins, reality always makes one sad.

Yi Dun used his height and wingspan to gain possession.

The Jazz team started their offense, and Jerry Sloan nervously chewed gum on the sidelines.

Stockton controlled the ball, arriving at Malone’s favorite left side position, and Malone requested the ball with his back facing outward.

Sabonis started off against Malone, leaving Gan Guoyang more in the Three Second Zone for rim protection, Malone’s guarding task was assigned to Sabonis.

Malone turned to face the basket upon receiving the ball; under normal circumstances, he could directly take a mid-range shot.

But Sabonis quickly closed in, using frontal pressure defense to push Malone into making other choices.

Malone could break through, Sabonis had already left the right side open for Malone, but in the Three Second Zone, Gan Guoyang was waiting for him.