The Golden Age of Basketball

Chapter 344 Everyone's Father

Gan Guoyang's first Big Man balance training session ended with Kermit Washington and Hakeem Olajuwon shoving him together.

In this process, Hakeem Olajuwon contributed the most, and it seemed like he wouldn't give up until he had thoroughly humiliated Gan Guoyang, which was partly due to personal grudges.

After training, Gan Guoyang generously treated Hakeem Olajuwon to dinner, and also invited Clyde Drexler and Vandeweghe, who were also training in Los Angeles.

Drexler spent most of the summer traveling between major cities like Houston, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and New York, staying in each place for several weeks.

While attending various basketball training camps, he also hunted for women in big cities, indulging in food, drink, and entertainment—something most basketball players can't do without in the summer: sports, gambling, alcohol, and women.

While in Los Angeles, he lived with Kiki Vandeweghe, whose family had settled there. He chose the restaurant for them, a very famous Chinese restaurant.

Drexler and his team arrived first, causing a small commotion at the Chinese restaurant. Some people came up to ask, "Are you NBA players?" After receiving an affirmative answer, some people asked for autographs, and two pretty girls even left their phone numbers.

When Gan Guoyang arrived at the restaurant with Olajuwon, the situation changed completely. In Drexler's words, "Anyone who didn't know better would have thought the president had arrived."

From the moment he entered the Chinese restaurant, a large number of people followed and squeezed in. Some enthusiastic fans wanted to touch him, hug him, or even kiss him—Gan Guoyang has a great influence among female fans.

With Quentin's protection, Gan Guoyang squeezed into the store and only found temporary peace after going upstairs to a private room in the restaurant. He breathed a sigh of relief and said, "It seems that the balance training should be conducted in the fan group, where the effect will definitely be the best."

Hakeem Olajuwon looked down through the window and said, "A lot of people are waiting for you. If you want, why don't you go down and practice?"

"I only brought one set of clothes with me when I went out. I don't want to be shirtless for the rest of the time."

For Hakeem Olajuwon, having dinner with Gan Guoyang and the others was a little awkward, especially since they had lost to the Trail Blazers in the Western Conference Finals.

But Drexler was a good friend of his, and Gan Guoyang was indeed a good person, so he had no reason to refuse.

Moreover, he had another motive: he wanted to observe how Gan Guoyang interacted with his teammates in private.

Hakeem Olajuwon was young and the Rockets' best player, but he wasn't the team's leader. Bill Fitch often said he wasn't ready to be a leader yet.

The only leader of the Rockets is Coach Fitch; everyone has to listen to him.

Gan Guoyang is different; everyone says he is a born leader and the undisputed boss of the Portland Trail Blazers.

Even Drexler said that Clyde is two years older than Gan Guoyang and entered the league a year earlier, so why would he accept Gan as the leader?
Is it because Forrest Gump is a good cook?
In their daily interactions, Hakeem Olajuwon simply found Forrest Gump quite amusing, occasionally putting on airs, always relaxed, seemingly not caring much about anything, and very generous, but without any of the authority of a leader.

In Hakeem Olajuwon's mind, being a leader meant having a stern face and making everyone fear you.

Of course, no one is unafraid of Forrest Gump on the field, but off the field, he seems too approachable.

Moreover, he even cooked for everyone—after watching the movie "The Godfather," Hakeem Olajuwon learned that gang leaders also cook for their underlings.

Hakeem Olajuwon was eager to know what it was about Gan Guoyang that made him such a unique and outstanding leader of a championship team at such a young age.

NBA teams are not as simple as they seem to outsiders; everyone loves each other and always works together towards a common goal.

Even in ordinary company teams, it's inevitable that there will be backstabbing, superficial harmony but underlying discord, and mutual sabotage.

Moreover, in NBA teams teeming with star players, there are plenty of eccentric and temperamental individuals bursting with hormones, troubled teenagers with terrible childhood experiences, and oddballs lacking paternal or maternal love.

The Trail Blazers generally have a lot of well-behaved kids, but not all of them are saints. For example, Drexler came from a complicated family background. He was an easygoing and elegant person on the outside, but very proud on the inside.

In Hakeem Olajuwon's memory, Drexler was arrogant and defiant, once saying that he wanted to be the boss in Portland and that no one could order him around or make him do things he didn't like.

Now it's great. It's said that he's even changed his habit of sleeping in late. Gan Guoyang has made him get up early every morning to train, which is simply unbelievable.

During the meal, everyone chatted about all sorts of things. Gan Guoyang didn't say much; he focused on eating. Drexler was the center of attention at the table.

His conversations revolved around beautiful women, and he had been having a great time in Los Angeles lately because there were so many pretty young actresses there.

These minor stars survive on the fringes of Hollywood. They are beautiful and have great figures, but there are too many people like them in Hollywood, and only a very few can become big stars.

Most of them only make brief appearances in movies and TV shows, playing minor, insignificant roles. Many of them are keen on associating with social celebrities and sports stars.

Moreover, Los Angeles is Magic Johnson's territory, and Drexler would hang out with Johnson in his spare time. With this lecherous Sodom around, he wouldn't have trouble finding pretty girls.

Just as they were getting into the conversation, Gan Guoyang suddenly interrupted Drexler and asked, "How is your daughter now?"

Drexler paused noticeably, then said, "Oh... she's in Houston with her mother, doing well." Gan Guoyang said, "Don't always focus your attention on other young women; pay more attention to your daughter. She's a truly important person."

As he spoke, Gan Guoyang took out several children's picture books, toys, and some trinkets from his bag and handed them to Drexler, saying, "You'll be going to Houston this summer, right? Go see her. These are things I'm giving her. Give them to her, don't run away from Clyde."

Drexler took the items and nodded to indicate that he understood.

After the meal, Drexler and Olajuwon went out to have some fun, while Gan Guoyang and Vandeweghe went to the Golden Cinema to watch a Hong Kong martial arts film.

On the way, Hakeem Olajuwon asked Drexler, "Why do you think Forrest Gump is like your father? What right does he have to interfere in your private life? It's really annoying."

Hakeem Olajuwon knew that Drexler had a daughter, but he didn't know the specifics. He believed that as a friend, he shouldn't meddle in other people's private affairs.

Drexler, however, said, "Forrest Gump is my daughter's godfather. He helped me a lot with my relationship with her, and I feel great about it, really. At first, I also felt that he overstepped his bounds, but you know, Akim, sometimes you just need someone to cross the line to correct you. To be honest, don't laugh, Forrest Gump is like a father to all of us. Everyone listens to him on big and small matters. He always gives good advice and suggestions, and he's willing and able to get involved. People in big cities are becoming more and more distant, and there aren't many warm-hearted people left."

Although Drexler theoretically had three fathers, one died, one biological father neglected him, and one stepfather with whom he had a very distant relationship. Years later, Drexler stated in his autobiography, "Manuel (his stepfather) was not my father, but I respected him."

Hakeem Olajuwon said he couldn't understand it. Of course he couldn't understand it. He didn't know that Gan Guoyang had acted as both a father and an older brother in the orphanage.

On the other hand, Vandeweghe and Gan Guoyang weren't very interested in picking up girls, but they did have a lot in common about Hong Kong martial arts films.

When Vanderweghe was studying at UCLA, he often went to the Golden Sound Theater to watch martial arts movies; he was a Bruce Lee fan.

Golden Sound Theatre is an old theatre built and opened in the 20s. It has changed hands several times. In the 60s, because there was a large Chinese community in the area, the theatre introduced many martial arts and chivalrous films from Hong Kong's Shaw Brothers, attracting Chinese and American audiences who were interested in martial arts films.

By the mid-to-late 1980s, Shaw Brothers' martial arts films had gradually declined due to their monotonous storylines and outdated filming methods.

Meanwhile, some new-style martial arts films and action films began to emerge, such as a kung fu star named Jackie Chan, who became very popular in Chinese communities.

Tonight, Gan Guoyang and Vandeweghe watched Jackie Chan's new movie "Police Story," which was released in December 1985. Actually, Gan Guoyang had seen this movie many times, but watching it in an American movie theater in 1986 felt very different.

Because it was late and the movie theater was dark and not crowded, few people noticed that the two big guys were NBA stars.

The movie is thrilling and exciting, and very enjoyable to watch. 80s martial arts films are hard-hitting and realistic, and the special effects scenes are all filmed with real people. Especially Jackie Chan's movies, he risked his life to make them, which made the heart race. You can't deny it.

Halfway through the movie, Vandeweghe suddenly whispered to Gan Guoyang, "Gan, there's something I'm worried about."

"what?"

“I’ve heard that management is inclined to trade me.”

Summer is always a time of rumors, especially about player trades.

Most players don't like being traded; changing environments is not an easy thing.

Vandeweghe has recently been embroiled in trade rumors because his role in the playoffs has become increasingly less significant.

The higher the level of the game, the more pronounced Vandeweghe's defensive issues become. Moreover, with Jerome Kersey on the wing, Drexler can also play small forward.

At the draft, the Trail Blazers selected two guards in one go. If Drexler were to play the small forward position, Vandeweghe's position could be completely replaced.

Walton is currently undergoing surgery and his health status for the new season is uncertain. Jones is getting old, and the Trail Blazers need a backup center.

Vandeweghe is undoubtedly a great trade asset; using him to acquire a quality center would help the Trail Blazers defend their title.

Vandeweghe certainly didn't want to be traded. He was very happy in Portland, with a contract and a championship, and didn't want to be on the move again.

Gan Guoyang leaned back in his chair and said softly, "No one is absolutely safe. Players are assets to a team. If I'm no longer good enough, the Trail Blazers will trade me. That's how the NBA is; worrying and being afraid are useless. Inman suggested trading you before, but I rejected it. But this time, to be honest, the team does have reasons to trade you. But I think it shouldn't be in the summer, but during the season. If you want to stay, you really need to focus on defense."

"I was a decent defensive player at UCLA, but my back..."

"This isn't some excuse. Let me show you the way. This summer, you only need to do two things: first, reshape your defensive footwork; second, practice your three-point shot like crazy. If you master these two things, I guarantee you'll have a place on the Trail Blazers next season, and I'll be your biggest supporter. Nobody can touch you. Otherwise, I'll be the first to suggest trading you."

Vandeweghe turned his head and looked at Gan Guoyang's face, illuminated by the big screen light in the dark movie theater, and knew that this guy was not joking.

It looks like he really needs to work hard this summer and can't just keep messing around with Drexler.

(End of this chapter)