The Golden Age of Basketball

Chapter 772 Tomato
After defeating the Knicks, the Trail Blazers achieved a five-game winning streak.

They jumped to second place in the Western Conference standings, behind only the Utah Jazz.

The victory gave everyone confidence, meaning the team is on the right track.

The Trail Blazers weathered the tough November schedule, and Gan Guoyang received the most votes in the Player of the Month awards.

His 50-point performance against the Knicks made people realize that this former king is still terrifyingly strong.

He was showered with praise on television and in newspapers, and the criticisms and doubts temporarily disappeared.

The day after the victory, Gan Guoyang treated all the players and staff to a meal at a restaurant near the Rose Garden.

The team has achieved some small successes, and everyone had a great time. Tomorrow they will leave Portland for an away game.

After leaving the restaurant, some people went home, while others went for a second round.

As night falls, Portland's nightlife and strip clubs exude glamour.

For most Black players who enter the NBA, it's impossible not to go to nightclubs and find women outside of games.

In this respect, Gan Guoyang could not take any leading role; he could only refrain from going himself and could not stop others.

This is the life of a player. Without these things, life would be tasteless and meaningless for many people.

After spending more than a month together, training and competing, the players' bond has deepened.

Everyone discussed where to go to burn off the extra energy and relax before embarking on their away trip.

Van Exel has been in Portland for over three years and is already a veteran of the team.

Having had a few drinks, he approached Kobe and Jermaine O'Neal and asked, "Hey, you two aren't even 21 yet, so you probably can't go to nightclubs, right? But I know a place where you can go as long as you're 18. How about we go together?"

In most states and cities in the United States, nightclubs only allow adults aged 21 and over to enter; those under 18 are not permitted.

The management of alcohol is also quite strict. 18-year-olds can drink alcohol but cannot buy it. They must drink under the supervision of older adults.

Of course, rules are rules, and rules are meant to be broken, otherwise they would be meaningless.

Jermaine O'Neal and Kobe Bryant exchanged a glance, both young men filled with curiosity about the adult world.

Jermaine O'Neal decided to go with Van Exel, while Kobe hesitated for a moment, shook his head, and said, "I'd better not go. I want to go home."

Van Exel scoffed and said, "You're not married, what are you doing home now? Watching Cartoon Network?"

Kobe replied coldly, "I need to go home and do my homework."

"What?" Van Exel looked incredulous. "Homework? Kid, you're still in school, right? You're going home to do your homework? Oh, I see, you still live with your mom, you're going home to find her."

Kobe did live with his parents. After the draft, Joe Bryant quit his job and moved to Portland with his wife and daughter.

Kobe was only 18 years old and had just graduated from high school, so he lacked sufficient self-care skills.

Moreover, there would be many off-court matters to handle in the NBA, and Kobe needed the support of his family.

Even for those like Jermaine O'Neal whose parents couldn't come, they brought their older brother to live with them so that he could have someone to help them out.

The advantage of living with your parents is that you don't have to worry about many things in life, and Joe Bryant is a former NBA player who is very experienced in many things.

The downside is also obvious: young people are restricted in every aspect of their lives, and they cannot get the freedom they want at the age when they need it most.

However, it seems Kobe hasn't reached his rebellious phase yet, or perhaps he's too focused on basketball and doesn't care much about freedom in life.

For example, his mother imposed strict restrictions on his life. Apart from competitions and training, he was not allowed to go to nightclubs or loiter, and he had to come home on time.

When playing away games, you should call your mother as soon as the plane lands to report your situation, which hotel you are staying in, which room you are in, who you are with, etc.

If it weren't for the Trail Blazers' rule that family members aren't allowed to bring their children to away games, Kobe's mother would probably be with her son 24/7, accompanying him from training to games, just like she did in middle and high school.

Kobe didn't see anything wrong with it. Faced with Van Exel's ridicule, he shrugged and said, "Not only am I looking for my mom, but I'm also going home to find my dad."

Van Exel's smile vanished, and he took two steps closer to Kobe with a stern face. This kid really doesn't know what's good for him.

I sincerely invited you to go out and have fun, and you refused, but then you mocked me for not having a father?

It's never a good idea to bring up an NBA player's father, especially when the player is Black.

Van Exel was a Black player with a classic start to his career—though his situation was different; his father stayed with him until he was 12 before going to jail.

Van Exel was raised by his mother, who worked multiple jobs, so much so that young Van Exel rarely saw his mother.

Jermaine O'Neal stepped between the two and apologized to Van Exel on behalf of Kobe.

Since they were teammates, the two did not have a major conflict, but Van Exel was no longer in the mood to show the two young men the world.

Jermaine O'Neal, who was originally scheduled to go, said he had family matters to attend to and needed to catch a flight for an away game the next day, so he wouldn't be going and left with Kobe.

Furious, Van Exel turned his attention to Ben Wallace, who was waiting for the car. This seemingly honest and unassuming black giant was the quietest and most low-key member of the team.

Van Exel looked him up and down and said, "Hey, wanna go out? You're over 21, right? Did you bring your ID?"

Ben Wallace shook his head and said, "I have a workout plan for tonight."

Despite having the fewest minutes on the court, Ben Wallace never stopped honing his skills.

He was waiting, waiting for an opportunity, a chance to shine on the NBA court.

"Shit!" Van Exel waved his hand forcefully, not wanting to pay any attention to these young people.

Instead of going out to play, you're all doing homework or exercising. What do you want to do?
Is it really time to go for the championship? But isn't winning the championship just about making more money and having more fun?

Van Exel was puzzled; he noticed that the atmosphere of the entire team had changed since Agam returned.

Although Forrest Gump never commented on the players' private lives, he didn't care about anyone once he left the court and training facility.

But his presence subtly influences something; people still play, but their mindset has changed.

The previous extravagant lifestyle and living day to day have transformed into a time to steal moments of leisure after completing the tasks on the court.

The difference in mindset is significant; the former can easily lead to moral decay, while the latter brings ease and pleasure.

Finding himself unable to amuse any young people, Van Exel lost interest and decided to go home to spend time with his son.

Since her father was unable to be with her while he was in prison, now that she's a father herself, she should spend more time with her child.

On the other hand, Jermaine O'Neal drove Kobe home; some time ago, Gan Guoyang had given him a 1996 Jeep Cherokee.

A large car like this is perfect for tall NBA players, saving Jermaine O'Neal some money on a car purchase. Of course, the car wasn't bought by Gan Guoyang; it was offered as a gift by a local dealer after they learned that Gan was going to give the car away. As a result, O'Neal had to attend several sales events organized by the dealer.

On the way, Jermaine O'Neal asked Kobe, "Are you really going home to do your homework? We're both professional players now."

Jermaine O'Neal hates doing homework the most. If he liked doing homework, he wouldn't have missed college and gone straight to the NBA.

Kobe was different. He said, "Yes, I've always been studying business. I'll have money in the future, but I won't keep playing basketball. I need to manage my money and turn it into more money to ensure a good life for myself and my family."

In this respect, Kobe was far more farsighted than Jermaine O'Neal, or even most young NBA players.

After all, they come from different family backgrounds. Many players who suddenly become rich from poor backgrounds are unable to break free from their original upbringing.

The first thing they do after getting rich is not to invest, to consume and dispose of their assets in a planned way, but to squander it.

Not only did he squander money on himself, but he also gave money to his extended family and friends.

After all, these relatives and friends helped you when you were down on your luck and penniless.

Now it's time for them to reap the rewards; tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars will soon be gone.

This is only part of the story. Once you have a woman and a bunch of illegitimate children who seem to appear out of nowhere, the expenses will be even greater.

Kobe's parents provided him with sufficient education in this regard, and his upbringing taught him early on how to manage wealth.

In the car, Kobe and Jermaine O'Neal discussed their future wealth plans.

He wants to land the biggest contract in the league and have his own signature shoe and shoe brand.

He wants to make investments, particularly in high-tech and cultural industries, and become a shareholder in well-known companies.

Ultimately, he wants to establish himself as a cultural icon, so that one day he can make a fortune just from his name.

"Like Forrest Gump, as long as his name and his picture are there, he has appeal, and people are willing to pay for him. I ask you, where did you get this car?"

Kobe asked Jermaine O'Neal a question. O'Neal, who was driving at the time, was a little confused. He didn't expect Kobe to have so many ideas and such great ambitions.

The two knew each other before the draft, entered the NBA together, came to the Trail Blazers together, trained and played together.

Jermaine O'Neal was younger than Kobe Bryant, but he always believed he was slightly ahead of Kobe. He started playing earlier than Kobe, scored earlier than Kobe, reached double figures faster than Kobe, and played more minutes than Kobe.

Although the outside world pays more attention to Kobe, Jermaine O'Neal believes that he is steadily moving forward.

In particular, Forrest Gump always encouraged and praised Jermaine O'Neal more, while criticizing and admonishing Kobe Bryant more, which gave Jermaine O'Neal a slight sense of superiority.

However, by chance, the two had a deep conversation, and O'Neal discovered that Kobe was smarter and more insightful than he had imagined.

Moreover, there were many things Kobe said that Jermaine O'Neal couldn't quite understand. His mind was a mess, and he was clueless about everything except basketball.

"Um... this car was a gift from Forrest Gump."

Did Forrest Gump spend money?

"Um...no, it was actually a gift from the distributor. I need to attend some events for them."

"If it weren't for Forrest Gump, would the dealership have just given you the car? Why didn't they let Forrest Gump participate in the event?"

"I think... I don't think they'll give me a car. At most, they'll give me a discount when I buy one. Forrest Gump, he won't participate in these events; the appearance fee is too low."

O'Neal does understand some principles, but these things are hidden in his mind and he rarely takes them out to think about or use them.

Kobe had been thinking about these issues for a long time. Forrest Gump was his role model, and that role model wasn't just on the basketball court.

After dropping Kobe off at home, the two waved goodbye and agreed to meet at the airport at nine o'clock the next morning, as they were flying to Minnesota.

After Kobe passed away, Jermaine O'Neal sat on the side of the road for a while, gripping the steering wheel, trying to make a plan for his future like Kobe had.

But after thinking for a long time, he couldn't find an answer in his mind because he didn't know. All he had ever thought about was playing basketball well and earning more money for his parents and brothers.

He's only 18 years old, how could he understand so many profound principles? Besides, thinking too much about it gives him a headache, so he decides to stop thinking about it and just follow Kobe in the future.

Forrest Gump is such a high-level idol that when Jermaine O'Neal looked up, he couldn't even see the mountaintop where Forrest Gump was standing.

I'll just follow my friends' lead; it's a decision that doesn't require much brainpower, but it's definitely the right one.
-

In December, the weather became increasingly cold.

The Trail Blazers were hit by a blizzard on their flight from Portland to Minnesota.

The plane was delayed at the airport for a while, and it was already late at night when it arrived at its destination.

Bird asked the players to get some rest and sleep early so they could have tactical training first thing tomorrow morning.

"I advise you not to go out tonight. Of course, if you really have to go out, please get up on time tomorrow and don't be late. As always, there will be a fine for being late."

Bird himself had been a player, so he knew what players would do when they came to an away city. Many times, coaches couldn't stop them; they could only give warnings and reminders.

The team is in good form right now, and he hopes to continue this positive trend. The schedule in December is relatively easier.

Of course, Bird learned from various sources that the Trail Blazers have a long-standing tradition of relaxing during the Christmas month of December.

After escaping the tension of November, through Christmas and New Year's Eve, and after the holidays, the tension gradually increases again with the All-Star Game as a turning point, continuing all the way to the playoffs.

Bird believes that this tradition was acceptable when the team was strong, but now they have many problems to solve and cannot relax for a moment.

The Trail Blazers now have a relatively stable rotation and a gradually solidifying tactical system, but their perimeter defense remains as poor as ever, and they still have turnover problems.

In November, the Trail Blazers averaged 17 turnovers per game, ranking among the top in the league.

In contrast, the Chicago Bulls, currently ranked first in the league in terms of record, average only 13 turnovers per game.

During the Trail Blazers' peak, they averaged only 12 turnovers per game, the fewest in the league.

Too many mistakes indicate a lack of tactical familiarity, insufficient teamwork, young players, and problems with the operation of certain systems within the team.

Bird wanted to find and improve the problems through repeated training sessions, otherwise mistakes could really cost the team its life.

Once the doors were closed, the players naturally had their own plans. Some slept peacefully, while others went out to cause some trouble.

Kobe originally planned to stay in his room and play video games, but a phone call made him hesitate. It was from Timberwolves player Kevin Garnett.

Garnett invited Kobe and Jermaine O'Neal out for a drink, saying it was their first time meeting in the NBA and it was a very memorable occasion.

Kobe, Garnett, and O'Neal are among the few high school players in this league, and they have a lot in common.

Garnett and Kobe met last year when the Timberwolves played against the 76ers in Philadelphia. After the game, when Garnett returned to the locker room, he found someone sitting on his bench—a young man he didn't recognize.

Garnett found it strange, as the team's locker room was never open to the public.

However, every team and stadium has its own staff. It's normal for some managers or players' children to go into the locker room to chat with the stars and ask for autographs.

Garnett played well tonight, the Timberwolves won, and he was in a good mood.

The young man greeted Garnett, saying, "How was your game, KG? I'm Kobe."

Garnett had heard of Kobe, the Philadelphia high school prodigy whose father was Joe Bryant. No wonder he got into the visiting team's locker room.

Garnett deliberately responded aggressively: "This is my seat, get out of here!"

Kobe stood up but wasn't angry; instead, he joked and laughed with Garnett.

Garnett couldn't hold back either, and the two young men became good friends after chatting and laughing together.

Later, Kobe and Jermaine O'Neal were inspired by Garnett's experience when they entered the draft.

Moses Malone's example is too far removed from reality; Shawn Kemp was successful, but not successful enough.

Kevin Garnett, who was already a national sensation the year before they graduated, immediately established himself after joining the Timberwolves.

Both acknowledged that Garnett served as a role model, giving them the courage to skip college and go straight to the professional league.

Kobe and Jermaine O'Neal could turn down Van Exel's invitation, but it would be hard for them to turn down Kevin Garnett.

The three of them found a secluded little bar to have a drink together—they hoped to avoid the media.

It's always fun to spend time with peers, even if it's just sitting and chatting or having a drink, because there's no sense of restraint.

Garnett, being a year older, acted like an older brother, showing concern for the two players' situation after entering the league, asking them all sorts of questions.

After asking around, the key to the problem always points to one person – Forrest Gump.

Seeing Garnett asking questions, Kobe suddenly realized something and said, "Kevin, you're not so nervous about playing against Forrest tomorrow that you can't sleep, so you've come to us to gather information, are you?"

Garnett was drinking when he heard this, and he choked on his drink, coughing several times.

"Cough cough cough! What the hell are you talking about Kobe? This is my second year. I wasn't nervous or scared during my first year. If you keep talking nonsense, I'll beat you up."

Kobe laughed at Garnett's reaction, saying, "You are indeed in your second year, but this is your first time facing Forrest Gump. Good luck. He just scored 50 points last game, this game... you can give it a try."

"Try what? I won't provoke them. I'll face Forrest Gump head-on in the game, fair and square."

As he spoke, Garnett took another sip of his drink, as if trying to mask the emptiness in his heart.

Jermaine O'Neal realized what was going on and told Garnett, "I'll pass that on to Forrest Gump, and tell him that Kevin Garnett is going to score 50 points on you fair and square."

"Shit! Don't talk nonsense! We're still friends, brothers, right? If we're friends and brothers, then... tell me some tips. Jermaine, you guys must train together a lot, so tell me."

Jermaine O'Neal said, "If you've read 'The Forrest Gump Law,' you should know how to deal with it."

“Those are too broad; I want to know some details.”

"Details? Details..."

Kobe interjected, "I know, there's a trick to guarding Forrest Gump."

Garnett asked, "What's the secret? Come on, stop keeping me in suspense, nigger."

Kobe said, "When you're going up against Forrest Gump, you often talk to him about tomatoes, and Forrest will go easy on you."

Garnett looked puzzled and said, "What? A tomato? What's that? A spell? Or a code?"

"It's a code. When we say 'tomato,' it means we're just playing around. If we say 'potato,' it means we'll escalate the intensity."

Garnett was skeptical. What was this nonsense? He was trying to get some useful information out of Kobe, but it seemed like Kobe was talking rubbish.

But when he thought about facing off against Forrest Gump the next day and remembered all the legends, Garnett decided to take Kobe's words to heart for the time being.

Before going to bed that night, he kept repeating to himself, "Tomato, tomato, tomato..."

What a strange code.

(End of this chapter)