The Golden Age of Basketball

Chapter 858 Enduring and Everlasting
Gan Guoyang's incredible 74-point performance in Game 4 of the semifinals once again shocked the league.

This wasn't a regular season game. Although this score would have been astonishing in the regular season, Gan Guoyang had scored an even more terrifying 81 points.

This is the playoffs, and the Trail Blazers are facing the San Antonio Spurs, a team known for its strong defense, slow pace, and low scoring.

During the 1998-1999 regular season, the Spurs were one of the best defensive teams in the league, holding opponents to an average of 89 points per game. They pushed the slow-paced half-court offense and defense to the extreme.

In the playoffs, their defensive intensity doubled, and they easily crushed the Phoenix Suns in the first round, holding the Suns to under 100 points in none of the four games.

In his lowest-scoring game, he only allowed the Suns, who have a decent offense, to score 73 points. The Suns' entire team score couldn't match Gan Guoyang's individual score, which is truly a spectacle in the NBA.

Of course, Gan Guoyang created many NBA wonders, which stand tall on the long historical landscape of the NBA and are towering structures that later generations can never bypass.

Michael Jordan learned of Gan Guoyang's 74-point performance against the Spurs, breaking his own playoff scoring record, on the morning of May 10th, the following day.

He didn't watch the NBA live broadcast on the night of the 9th. Since leaving the league, Jordan has stayed away from basketball and spent most of his time on his beloved golf.

Jordan originally had the idea of ​​playing baseball, but after much consideration, he decided to give it up because in the summer of 98 he tried playing a few innings of baseball with Forrest Gump and found that he was not as good as Forrest Gump.

Forrest Gump once again shattered Jordan's professional baseball dream with his powerful and miraculous batting, as well as his accurate anticipation and super-fast reaction.

If you can't even beat Forrest Gump in baseball, what are you doing playing professionally?

For Jordan, golf was not a job, but a pure hobby, and he became obsessed with it after retiring.

Not only does he play golf, but this man in his thirties has also started playing golf video games for the first time ever, and he plays them all night long.

So while Gan Guoyang was scoring like crazy at the Alamo Dome, Jordan was at home playing golf like crazy.

Feeling unsatisfied after the game, he immediately arranged to fly to Barton Creek Valley Club in Austin, Texas the next morning, where his favorite golf course is located.

Therefore, Jordan called his Texas professional golfer friend Keith in the early hours of the 10th to tell him that he would be flying to Austin soon and to ask him to get ready.

Keith knew Jordan would be coming a few days ago, but he didn't expect Jordan to come so early and in such a hurry. He thought Jordan must have been provoked by watching last night's game.

When the two appeared on the court, it was still dark. Keith yawned as he saw the energetic Jordan, whose energy was astonishing.

Without much small talk, Keith, Jordan, and a few other golf buddies started hitting their shots one after another as the sun rose.

Keith's main role was to spar with Jordan, using his professionalism as a player to inform him about the effectiveness of each shot, and remind him of the yardage and the distribution of the greens.

Jordan seemed to be in a good mood, smoking a cigar. He played well in the first few holes. For almost a year since his retirement, Jordan has been playing golf every week.

Keith witnessed Jordan's continuous improvement firsthand. His coordination was outstanding, his core and arm strength were absolutely excellent, and his playing rhythm was incredibly fast yet controlled, adept at leading the pace of others.

This is just like him on the basketball court; he is good at luring and suppressing his opponents and controlling the game.

As the sun rose higher, more and more people came to the court to play, and many of them spotted Michael Jordan.

As a result, many golf carts began to "chase after" Jordan, following behind his car in hopes of catching a glimpse of him.

That's the influence of Jordan. Jordan maintained his composure; he was used to being surrounded by people, and he would never refuse if someone came up to shake his hand or ask for an autograph.

Jordan sank the putt, making several excellent shots. He smiled broadly, continued smoking his cigar, and looked quite content.

Keith suddenly wondered if Jordan knew about yesterday's news. Had no one mentioned the massive bombing in San Antonio, Texas, to him?
If he knew, he wouldn't have kept quiet, would he? After all, everyone knows that he and Forrest Gump are both their biggest rivals and their best friends.

So Keith tried to step forward and said, "Michael, did you watch the semi-final last night? It was insane."

"Semifinals? What? The NBA? No, I have no interest in the NBA playoffs right now, not at all."

"Uh... but last night, Forrest scored 74 points against the Spurs."

Keith clearly felt Jordan's body freeze for a moment, as if the corners of his clothes had hardened, and he didn't react at all when the wind blew by.

Jordan, who was about to hit the ball, put down his club, took off his hat and glove, squinted at Keith, and said, "What did you say? 74 points? Are you sure? Forrest Gump scored 74 points in a single game? 74?"

Keith nodded and said, "Yes, 74 points, it's incredible, but it's true."

Jordan took a deep drag on his cigar, an incredulous look on his face, and asked, "Why didn't anyone tell me? Wasn't it in the news?"

"It's still morning, and many people are probably still asleep. The news is still on, but you may not be watching TV."

Jordan instantly lost interest in playing golf. 74 points, 74 points?
What exactly is Forrest Gump trying to do? How did he manage to elevate the playoff scoring record to such a level?
Jordan knew exactly what it meant to score 74 points in a single playoff game in the current NBA environment.

It's not necessarily easier than Wilt Chamberlain scoring 100 points in the regular season, and it might even be harder.

Moreover, Jordan knew the Spurs' playing style; scoring 40 points against them was extremely difficult, let alone a staggering 74 points.

"Back to the hotel, I need to check the news and game footage. George! Get me some of the footage. Did you hear about this?" Jordan asked his bodyguard, George Keller, the two of them always inseparable.

"Uh... I know, I watched the game."

"Then why didn't you tell me?"

"I was afraid you would be unhappy. Besides, I thought you already knew."

"Unhappy? What do I have to be unhappy about? Shit, go back, go back, go back."

Jordan, who was halfway through the game, got into a golf cart and left Barton Creek Valley Club.

He has a charity event to attend at noon, but he must see the video of last night's game before that.

George Keller quickly found a recording of last night's game and played it on the TV in his hotel room.

This morning, major sports media outlets were repeatedly broadcasting Gan Guoyang's "miracle" in the fourth game.

The number "74" is exceptionally glaring. Everyone on the basketball court knows what 70 points means.

Jordan started receiving a constant stream of phone calls, from Barkley, Pippen, and other close friends.

Actually, someone called him last night, but Jordan was engrossed in a golf video game and told everyone not to disturb him, so he didn't answer any of the calls.

"That guy, Forrest Gump, is a beast! He actually scored 74 points against the Spurs!"

“Incredible Michael, I think this league needs you, otherwise I don’t know who can stop him.”

"Michael, did you watch the game? You didn't? My God, you absolutely have to watch the replay, you missed out on a fortune."

The constant phone calls annoyed Jordan. What did Forrest Gump's 74 points have to do with me?
If you calm down and think about it, there might indeed be a connection. It shows that many people miss Jordan and long for someone who could compete with Forrest Gump.

The league's ratings were not very good during the 1998-1999 season.

The pace of the game slowed further, and the teams seemed to be stuck in a quagmire.

Slow-paced basketball, spearheaded by the Knicks, has become the preferred style for teams to achieve success.

Although Forrest Gump and the Trail Blazers still primarily play offensive basketball, their style of play is something no one can emulate.

The team's average points per game this season have dropped to the lowest point in the last 20 years, and viewership and attendance have declined compared to last season.

The 1998 Trail Blazers vs. Bulls showdown left basketball fans feeling sluggish after the initial excitement.

Fans also experienced aesthetic fatigue with Forrest Gump's dominance, as there was no one to rival him.

Throughout the season, there were calls for Jordan to return to the court, but he ignored them, as he was very happy with his life after retirement.

Of course, the more important reason was that he felt emotionally hurt, a reason unknown to others. He turned on the TV, played yesterday's G4, and sat on the bed, remote control in hand, fast-forwarding through the unnecessary parts.

When the game officially started, Jordan witnessed Gan Guoyang's scoring performance.

Jordan's playing style is characterized by a fast and varied pace, finding weaknesses in his opponents through back-and-forth battles and exploiting them.

He learned this from Dean Smith of North Carolina, and has a deep and unique understanding of the rhythm of the game.

Gan Guoyang is different. He relies on pure force and is unstoppable once he sets his mind to scoring and gets into a rhythm.

He doesn't need any rhythm changes; he just goes all out, like a fully charged tank, charging forward until you're all wiped out.

This is thanks to Gan Guoyang's almost limitless physical strength. In continuous high-intensity competition and sprints, his anaerobic muscle endurance has reached an inhuman level.

Jordan deeply understands this; the fundamental reason why athletes need good rhythm control is that human physical strength is not unlimited.

With each breath, you need to allocate your energy reasonably to make yourself more comfortable to fight and make it more difficult for your opponent to fight.

Like long-distance running, it may seem like just a simple test of endurance and speed, but it is actually a contest of speed and rhythm.

Whoever can control the rhythm and disrupt their opponent's breathing will win in the final sprint.

But Forrest Gump was an exception; he was the type of guy who would sprint at the start of a 5000-meter race.

When you're laughing at this guy for "rushing in from the start," you end up finding that he actually manages to keep going all the way.

Especially when Gan Guoyang doesn't have to worry about defense, his offensive touch is unstoppable, and his stamina is too strong.

Jordan watched as Gan Guoyang started to exert his strength from the second quarter onwards, making one mid-range shot after another, which made Jordan itch to try his luck. This guy had turned on his aim.

The third quarter was even more outrageous. The Spurs had no idea how to defend, because no matter how they defended, they could score. One mid-range shot after another, they would catch the ball and shoot, and every shot was a winner. Fouls were useless. Gan Guoyang's free throws were incredibly accurate.

Without the option of double-teaming or zone defense, this mid-range shooting style is unstoppable. Jordan could see that Forrest Gump had entered a state of unbridled flow towards the end.

"That son of a bitch... his natural attributes are too good, his physical fitness, height, wingspan, strength base... damn it, it seems normal that we can't beat him."

Jordan watched and commented, but he absolutely acknowledged Gan Guoyang's abilities.

He believes he couldn't have played like this in tonight's game; he might be able to go all out and score 50 points.

But at the "advanced age" of 35, scoring 74 points in an away game against the Spurs and Texas is unimaginable; it's an achievement that no human could accomplish.

After watching every single one of Gan Guoyang's goals, Jordan couldn't resist picking up the phone and dialing Gan Guoyang's number.

As soon as the call connected, Gan Guoyang's cheerful voice came from the other end: "Good morning, Michael! You're only calling me now?! Were you fucking playing video games all night again?!"

"You, Aishou, scored 74 points and didn't even call to tell me? I didn't watch the game, I only found out this morning. Well done, you played so well."

"Is it really that beautiful? You're an American, and now many people think that my score of 74 is a provocation against America."

"To hell with them, I don't care about any of that. You played really well, Sonny, although I don't think it was a victory of skill but a victory of physical strength, but I still admire you. I really couldn't do that when I was 35."

Jordan has never been particularly interested in politics or military matters. When he visited the German military base, it was to sell shoes, not to actually support the war.

“You couldn’t do what Michael did when you were 25. It’s about physical ability, but more importantly, it’s about willpower, a willpower that’s about dignity. By the way, how have you been lately? Have you thought about making a comeback?”

"Comeback? No, no, no, I'm having a great time and have no intention of doing that. Don't try to bring me back. I'm really tired and I want to rest, Sonny. You keep working hard, I won't keep you company."

Since Jordan retired, their relationship has returned to the way it was when they were young, where they could talk about anything and often chat on the phone.

Like many childhood friends, we went from being inseparable to gradually drifting apart as we grew up. But when we reached a certain age, we saw things clearly and let go of the past, and then we rediscovered that feeling.

Because when people reach a certain stage in life, they realize that they can only make a very small number of truly good friends with whom they can have meaningful conversations.

The vast majority are just passersby who meet temporarily for personal gain or by chance. Once the business ends or the opportunity fades, the people go their separate ways.

It is at this time that some enduring friendships become all the more precious.

After Jordan retired, his life changed significantly, and he suddenly saw many things more clearly.

For example, the hypocrisy of Jerry Krause and Jerry Reinsdorf, the fickle nature of fans, and the resentment his former teammates harbored towards him.

The person who hurt him the most was actually Phil Jackson. Jordan always regarded Jackson as a teacher and a spiritual guide.

However, after leaving the Bulls, Jackson wrote many books related to the Bulls and Jordan, in which he frankly mentioned how Jackson used various means to motivate Jordan, used psychology to stimulate Jordan's interest in playing basketball, and improved Jordan's relationship with his teammates.

This content made the book a bestseller, but it made Jordan feel deeply betrayed.

He realized that their eight-year mentor-student relationship was rife with scheming and manipulation.

Furthermore, Phil Jackson's departure from the Bulls wasn't simply because Krause didn't want to renew his contract; in fact, Jackson's personal wishes played a significant role.

Jackson himself didn't want to continue; he wanted to leave the Bulls and start his own business, but he didn't tell Jordan, which led Jordan to decide not to continue.

All of this deeply hurt Jordan. He was a very proud man, and when he realized that his sincere respect and friendship were met with scheming and control, the once close relationship was devastated.

There has been no public discussion about a falling out or conflict between the two. Only people in the industry know that they no longer trust each other and are no longer close.

Through Jackson, Jordan looked back at his relationship with Forrest Gump and realized how pure their bond was.

There was no manipulation, no exploitation, only straightforward and fierce competition and heartfelt appreciation. Forrest Gump even settled so many troubles for himself.

Jordan realized who his true friends were, and the two reconciled, returning to their youthful habit of frequently calling each other.

"Michael, are you really not considering a comeback? It's so lonely without you."

"No, once I've made up my mind, I won't turn back easily. Unless..."

"Unless what?"

"I don't know either. I feel like... something might happen to give me the opportunity and motivation to make a comeback. But I don't know exactly what it is."

"Is that so? Well then, let's wait and see what happens."

"So, are you going to keep playing?"

“I don’t know either. Actually, I’m very tired. It’s too lonely to run alone with no one chasing me. And I have a feeling that Michael, David Stern and this league won’t let me keep leading like this. They will find a way to deal with me.”

Gan Guoyang also considered Jordan his best friend, so he confided in him about everything and shared his inner premonition.

"If you can't keep going, then step down. It's time to make way for younger people. It's not a good look for them to keep occupying the position."

"I'll consider it, Michael. Let's go golfing together sometime, and I'll show you my strength and distance!"

When Gan Guoyang tees off the golf course, you can sometimes faintly hear the sound of explosions; this guy's power and explosiveness are too strong.

"Come on, I'll show you what the god of golf is!"

Jordan wasn't about to be outdone; the two "old men" were already planning their retirement.

But Gan Guoyang was not prepared to give up easily. He promised Bird that he would continue to fight and set some obstacles for the young man.

At the very least, he should win the 1999 championship to bring Bird's coaching career to a perfect close.

(End of this chapter)