The Golden Age of Basketball

Chapter 873 Another Beginning

The Atlanta Hawks were the most active team in the 1999 NBA Draft, bar none.

The Hawks have a long history in the NBA, so long that they were actually founded before the NBA league itself.

The NBA's predecessor, the BAA, was founded in 1949, while the Hawks' predecessor, the Buffalo Bison, was founded in 1946.

The Bison soon moved to Illinois, changed their name to the Three Cities Blackhawks, and became a team in the NBL (a professional league founded in 1935).

After the BAA was founded in 1949, some NBL teams merged with the BAA and joined it. In 1951, the BAA moved to Milwaukee and was renamed the Milwaukee Hawks.

In 1955, the Hawks could no longer stay in Milwaukee and moved to St. Louis, changing their name to the St. Louis Hawks.

The Hawks' time in St. Louis was their most glorious period. They drafted legendary center Bob Pettit, and under his leadership, they became one of the top teams in the NBA at the time.

Pettit was the originator of the score-stealing style of play. As a white player with average running and jumping ability, Pettit was once thought to have a hard time surviving in the league when he first entered it.

Moreover, he was mild-mannered and played very gentlemanly in college, while the NBA in the 1950s and 60s was extremely rough, with fighting being commonplace, and the area under the basket was always like a fight. Pettit was naturally very uncomfortable when he first came in.

Later, the head coach switched him to power forward, and Petit began to play more outside, developing a style of play that suited his own characteristics:
Mid-range shots are the primary finishing method. Players use positioning and judgment to grab offensive rebounds and score on second-chance opportunities, as well as draw fouls and go to the free-throw line.

In college, he basically abandoned his usual back-to-the-basket offense and stopped acting as the team's central pivot to orchestrate the offense. Instead, he transformed into a master of scoring under the basket.

In Pettit's own words, "Offensive rebounds are worth 8 to 12 points to me every night. Then I get another 8 to 10 points from the free-throw line. Then I make a few jump shots, and that makes a great night."

Pettit's approach has shown a clear path for interior players who are not tall enough to play center and lack the agility and ball-handling skills to play small forward.

In an era when centers dominated the paint, Pettit's success enriched the playing style of interior players, laying the groundwork for the power forward era that would come much later.

The Hawks reached the NBA Finals in 1957, 1958, 1960, and 1961, facing the formidable Bill Russell and his Boston Celtics each time.

Unlike the unfortunate Lakers who lost six in a row, Pettit led the Hawks to victory over the Celtics in 1958, scoring 50 points in the decisive Game 6 to win the championship.

But this championship and the victory over the Celtics gave Pettit and the Hawks enough to boast about—Russell and the Celtics had only lost once in 12 NBA Finals appearances, in 1958.

This is equivalent to Charles Barkley leading the Bullets to victory over Gan Guoyang and the Portland Trail Blazers in the 1988 NBA Finals, something Barkley could brag about for a lifetime.

Now, Barkley is already considering joining the Portland Trail Blazers—provided that Gan Guoyang can withstand the FBI investigation.

When Pettit retired in 1965, the Hawks' owners began to consider moving the team out of St. Louis because the city's basketball market was too small and the team lacked a home arena that could accommodate enough fans.

After trying various methods to move to a larger arena without success, the owner sold the team to an Atlanta real estate developer in 1968. The team then moved to Atlanta, the capital of Georgia, and changed its name to the Atlanta Hawks, a team that continues to this day.

In the decades that followed, the Hawks had wave after wave of basketball talents and opportunities to rise, but they always seemed unable to seize them, resulting in the team remaining mediocre and unable to become a truly competitive team in the league.

They had Pete Maravich, but eventually traded him away.

They drafted David Thompson, but Thompson didn't want to play for the Hawks and went to the ABA.

They acquired Dominique Wilkins in the 80s, but they could never get past the divisional semifinals.

By the mid-90s, the Hawks signed Mutombo in free agency, marking the start of their rebuilding process once again.

Unfortunately, the Hawks have always been overshadowed by strong teams such as the Chicago Bulls, Indiana Pacers, and Miami Heat.

Forget about reaching the Finals, the Eastern Conference Semifinals have once again become an insurmountable obstacle for them. In people's minds, the Hawks have always been a pseudo-strong team.

After failing to win the NBA Finals championship for several consecutive years, the Hawks decided to rebuild again after the 1998-1999 season.

The roster centered around Van Exel, Laettner, and Mutombo was dismantled, and Van Exel was traded to the Golden State Warriors.

The Hawks acquired the 1999 first-round draft pick from the Warriors and selected Jason Terry as the team's new backcourt engine.

Following the Hawks' trade of Laettner to the Detroit Pistons, they acquired a 1999 first-round draft pick, selected Julian Jones, and then traded him to the Philadelphia 76ers for a 2000 draft pick.

The Hawks also acquired a 1999 first-round draft pick in a 1997 trade, which they used to select shooting guard Dean Glover.

The Hawks used their 20th overall pick to select Chinese player Wang Zhizhi.

Of the four draft picks, the Hawks selected a point guard, a shooting guard, and a center, except for one that was traded after being used to draft a player.

The Hawks have made it clear that they are going to restructure the team's roster, with Terry, Glover, and Wang Zhizhi all being important parts of the Hawks' future plans.

There's little controversy surrounding Terry and Glover. Terry was a hot guard in the nation at the time, the champion guard of the University of Arizona, the PAC-10 Player of the Year, and a member of the NCAA First Team. He was a top-five rookie, and the Hawks were lucky to select him tenth overall.

Glover also had a brilliant high school basketball experience. He was the best player in the McDonald's All-American High School Basketball Tournament. After playing college basketball at Georgia Tech for a year, he averaged 18 points, 5 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game. He already had the ability to survive in the NBA, so he announced his entry into the draft early and began his professional career.

Only Wang Zhizhi, a fellow countryman of the basketball god and a tall man from the East, is quite unfamiliar to most American fans.

However, Atlanta fans have a deep impression of him because Wang Zhizhi, who was only 19 years old at the time, represented the Chinese national team at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, leaving a lasting impression.

In the game against the US Dream Team, the Chinese men's basketball team, without Gan Guoyang, naturally suffered a crushing defeat. However, Wang Zhizhi came off the bench and blocked David Robinson's shot on defense (yes, it's you again, Robinson), which became one of the few memorable classic moments of the Chinese men's basketball team at that year's Olympics.

In 1996, Wang Zhizhi was tall with long limbs and excellent flexibility and agility. He also had a large frame, big hands, and a strong lower body, indicating great potential for improvement.

In the game against Angola, 19-year-old Wang Zhizhi scored 17 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, showcasing his talent.

Starting with this Olympics, NBA teams, especially the Atlanta Hawks, have been eyeing Wang Zhizhi.

Back in the 80s, the Hawks had their eye on Song Tao, the center for the Chinese national team, but Song Tao eventually went to the Trail Blazers to join his fellow countryman.

Later, Song Tao left the NBA due to serious injuries. After winning a ring, he gradually distanced himself from the court.

Gan Guoyang, a Chinese player, dominated the NBA in the late 80s and early 90s, and made a comeback in 1996, once again bringing the terror of the red and black to the league.

When Wang Zhizhi announced his participation in the 1999 NBA draft, the Hawks immediately set their sights on him. They even traded Laettner away first to make room for Wang Zhizhi's arrival.

The Hawks believe that, like former Hawks star Bob Pettit, Wang Zhizhi is a player with the height and skills of a center, but is actually more suited to playing power forward.

He's average in terms of strength, but he has a great shooting touch, is tall with a long wingspan, and is an outstanding free throw shooter. If he develops properly, he might become a scoring power forward like Petit.

Paired with defensive center Dikembe Mutombo, one on offense and one on defense, this frontcourt duo might have a bright future.

The Hawks' idea is indeed very good and creative. Wang Zhizhi's arrival has excited the entire city of Atlanta.

Although the greatest player is still embroiled in a spy case and under house arrest in a New York hotel, cut off from the outside world, some Hawks fans believe that when Forrest Gump leaves the league and even the country, Wang Zhizhi will inherit his talent and bring a championship to Atlanta.

This will be another beginning of a legend.

Wang Zhizhi personally traveled to New York to participate in the NBA draft. When he was selected 20th overall, he went on stage and shook hands with David Stern. Thanks to Gan Guoyang's presence, the NBA has a deep presence in China. Long before China's own professional league began, many local youth training teams had already started sending young players to the United States for training and development, receiving American-style basketball education and training.

Military teams like the Bayi Men's Basketball Team also have partnerships with the NBA.

This draft comes at a sensitive time in Sino-US relations, and Wang Zhizhi originally wanted to refuse to come to the United States to participate in the draft.

However, Gan Guoyang still strongly urged Wang Zhizhi to come to the United States to participate in the draft and persuaded the relevant leaders not to worry.

"There will be confrontation and friction between China and the United States, but peaceful coexistence is the general trend. Whether you come or not, it won't really change anything. You should pay more attention to the fate of Chinese basketball, send talents to suitable places for training, and take things one step at a time as they come. It's not something you or I can decide. Think more about yourselves."

Gan Guoyang's influence reached the highest levels of government, so no obstacle was insurmountable. Wang Zhizhi successfully went to the United States to participate in tryouts with various teams and prepare for the draft.

As a result, before the draft began, Wang Zhizhi had made all the preparations, but Gan Guoyang was embroiled in a huge political storm.

Faced with immense pressure, his agent, Gan Guohui, guided him to withstand various negative opinions and rejected his wavering and hesitation to withdraw from the competition.

"Go ahead and participate in the audition. No matter how difficult the road ahead is, as long as you keep going, there will always be a way. Also, you must believe in Forrest Gump; he will solve all the problems."

Before the draft, Gan Guohui's resolute expression and words soothed the young Wang Zhizhi's anxious heart.

Wang Zhizhi comes from a basketball family; both his parents were centers on the local basketball team. He became involved with basketball at a young age and began receiving professional basketball training at the age of 8.

Therefore, Wang Zhizhi grew up in a relatively simple and closed environment. His father guided him in basketball, and his mother took care of him in life. He focused on basketball and didn't have much time or opportunity to come into contact with the complexities of society.

Like many basketball teenagers of the 80s and 90s, Gan Guoyang was a great light of that era, a sacred radiance from across the Pacific Ocean.

In particular, in 1992, Gan Guoyang led the national team all the way to the Olympic finals, lost to the American Dream Team and won the silver medal. At that moment, Gan Guoyang became an Olympic hero of men's basketball and the basketball dream of countless teenagers.

Playing basketball in the United States and competing against Gan Guoyang has become the ultimate dream for many young basketball players in sports teams.

Although Gan Guoyang retired in 1994 and missed the national team at the 1996 Olympics, his contributions in 1996 made Wang Zhizhi and many others dream of achieving great things.

In May 1999, the bombing incident, coupled with Gan Guoyang's score of 74, once again put him at the center of public opinion. In China, Gan Guoyang was almost becoming a national hero.

Wang Zhizhi was excited to participate in the 1999 NBA draft. After learning about the guidance and help he received from Gan Guoyang, his confidence increased even more.

But how could the simple-minded Gan Guoyang have imagined that the current Sino-US situation is so complex and turbulent, and that he is already deeply involved in the vortex? The fact that he was able to withstand the enormous psychological pressure and win the championship shows that he has nerves and willpower as strong as titanium alloy.

Most people would have collapsed under such circumstances long ago; they wouldn't be able to play ball, and their normal lives would be affected.

Wang Zhizhi persevered until he was selected by the Hawks at the tournament. When he went on stage, the New York fans below the stage booed loudly.

But Wang Zhizhi faced it with a smile. He even waved to the New Yorkers who booed him from the audience. It can be said that several generations of young Chinese basketball players have been influenced by Gan Guoyang in spirit.

Resilience, optimism, and always looking to the future with hope—this is perhaps Gan Guoyang's invisible yet enormous contribution to Chinese basketball.

The power of example is endless.

Gan Guoyang watched the entire talent show on television.

Gan Guoyang was very pleased that Wang Zhizhi was selected.

Unfortunately, he was completely prohibited from using any communication devices at this moment, otherwise he would definitely have called to congratulate Wang Zhizhi.

Without Gan Guoyang's insightful vision, the Trail Blazers' management naturally couldn't make any brilliant player selections.

Fortunately, Larry Bird was very shrewd. He knew that developing rookies at this time was definitely not an option, and it was really hard to say whether Forrest Gump would come back.

Bird made two preparations. First, he traded away all of his first and second-round draft picks in 99, used the second-round pick to acquire Isaiah Reed, and then he acquired small forward Alan Henderson from the Atlanta Hawks to supplement the team's small forward position.

The Trail Blazers previously acquired Blake from the Hawks, and now they've added Henderson. The Hawks have also drafted Wang Zhizhi, leading people to suspect that there might be some shady dealings between the Hawks and the Trail Blazers.

The first-round draft pick was sent to the Lakers along with Winfield, in exchange for the Lakers' 2001 first-round draft pick.

The purpose of this trade was to free up cap space to sign free agent Dell Curry—who, after several years on a big contract with the Hornets, finally decided to return home.

This strengthens the team's backcourt, while the growth of Jermaine O'Neal and Ben Wallace, along with Domantas Sabonis' consistency in the frontcourt, ensures the Trail Blazers are not in any major trouble.

If Gan Guoyang can return, the Trail Blazers will still be strong contenders for the 1999-2000 season championship.

If Gan Guoyang cannot return and retires, Larry Bird has his sights set on Charles Barkley.

In short, Bird had prepared for the worst.

Gan Guoyang learned about all the Trail Blazers' moves on television and believed that Bird did the right thing.

As for that bastard Barkley, that opportunist, it's really hard to say whether he'll go to Portland.

The 2000 season was very likely Barkley's last, and he certainly wanted the safest path to winning a championship.

The Trail Blazers were originally a must-pick, but the black swan event of Gan Guoyang has made everything unpredictable.

Even the free market throughout the summer of 1999 became unpredictable and turbulent.

Aside from the talent show, news outlets have been continuously reporting on the progress of Gan Guoyang's case.

Diplomatic efforts are underway to demand an end to the political persecution of this national treasure-level player.

The US will certainly refuse to budge until it obtains concrete evidence.

Time passed slowly, and three weeks into the finals, the FBI, under pressure from various parties and without concrete evidence, had no choice but to temporarily end Gan Guoyang's house arrest.

Gan Guoyang's good friend Michael Jackson personally came to New York to pick Gan Guoyang up from the hotel, and it was another grand media party.

Michael Jackson was the first among many prominent American figures to stand up and firmly believe that Gan Guoyang was innocent and to call for an end to the persecution.

No one understands the pressure and persecution from public opinion better than Michael Jackson. Gan Guoyang once supported him unconditionally, and he will do the same.

The two held hands tightly in the lobby of the New York Hilton Hotel, then got into a black car together, with the crowd following behind, unwilling to leave.

The two men, sitting in the back seat, burst into laughter, celebrating their temporary escape from the FBI's clutches.

But as they laughed, their expressions gradually calmed down, and a hint of confusion crept into their eyes.

Because they know best in their hearts that this is far from the end, but only another beginning.

(End of this chapter)