The Golden Age of Basketball

Chapter 937 Butterfly
It was 2 PM Sydney time, which is 12 PM Beijing time. It should have been a time for lunch, a nap, and rest.

However, in all enterprises and institutions across China, school auditoriums, large and medium-sized shopping malls, and small shops with televisions, the channels were all tuned to the sports channel.

The gold medal match between the Chinese and American men's basketball teams is about to begin, and these workplaces, which should be on holiday, are full of people.

This marks the second time the Chinese men's basketball team has competed for a gold medal on the world's highest basketball stage, since the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.

In 1992, many families and workplaces did not have televisions. Since the 80s, people have listened to sports programs on the radio.

By 2000, color televisions had become a standard feature in almost every household, with screens getting bigger and the picture getting clearer.

In Gan Guoyang's old island hometown, in the ancestral hall that has been renovated many times, there is a brand-new Changhong color TV, and next to it is a Sharp TV that Gan Guoyang bought in 87, both of them playing the Olympic men's basketball final.

Gan Guoyang's basketball legend began in 1984 and has continued uninterrupted to this day.

From newspapers, magazines, and radio, to black-and-white television, and then to color television, Gan Guoyang's image, through words, sounds, black-and-white images, and color images, accompanied a generation's growth and progress, spanning the era of China's great development.

In many rural and township areas, people decorate their homes with colorful paintings, including portraits of great figures, movie and television stars, and even Gan Guoyang.

In the 2000 finals, Gan Guoyang won the championship, which was of even greater significance to him personally. His career was nearing completion, with ten championships, making it perfect.

The Olympics are different; they are not just about individuals, nor are they just about so-called honors.

In Gan Guoyang's view, honor is not the most important thing; honor is often just an empty title.

What truly matters are the deep emotions that have accumulated over the years behind him.

It comes from the fans, from the beautiful expectations of the same language and ethnic group for the collective destiny.

A gold medal can bring nothing, but it can also bring a lot; only by standing on the Olympic stage can one truly understand this.

The television cameras kept giving Gan Guoyang close-ups, and CCTV even gave him a long shot that lasted three minutes.

They kept their eyes on him until the jump ball game started.

Gan Guoyang's expression remained calm and profound, yet contained immense power, like a deep lake harboring a monster.

The American players could sense Forrest Gump's unusual and frightening aura, a result of years of experience fighting against him.

I'm not afraid of Forrest Gump yelling, I'm not afraid of Forrest Gump shouting, I'm not even afraid of Forrest Gump hitting me, I'm just afraid of Forrest Gump not speaking.

Payton and Garnett, who were usually familiar with Gan Guoyang, didn't dare to go up and greet him.

During the group stage, we were joking around, and we even played cards together last night.

Today? Forrest Gump wasn't menacing, but nobody dared to go up to him and say even a single word.

At 36, his muscle definition is even more perfect than when he was 26. After two months of reshaping, his body is still like a god.

NBC also broadcast the game live. Craig Sager, who is known for his flashy suits, wore a simple navy blue polo shirt tonight to provide live coverage for the audience.

Sager looked much more serious than during the NBA broadcast, probably because he also knew that tonight's game would be tough.

In the United States, many of Gan Guoyang's old friends, such as Jordan, Barkley, and Stockton, watched the game on television.

Although they are Gan Guoyang's friends, at this moment they will all stand on the side of the United States.

This is not only a match between two teams, but also a confrontation between two countries.

Young Yao Ming stood in the center circle; he returned to the starting lineup tonight, while Wang Zhizhi sat on the bench.

Gan Guoyang moved to the power forward position, while Sun Jun remained the starting small forward, with Hu Weidong and Li Xiaoyong as guards.

This is the most reliable, balanced, experienced, and strongest overall lineup for the Chinese team.

The heavy atmosphere and immense pressure made Yao Ming breathless, and standing opposite him was Vin Baker.

Tonight, the US team's starting lineup was still evenly distributed, as if they weren't taking this game too seriously.

The starting lineup includes center Vin Baker, power forward McDyess, small forward Joe Smith, shooting guard Vince Carter, and point guard Gary Payton.

Kevin Garnett, the most important defensive center, was benched, while Alonzo Mourning was willing to be a substitute due to injury and fatigue.

Rick Carlisle doesn't want to stick to a fixed starting lineup, but the problem is that if he did, no one would be satisfied.

Because in both Dream Team I and Dream Team II, everyone took turns being the starters. Winning was a minor matter; personal pride, playing time, and commercial value were the major concerns.

Coupled with Carlisle's lack of authority and Larry Brown's role as a liability within the coaching staff, they still failed to fully unite in the final against Forrest Gump and China after a narrow victory in the semifinals.

The jump ball was played, and Vin Baker touched the ball before Yao Ming, giving the US team possession and starting the game. The 40-minute decisive battle had begun.

Vin Baker scored the first point for Team USA with a turnaround mid-range jumper after receiving the ball.

The Chinese team, relying on Sun Jun's mid-range shot, tied the score; the goals came very quickly.

With a good touch, Vin Baker continued to call for the ball in the low post, attempting to forcefully attack Gan Guoyang.

Payton hesitated for a moment while holding the ball outside, then passed it to Carter in the middle, who then passed it to Smith on the right.

Payton was worried that Baker's repeated solo scoring would provoke Forrest Gump's anger, and logically he should have hit Baker instead.

As a result, Smith's breakthrough through the middle was met with tight defense from the Chinese team and was intercepted.

Tonight, China will definitely employ a tight, compact defense to counter the US team's relatively weak three-point shooting.

Actually, the US team shot quite well from three-point range in the Olympics because the FIBA ​​three-point line is like a mid-range shot for them, much easier, and their shooting percentage is quite high.

However, the US team didn't shoot many three-pointers, placing them in the middle of the pack among the participating teams. Their real strength lay in scoring under the basket.

Most of these points under the basket come from fast breaks and counterattacks.

The Chinese team, having stolen the ball, launched a fast break. Hu Weidong drove to the basket for a layup, but his shot was blocked by Carter!
But Hu Weidong immediately stole the ball back and passed it back to Gan Guoyang, who was following up. Gan Guoyang received the ball outside the three-point line and took a shot!
Unfortunately, the ball didn't go in, and the Chinese fans at the stadium and the Chinese viewers watching on TV all sighed in unison.

Gan Guoyang is almost always right with this kind of shot, and it's rare for him to miss such an opportunity.

Gan Guoyang's performance at the start was mediocre, not because he was nervous or tired, but because he was too concerned.

He cared more about it than the 1992 Olympics and every NBA championship before, so he knew he was wrong as soon as he made the shot; he had overdone it.

The US team launched a counterattack, and McDyess attacked Yao Ming, drawing a defensive foul from Yao Ming, which made Jiang Xingquan uneasy.

Carter then broke through again, targeting Yao Ming. Yao Ming dared not make a move, and Carter scored a layup, giving the US team the lead.

China launched a quick counterattack. Gan Guoyang passed the ball directly from midfield to the inside, giving Sun Jun a good opportunity to lay up, but Wen Baker came up from behind and blocked it again!
Two consecutive fast breaks saw the US team block close-range layups, highlighting the obvious difference in physical attributes between the two sides.

In the final, the US team went all out on defense, not giving the Chinese team any easy scoring opportunities.

During the US team's counterattack, Payton quickly crossed half-court and made a through pass to Steve Smith, who was cutting to the basket.

Smith made a layup, which was blocked by Gan Guoyang, but McDyess followed up and made a successful putback.

Yao Ming's foul at the start of the game was fatal, making him hesitant to make any rash moves.

Yao Ming is only 20 years old and lacks experience. His series of mistakes at the beginning of the game left him somewhat bewildered.

Following that, Gan Guoyang's turnaround hook shot after receiving the ball in the low post also missed.

Chinese fans were on tenterhooks; if Agan wasn't in good form, they definitely wouldn't be able to beat the Americans tonight.

The US team secured the rebounds well, and Payton calmly launched a positional attack.

Seeing that Gan Guoyang had a poor start, the American players were much more composed.

Vince Carter received the pass and hit a three-pointer from the right 45-degree angle!

Stars and stripes fluttered in the stands as American fans cheered for the goal.

With the Dream Team leading 9-2, the situation was very unfavorable for the Chinese team, and Jiang Xingquan wanted to call a timeout.

However, the coaching staff and Gan Guoyang had agreed before the game that if Gan Guoyang did not give the signal, the coaching staff would not call a timeout.

Gan Guoyang showed no intention of stopping the attack and continued his positional offensive, prompting the United States to begin a tight half-court press and double-team defense.

They wanted to widen the score gap and defeat the Chinese team in one fell swoop using this method, a tactic that had worked repeatedly in previous matches and was a traditional killer move for the American team.

But Li Xiaoyong was very clear-headed. He passed the information to Gan Guoyang in time before the double team was formed and calculated the lead time.

Gan Guoyang received the ball, took a step past McDyess who was trying to steal it, drove into the basket, pushed past Baker and scored a layup, drawing a foul from Baker in the process!

After the match began, the Chinese fans, who had been holding back their cheers, finally erupted in cheers. Students, workers, teachers, and employees in front of their televisions also joined in the shouting.

Gan Guoyang went to the free-throw line and made the free throw. The free throw was a good one, allowing Gan Guoyang to adjust his muscle feel.

Just now, he took a three-pointer and a hook shot, and there was a clear problem with his release; he used too much force in both shots.

Gan Guoyang was too excited; he needed to control himself.

By this time, the US team had begun rotating players. Rick Carlisle wasn't just trying to distribute playing time evenly; he wanted to wear them down through a rotation of players.

McDyess was replaced by Kevin Garnett, and Vin Baker was replaced by Rasheed Wallace – all substitutions were to bring in interior players.

After entering the game, the two immediately launched an attack under the basket, fighting for offensive rebounds. They jumped and fought repeatedly, but they were still no match for Gan Guoyang.

Gan Guoyang firmly controlled the rebound, and China launched a counterattack. Li Xiaoyong controlled the speed until both inside players were in position.

Gan Guoyang received the ball in the low post, turned inside to face the basket, and Garnett and Raheem double-teamed him. Gan Guoyang jumped and made a beautiful lob pass to Yao Ming on the other side.

Yao Ming received the ball and slammed it home with one hand! The crowd erupted in cheers again. 9-7, the Chinese team had narrowed the gap to just two points.

Gan Guoyang and Yao Ming gave each other a high five, indicating that the play was good and hoping that Yao Ming could get into the game soon.

However, after narrowing the gap to two points, the US team rallied again, with Vince Carter hitting another three-pointer!

Facing Hu Weidong's defense, Carter received the ball and made a strong shot, scoring entirely through his own individual ability.

Then Gan Guoyang passed the ball to Sun Jun, whose pass to Yao Ming was intercepted by Payton.

The Chinese team's two point guards lack independent offensive capabilities, so Payton can leave Li Xiaoyong alone and go directly to help defend the inside.

The US team countered and drew a defensive foul from Sun Jun, prompting Jiang Xingquan to make a substitution.

Wang Zhizhi replaced Yao Ming, Guo Shiqiang replaced Li Xiaoyong, and Li Nan replaced Sun Jun.

Team USA also made active substitutions, with Ray Allen replacing Carter, and Smith making both free throws.

14:7, the score difference has widened to 7 points.

American players are indeed very strong individually; they solved several problems through individual skill.

The introduction of Li Nan and Guo Shiqiang did not have an immediate effect.

Although Chinese players have made great progress compared to the past, the gap is still obvious when facing American NBA stars who are giving their all.

China's only real advantage is Gan Guoyang; how he performs will determine the team's direction and fate.

Before the match, Gan Guoyang told Jiang Xingquan that he should not be allowed to leave the field for even a minute tonight.

With a 7-point deficit, Gan Guoyang didn't rush to take possession of the ball and attack, realizing that his shooting touch had been mediocre at the start of the game.

He had to find a way to gradually regain his offensive rhythm, use his brain to motivate his teammates, and contain the opponent.

On the field, Gan Guoyang entered a state of complete concentration, blocking out everything else and focusing solely on the game.

During the attack, he received the ball in the low post, observed the US team's defensive positioning, and made a long pass to the left corner.

Li Nan had an open shot, received the ball, and took a three-pointer, but missed.

But Gan Guoyang appeared under the basket again, grabbed the rebound, and scored on the putback.

Then, Gan Guoyang switched onto Payton on defense and successfully made a steal.

Unfortunately, Payton immediately countered and won the ball back.

The two sides started by vying for points, but as the game progressed, the focus shifted to the battle for possession of the ball.

Just like war, it starts with planes, tanks and artillery being deployed, but gradually turns into a quagmire of fighting along the front lines.

The Chinese team, or rather Gan Guoyang, deliberately brought the game into this situation to offset the American team's individual ability advantage.

Another reason is that Gan Guoyang wanted to stall for time until he found his shooting rhythm.

In the Olympic final, he won't waste any opportunities to build up his shooting touch; he'll be cautious with every shot.

This must be the most cautious match Gan Guoyang has ever played in his life.

Gan Guoyang stopped putting his hands on his hips and actively engaged in every defensive play, putting pressure on the American player with the ball.

One problem with the US team is that their teamwork isn't very good because they haven't had much time to train together and haven't played many games.

Therefore, Gan Guoyang actually made three steals in five rounds—although the American team managed to steal the ball back twice.

In short, the situation on the field was chaotic, and the score remained at 14-9 for quite some time.

Furthermore, Gan Guoyang drew a foul under the basket and made both free throws, bringing the score to 14-11, narrowing the gap again.

Carlisle knew that Forrest Gump, the seasoned veteran, was in control, and the game was slowly falling into his rhythm.

So, after 10 minutes of the first half, Carlisle called a timeout and made another substitution.

Kidd and Carter entered the game, and Vin Baker replaced Raheem. Carlisle was determined to use a rotation system to the very end.

The timeout was a break for Gan Guoyang. He told his teammates, "We need to get through this defensive stretch and not let the American team pull away. Once I feel like it, I'll crush them."

Gan Guoyang's words were simple and blunt, but very effective. Everyone knows that once this period is over, Gan Guoyang will crush the United States.

Gan Guoyang always keeps his word.

After the timeout, Kidd broke through and made a beautiful pass to Garnett.

Garnett's strange shot, which was neither a shot nor a layup, was blocked by Gan Guoyang!

China launched a counterattack, passing the ball to Gan Guoyang. However, Gan Guoyang was not in a hurry and slowed down, suddenly finding Liu Yudong cutting to the basket.

A pass to the basket found Liu Yudong, who pushed past the defender and scored a layup!
On the Chinese team's side, apart from using Gan Guoyang to the extreme, everyone else was given opportunities as well.

Jiang Xingquan knew that the Americans had better stamina and they used a lot of rotation. If the Chinese team focused on using only a few players, they would definitely be overwhelmed and suffer a defeat later on.

No matter who it is, the first requirement for taking the court is not to be a liability, especially in defense; they cannot collapse.

Now it's up to Gan Guoyang to decide how to play.

As the game progressed and intensified, Gan Guoyang seemed to have returned to his 20-year-old self on the field.

He doesn't look like a 36-year-old veteran at all; he's practically everywhere. It's been a long time since he's moved around the field like that.

One reason is that FIBA ​​stadiums are smaller than NBA stadiums, but the more important reason is that this is the Olympic final.

Gan Guoyang wisely chose not to compete with the American team on offense, but rather to rely on his scoring touch to outperform them.

Instead, focus on defense, lower everyone's shooting percentage, and keep the point difference small enough so that there's still a chance in the second half.

Gan Guoyang made another interception, demonstrating his familiarity with the passing patterns of Kidd and Payton, and successfully anticipated their passes multiple times.

After successfully stealing the ball, Gan Guoyang didn't rush to counterattack. Instead, he slowed down and focused on coordinating with his teammates.

Even if the Chinese team players are not good enough, Gan Guoyang still has to rely on them and lead them to find their rhythm in the game.

Both teams started shooting poorly, often going several possessions without scoring. The Chinese team did their best on defense, tirelessly following and harassing the defense.

The American players were already not very good at shooting, and their shooting touch got even worse in the finals.

As the intensity of the game increased, both teams committed more fouls, and the atmosphere became increasingly tense.

A conflict broke out between Mourning and Wang Zhizhi while they were battling for a rebound, and the two clashed under the basket.

Gan Guoyang quickly came over, pushed Mo Ning away, and then pointed at Mo Ning's nose and cursed.

Mo Ning refused to back down. At this point in the war for the country, no one would back down.

The referee called a foul on Mourning, and Wang Zhizhi was given free throws, which he made both.

The score was 38-35, with China trailing by 3 points. The first half was about to end.

NBC provided statistics for both teams, revealing that Gan Guoyang had already scored 11 points, grabbed 7 rebounds, dished out 5 assists, made 6 steals, and blocked 5 shots in the first half.

"Forrest Gump was simply unstoppable, especially on the defensive end. It's been so long since we've seen him work so hard. Many people may have forgotten that Forrest Gump is the best defensive player in NBA history, or even in the history of basketball in general, without a doubt."

Gan Guoyang has missed out on the best defensive player award for years because he's getting older and can no longer put in as much effort on defense.

When he was a little younger, Gan Guoyang's defense was a true game-changer for other teams; it was just too solid.

Tonight, Gan Guoyang was not only solid, but also well-rounded. His pressure on the American team's outside shooting successfully contained their counterattack.

The score remained close, and in this suffocating environment, it foreshadowed that everything would explode at the last moment.

The score at halftime was 38-35, with the US team leading by 3 points.

Carlisle's 38 points set a new record for the lowest halftime score for the Dream Team, and he paid a price for the rotation strategy to some extent.

Frequent substitutions meant that no one could develop a good offensive rhythm, forcing them to stick with the Chinese team in a stalemate.

During halftime, Gan Guoyang sat silently in the locker room, only drinking water.

He didn't want to say anything, nor did he need to say anything; all he needed at that moment was rest.

The others tacitly refrained from disturbing his rest, and for 20 minutes, they didn't stop for a single moment.

The second half will definitely last 20 minutes, and it will be played the full 20 minutes.

For spectators and fans, the 15-minute halftime break is pure torture.

Finally, the second half of the game began, and the American team was on high alert, knowing that Forrest Gump was about to exert his strength.

However, Gan Guoyang, like a patient hunter, was not in a hurry at all. At the beginning of the second half, he made consecutive assists to Hu Weidong and Yao Ming, and the Chinese team scored 5 points in a row to overtake the United States!

People at the scene and those watching on television were incredibly excited, but there was still a long time to go and the event was far from over.

The US team quickly recovered, with Payton driving to the basket and scoring two points to tie the game.

Gan Guoyang received the ball in the low post, turned and scored with a hook shot, putting the team ahead again!
Payton drove to the basket and passed the ball to Garnett on the baseline, who made a mid-range jumper.

At the start of the second half, after the halftime break and the groundwork laid in the first half, both teams' shooting touch was returning.

Gan Guoyang received the ball in the low post again, and the double team came up early. Gan Guoyang passed the ball to Hu Weidong in the middle.

Hu Weidong received the ball and attempted a three-pointer, but missed. Yao Ming grabbed the rebound and passed it to Gan Guoyang, but the ball was lost.

Payton made a steal, but Gan Guoyang didn't chase after Payton. Instead, he went for the passing lane and intercepted Payton's pass! It was a lightning-fast, extreme contest. Gan Guoyang made his seventh steal, and the two sides were going all out again.

Gan Guoyang, who successfully intercepted the ball, took a jump shot just inside the free-throw line, but it still missed. He then grabbed the rebound himself.

The ball was passed back to the outside, and the offense was reorganized. The two teams played in a chaotic manner, but that's what the finals are all about.

Gan Guoyang started holding the ball in the high post and fed it to Yao Ming in the low post. Yao Ming received the ball and immediately turned around for a jump shot.

Goal! Yao Ming scores his first singles point of the day! China is in the lead again.

After scoring, Gan Guoyang immediately counter-pressed from the attacking third, putting pressure on the American player with the ball.

To be honest, no national team would do that, because facing the ball-handling ability of American guards, a full-court press and double-team would be suicidal.

The best strategy is to retreat inside the three-point line and implement a zone defense.

But Gan Guoyang could; his close-range defense was once every guard in the league's nightmare.

Payton got the ball stolen by Gan Guoyang again! Tonight, his gloves are covered by boxing gloves.

The two players in the middle were scrambling for the ball, and Gan Guoyang threw it to Hu Weidong.

Hu Weidong received the ball and launched a fast break, but was knocked down from behind by Carter who followed up.

Hu Weidong fell to the ground, but immediately got up and was about to fight Carter.

The referee blew his whistle repeatedly to separate the two men; this was the second conflict of the night.

Ultimately, Carter was called for a technical foul, and the Chinese team got two free throws and possession.

The situation was becoming increasingly unfavorable for the American team, and Hu Weidong made all his free throws.

However, his subsequent mid-range shot after receiving a pass from Gan Guoyang missed.

The US team countered, with the US team repeatedly dribbling and breaking through, then passing the ball.

Finally, Carter hit a three-pointer from the open corner on the right.

In positional warfare, the Chinese team's perimeter defense coverage and intensity are still far from sufficient.

Therefore, Gan Guoyang needs to take the initiative; he can't always stay under the basket.

As I said before, the finals and the group stage are different.

The score remained close, and both coaches made frequent timeouts and substitutions.

This is the most exciting basketball game of the Sydney Olympics so far, bar none.

With eight minutes remaining in the game, the score was tied at 58-58.

Gan Guoyang still hasn't really gotten going. He scored 11 points in the first half and 9 points so far in the second half, for a total of 20 points.

This score would be high for others, but for Gan Guoyang, it was a somewhat mediocre score.

At this moment, Gan Guoyang signaled to Jiang Xingquan that he wanted a timeout, and Jiang Xingquan immediately called a timeout while the ball was dead.

"What's wrong? Is there a problem?" Jiang Xingquan asked, his voice trembling.

"No problem, don't worry, everything's fine. I'll call a timeout and tell everyone what to do. There are still 8 minutes left, and time is running out for the American team."

"Now, give me the ball."

Everyone was sweating profusely, nodding to indicate that they understood.

The moment has finally arrived. We've held on until now just to wait for Forrest Gump to say, "Give me the ball!"

Gan Guoyang wiped his sweat, took a sip of water, and stepped back onto the court.

Actually, the previous matches had taken a huge toll on him; he did everything he could on the court.

Constant defense, poor shooting touch, a lot of running, and not a minute of rest.

NBC's commentators also said that Forrest Gump was practically invincible, as if he had returned to the 1997 season.

But he was 36 years old after all, and he could feel his legs getting heavy and his energy gradually being depleted.

This feeling was something he had rarely experienced before. He was really tired, but he still had to stand up and defeat this bunch of chickens and dogs on the other side.

He knew the American team was also exhausted; even with Carlisle's rotation tactics, the intensity was still enough to make anyone tired.

This isn't the NBA; there aren't as many timeouts, and the game isn't divided into four quarters. Plus, the game is so important that American players are pushing themselves to their limits just like everyone else.

After the timeout, on the first possession, Gan Guoyang received the ball at a high position, looking like he was about to set up a play, while Garnett was defending him.

Gan Guoyang took a probing step, then suddenly sprinted forward, dribbled, moved the defense around, then stepped back, and suddenly fired a three-pointer!

A sudden three-pointer, the ball arcing beautifully and sinking perfectly! They've taken the lead!
The Chinese team has taken the lead, 61-58, a 3-point advantage, putting the pressure on the American team.

Kidd passed the ball to Garnett, who faked a shoulder movement, stepped back to the top of the arc, and launched a mid-range jump shot!

Garnett had a good jump shot percentage tonight, but this shot missed, and Gan Guoyang grabbed the rebound.

Gan Guoyang dribbled the ball himself, executing a beautiful behind-the-back dribble to evade Kidd's attempt to steal the ball.

The US defense had a hole, and Gan Guoyang cut in from the middle, made a move-hook, and scored again!
Gan Guoyang can no longer rely on his stamina to break through and dunk; the move-hook allows him to do so with ease!

Instead of returning to defend, Gan Guoyang, who had just scored, directed his teammates to counter-press, leaving Kidd with no choice but to jump up and pass the ball.

Gan Guoyang intercepted the ball from behind Garnett, making another steal – his eighth steal of the night.

Gan Guoyang repeatedly made steals, disrupting the already fragmented offense of the American team.

After stealing the ball, he slowly dribbled inside, pushed past Garnett, and suddenly turned and launched a one-legged jump shot.

The ball arced high again and swished through the net! Seven consecutive points forced the Dream Team to call a timeout!

The unexpected string of goals showed that Gan Guoyang's stamina was indeed running low; the shots and hook shots were all a bit slow.

But he can still score, and he can even steal the ball; it's simply unbelievable.

Carlisle called a timeout and shouted at the top of his lungs to the Dream Team that they were behind, down by 7 points!

"Stop him! He's almost out of energy. There's still time. We must stop him!"

Carlisle was also confused; his hands were shaking as he gave instructions. Was it going to be another Forrest Gump moment?

Is this what it feels like to be Forrest Gump's coach when facing Forrest Gump?

After the timeout, Carter tried to drive to the basket for a dunk but was blocked by Yao Ming. Then Gan Guoyang appeared out of nowhere and blocked his shot from behind!
Tonight, Gan Guoyang dominated both the inside and outside, single-handedly blocking shots and making steals on the defensive end, completely disrupting the rhythm of the American team. His performance was even more terrifying than his scoring.

The ball flew into Beck's hands, and Beck tried to get up again, but Gan Guoyang tipped the ball away from behind!
This is Gan Guoyang's tenth block tonight. With such a string of blocks, the American players are almost in a state of hysteria.

It feels like this ball just won't go in.

When the Chinese team gained possession and launched a counterattack, Gan Guoyang was at the forefront.

He received the ball, took a step, jumped, and was knocked down by two American defenders.

But he still threw the ball towards the basket, and the ball spun around the rim before stumbling and going in!
His teammates all rushed over to help Gan Guoyang up. Gan Guoyang got up without any expression or movement.

Because he didn't want to waste any energy celebrating; he wanted to focus all his energy on basketball.

The free throw was made, and the Chinese team is now leading by 10 points!

The pressure is on the US team; they need a strong offensive weapon.

We still have to rely on Carter, but Carter's drives to the basket are being double-teamed.

Carter attempted to pass the ball, but Gan Guoyang intercepted it!
Gan Guoyang seemed to have access to a holographic map, knowing the thoughts and actions of everyone present.

This is his domain, his true domain, surpassing the so-called domain of any other superstar, a domain that covers the entire arena.

Gan Guoyang, who had successfully stolen the ball, did not linger. He dribbled again and sprinted towards the frontcourt. With no one guarding him, he leaped high and glided into the dunk!
Gan Guoyang scored 12 points in a row, and the American team completely shut down the American team. It wasn't just a blockade, it was a complete blockade.

American players seemed to have their ingrained fears unleashed, and suddenly they couldn't play anymore.

Trailing by 12 points, the US team was completely bewildered when inbounding the ball from the baseline. They had no idea how to serve and were utterly clueless.

Kevin Garnett actually threw the ball directly to Gan Guoyang!

Gan Guoyang received the ball but didn't rush to attack. Instead, he dribbled out to run down the clock!

Kevin Garnett was unaware that his inexplicable mistake would lead to a historic statistic.

Gan Guoyang has already achieved a five-double with 32 points, 14 rebounds, 10 assists, 10 blocks, and 10 steals!

This is the first time a player has achieved this feat since statistics began being compiled for official basketball competitions worldwide.

However, Gan Guoyang was not concerned about this achievement. He controlled the ball on the outside, watched the time tick by, and held a 12-point advantage.

The American team was stunned and confused. In fact, it was already clear from their previous game against Lithuania that this American team is not up to par in tough battles.

If even one person stood up and responded, they wouldn't be beaten so badly they couldn't fight back.

...6 seconds, 5 seconds, 4 seconds, with three seconds left, the American team's double team still hadn't come up.

Gan Guoyang dribbled the ball, broke through, and then used a Kiki-step to shoot a three-pointer from the outside.

That ball was like a sharp sword, piercing straight into the heart of the American team.

hit!

The entire land of China was in an uproar, truly in an uproar.

Because the ball went in, everyone knew the game was over.

The Chinese team has already won; there won't be any miracles, because this is a miracle!
Carlisle could only call a timeout during a dead ball situation, and the entire US team fell silent.

In just over six minutes, the world changed color, and the American team was completely overwhelmed.

Without the slightest warning, yet it felt so familiar—a classic Forrest Gump-style outburst, unstoppable.

Everyone knew Forrest Gump would have a meltdown, but the key issue was that the American team couldn't respond at all.

An atmosphere of despair permeates the air. Now, who can, and in what way, turn the tide? It seems there is none.

Then an American fan behind him shouted, "Forrest Gump got a quintuplet! Quintuplet, guys! How come you losers can get so many!"

The Dream Team players were all on the defensive, and Forrest Gump even managed a five-double. Can we compete with such inhuman versatility and willpower?
The US team put up a final resistance, but it was too late; the 15-point lead was too much.

Moreover, Gan Guoyang remained on the court, standing in the three-second zone, like a god suppressing everything.

The American team's morale and fighting spirit were shattered, not just in this one game, but from the accumulation of more than a decade of experience.

All the accumulated experience came into play at this moment; the collapse of the opponent was the result of the seeds sown by Gan Guoyang sprouting.

Two minutes left. 75:65.

One minute left. 77:68.

The final 20 seconds. 79:71.

Ray Allen took a desperate three-pointer, but it missed.

Gan Guoyang grabbed the rebound, securing his 17th rebound of the game. He knew it was over! Victory!

He held the basketball tightly and refused to let go, then raised it high, like a god lifting up the sun.

As the final whistle blew, all the Chinese players rushed towards Gan Guoyang, and the entire field was covered in red.

"We won! We won! We're the champions!"

"We are the gold medalists, we are the champions!"

"We fucking won!"

"We really won! Forrest Gump, you're a god!"

"Calm down, we're recording this, mind your image!"

The entire Chinese team was enveloped in passion. This group of players, who were usually reserved in expressing their emotions and would only smile slightly when they won the Asian championship, were completely unable to control their emotions at this moment.

In China, cheers resounded across the 960 million square kilometers of land, reaching the highest, farthest, coldest, and hottest places, just as the news of Gan Guoyang leading the Chinese team to win the Olympic gold medal spread.

The TV station gave Gan Guoyang another close-up shot, still a long take. This time, he was smiling happily, a bright and cheerful smile.

He was draped with the five-star red flag, which his teammates held up and carried around the field.

The Chinese fans at the scene treated him like a goddess.

His family members all came to the venue, and Gan Guoyang hugged his wife, children, and father.

Gan Youwei was moved to tears, and hugged Gan Guoyang, saying, "Son, I will always remember this day, forever."

The celebrations have only just begun; one can imagine the grand celebrations tonight, and even more so once we return to China.

Amidst the crowded throng, Gan Guoyang accepted an interview with CCTV, and loudly proclaimed to the camera, "Happy birthday to my motherland!"

This moment will forever be etched in Gan Guoyang's career, becoming the most important championship and the most precious gold medal in his basketball life.

Of course, the silver medal from 1992 became even more valuable because of this.
-
Time flies, and in the blink of an eye, almost a year has passed.

The aftershocks of the men's basketball team's victory at the 2000 Sydney Olympics have resonated for many, many years.

This Olympics was dubbed the Olympics that belonged to Gan Guoyang, as he contributed the most classic moments on television.

Raising the flag at the opening ceremony, winning gold in the finals, being worshipped by the masses at the closing ceremony, appearing on the national news, and receiving the highest level of hospitality upon returning home.

It can be said that 2000, the year at the intersection of the 20th and 21st centuries, was the most turbulent year for Gan Guoyang.

However, time will not stop for anyone, no matter how great a person or achievement may be, not even for a second.

The Olympics have ended, and Gan Guoyang has retired, but the story of basketball continues.

The 2000-2001 NBA season reignited, yet another season without Gan Guoyang, with numerous strong contenders emerging.

In the summer, the Los Angeles Lakers completed a trade, sending Jason Kidd to the New Jersey Nets in exchange for Scottie Pippen and Mitch Richmond.

This trade wasn't initiated by the Lakers; rather, Kidd didn't want to play with O'Neal in Los Angeles, and he seemed to have been provoked by something at the Olympics.

In short, Phil Jackson got the Pippen he had always wanted, the Lakers' bench was strengthened, and more importantly, the West lost Forrest Gump.

The 01 season indeed belonged to the Lakers, while the Celtics in the East suffered Duncan's season-ending injury at the end of the season, losing their chance to contend for the championship.

Meanwhile, Iverson and the Philadelphia 76ers rose to prominence, with Iverson winning the 2001 MVP award and leading the team to the Finals to face the Lakers.

In a six-game series, the Lakers, with superior strength, defeated the outnumbered Allen Iverson 4-2 and won the championship they had long dreamed of.

Shaquille O'Neal has finally realized his dream of winning a championship.

In conclusion, the 2000-2001 season had a wonderful ending and slowly came to a close.

David Stern breathed a sigh of relief; it had been a very good season.

But looking at the declining ratings and revenue, he couldn't quite manage a smile.

What made him even less able to laugh was that the ghost of Forrest Gump had not disappeared from the NBA.

On the contrary, he is trying to reappear on this stage in a different way.

This is the kind of approach David Stern absolutely doesn't want to take: he wants to build a new team in Las Vegas.

Stern openly expressed his deep hatred for gambling, believing it to be a poison that destroys the foundation of competitive sports.

After Oscar Goodman took office as mayor of Las Vegas in 1999, he approached Stern more than once, hoping to obtain a franchise in the city.

Stern refused without hesitation, stating that he would never allow the NBA to go to Las Vegas unless the city was willing to ban all betting on professional games.

This condition was obviously impossible to meet, as it would be equivalent to stopping NBA players from playing basketball. But Goodman did not back down; he always found opportunities to lobby.

It wasn't until 2001 that Forrest Gump suddenly joined the lobbying group, which alerted David Stern: how did this guy get in here?

Gan Guoyang also came to New York several times to meet with Stern. Stern was very nervous about this. He knew that Gan was amazing and that he had to be careful when talking to him.

Sure enough, Agan used his connections to start lobbying the owners of the league teams, and Stern realized that this guy might have turned his assistant Adam Silva against him.

Silva always spoke up for Forrest Gump, whether intentionally or unintentionally, and for establishing a team in Las Vegas.

Of course, it wasn't just him; many people seemed to think it was feasible.

Gan Guoyang gave an incredibly noble and righteous reason: "If it's inevitable that Las Vegas will one day have an NBA team, then it would be perfect if that team were under my command. Because I'm in Las Vegas, I can completely isolate the harm caused by gambling from the NBA. That's my role."

This fallacy surprisingly gained a lot of support because Gan Guoyang was genuinely a very good person, someone the FBI couldn't find fault with even after a year of investigation.

However, Stern was still unwilling to give in easily. He wanted to postpone the matter, at least until he retired, so that the next generation of president could take over, and he could not do it himself.

Gan Guoyang was naturally unwilling to give up. He started preparations in Las Vegas early on, bringing in financial groups, recruiting personnel, and listing a sports asset management company through a reverse takeover—this company was originally in the funeral business.

One day in September 2001, Gan Guoyang came to the Olympia Building in New York to meet with Stern, ostensibly to catch up.

The two talked a lot, and a lot had happened that year. They went back and forth, with Stern smiling but refusing to budge.

In the end, Stern gave Gan Guoyang the boot, saying, "Sonny, I will never allow Las Vegas to have an NBA team, never. Unless the Twin Towers fall, you can forget about ever getting involved in the league again. Give the young guys some room to grow."

Stern's words were a mix of threat, pleading, indignation, and helplessness.

Upon hearing this, Gan Guoyang stood up and said, "Alright, then you must keep your promise. We'll see."

At that time, David Stern didn't quite understand what Gan Guoyang meant, and he didn't take it too seriously.

However, a few days later, on September 11, two planes crashed into the World Trade Center, and the Twin Towers collapsed a few hours later.

The 9/11 attacks, which shocked the world, occurred.

This also means that Forrest Gump's vow has been fulfilled.

David Stern received the news in his office at the Olympia building and knelt down.

"My God, my God, my God..."

Stern's soul was drained, and he transformed into a butterfly, flying over the ruins.

(The Silver Generation, Volume 3, "The Butterfly," is complete; the Silver Generation series is finished.)
(End of this chapter)