The Golden Age of Basketball-Chapter 1675 - 21: Another Beginning_2

The Hawks are clearly aiming to restructure the team’s lineup; Terry, Glover, and Wang Zhizhi will be crucial parts of the Hawks’ future plans.

There is little controversy around Terry and Glover. Terry was a highly sought-after guard in America, a championship-winning guard from the University of Arizona, PAC-10 Player of the Year, and made it to the NCAA First Team, a rookie realistically worthy of a top-five pick. The Hawks were lucky to select him at the tenth spot.

Glover also had a brilliant school basketball experience. He was the McDonald’s All-America High School Basketball Game MVP, and during his single year of college basketball at Georgia Tech, he averaged 18 points, 5 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game. He had already shown the ability to survive in the NBA, leading him to declare for the draft early and start his professional career.

Wang Zhizhi, however, the fellow countryman of the Basketball God and a big man from the East, was quite unfamiliar to most American fans.

Nonetheless, Atlanta fans had a profound impression of him because, during the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, the then 19-year-old Wang Zhizhi represented the Chinese National Team and left a deep impression.

In the game against the US Dream Team, China, without Gan Guoyang, naturally suffered a heavy defeat, but Wang Zhizhi came off the bench and blocked David Robinson—yes, again you, Robinson—highlighting one of the few memorable moments for the Chinese Men’s Basketball Team in that year’s Olympics.

In 1996, Wang Zhizhi was tall and lanky, with excellent flexibility and agility, plus his frame appeared large with big hands and a sturdy lower body, showing great potential for improvement.

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

Since that Olympics, NBA teams, particularly the Atlanta Hawks, have set their sights on Wang Zhizhi.

In fact, as early as the 80s, the Hawks noticed the Chinese National Team’s inside presence, Song Tao, but he ultimately went to the Trail Blazers to join with his fellow countrymen.

Later, Song Tao left the NBA due to severe injuries, gradually stepping away from the court after getting a ring.

Gan Guoyang, this Chinese player dominated the NBA in the late 80s and early 90s, and upon his return in 1996, the red-black terror once again descended upon the League.

When Wang Zhizhi announced his participation in the 1999 draft, the Hawks kept their eyes firmly on him, even trading Reiner in advance to make room for Wang Zhizhi’s arrival.

The Hawks believed that, like the former Eagle King Bob Pettit, Wang Zhizhi had center height and skills but was actually more suited to play as a power forward.

Though not particularly strong in physical confrontations, he had excellent shooting touch, was tall with long arms, and was outstanding at free throws. With proper honing, he might become an excellent scoring power forward like Pettit.

Pairing with the defensive center Dikembe Mutombo, one on offense and one on defense, this inside combination could have a promising future.

The Hawks’ idea was indeed quite creative, and Wang Zhizhi’s arrival greatly excited the whole of Atlanta.

Though the greatest player was entangled in a spy case, under house arrest in a New York hotel, cut off from the outside world, some Hawks fans believed that when Ah Gan leaves this league or even this country, Wang Zhizhi will inherit his talents and skills, bringing the championship to Atlanta.

This will be the beginning of another legend.

Wang Zhizhi personally went to New York to attend the draft. He walked onto the stage and shook hands with David Stern when he was selected at the 20th position.

Because of Gan Guoyang’s presence, the NBA had deep cultivation in China. Long before China had its own professional league, many local youth training teams had already started sending young players to America for training and development, receiving American-style basketball education and training.

Even military teams like the August First Basketball Team had cooperative relationships with the NBA.

This draft took place during a sensitive period in Sino-American relations, and Wang Zhizhi initially intended to refuse entering the draft in America.

But Gan Guoyang strongly advised Wang Zhizhi to come to America for the draft and persuaded the relevant leaders not to worry.

"There will be confrontations and frictions between China and America, but peaceful coexistence is the general trend. Whether you come or not actually won’t change anything; focus instead on the fate of Chinese basketball, sending talents to the right places for development. The rest, take it step by step, it’s beyond what you and I can decide, think more about yourself."

Gan Guoyang’s influence could reach the highest levels, so all obstacles were no longer barriers. Wang Zhizhi smoothly made his way to America, attended tryouts for various teams, and prepared for the draft.

Everything was ready for the draft day, but just before the draft began, Gan Guoyang was swept into a huge political storm.

In the face of massive pressure, his agent Gan Guohui guided him to withstand all kinds of negative rumors and even nullified his vacillating hesitation on wanting to withdraw from the draft.

"Resolutely participate in the draft, no matter how hard the road ahead is, just keep going and there will always be a way. Also, always believe in Ah Gan; he will resolve everything."

Before the draft, Gan Guohui’s determined expression and words eased the anxiety and unease of the young Wang Zhizhi.

Wang Zhizhi was born into a basketball family; his parents were centers in the local basketball team. He has been connected to basketball since childhood, starting professional basketball training at the age of 8.

Thus, Wang Zhizhi grew up in a relatively simple and closed environment, guided by his father in basketball, cared for by his mother in life, always focused on basketball, without much thought or opportunity to engage with the complex society.