The Golden Age of Basketball-Chapter 1736 - 39: The Last Year of the 20th Century (Part 3)

This point illustrates that Jamison is not a daring, vigorous player without peer.

In this regard, Jamison is quite similar to his good friend, schoolmate, and fellow rookie, Vince Carter.

Both of them come from middle-class families and grew up during America’s economic boom in the 1980s, with relatively favorable environments and conditions.

Therefore, their personalities lean more towards ordinary people, with both parents present and quite healthy.

The problem is, the NBA is a gigantic mental asylum housing a group of troubled children and the mentally ill.

To achieve great things here, one must either have significant deficiencies in their upbringing or indeed have some mental issues.

The greatest players in this league are the asylum’s directors, experts at resolving troubled children.

Normal kids like Jamison and Vince Carter seem somewhat out of place here.

Garbage time passed quickly, and in the end, the Trail Blazers easily defeated The Warriors with a 110-91, 19-point advantage at the away game.

This is also the first time this season the Trail Blazers scored a total of 110 points in a game; in this era, scoring 110 points is indeed not easy.

When the game ended, cheers erupted once more at the venue, with many fans wanting to rush onto the court to shake hands and interact with Gan Guoyang.

The on-site security had to step in to block them, causing temporary chaos.

Gan Guoyang could only shout: "I’m not retired yet! I’m not retired yet! There’s another game in Oakland next year! Don’t push! If you’re crushed to death, then it really won’t happen!"

With the escort of bodyguards, Gan Guoyang eventually left through the player tunnel.

At the press conference, Gan Guoyang specifically made a statement saying: "This season I indeed have a possibility of retiring, but it’s not 100% certain. Please, fans and teams, do not beat drums and blow horns to send me off. I know you don’t like me staying on the court, but I really have the ability to keep going. I’m considering many things; let’s finish this season first."

The reporters burst into laughter off-stage, and then Gan Guoyang warned those teams who planned a send-off and gifts at their home stadiums that if they try this trick, a massacre awaits them.

The Warriors serve as a prime example, such "forced retirements" are pointless.

Sure enough, in subsequent away games, no teams made any tribute videos or retirement gifts.

The league’s collective plan to force Gan Guoyang’s retirement was dead on arrival.

During this period, Gan Guoyang’s score and the Trail Blazers’ win rate rose simultaneously.

In the entire latter half of December, the Trail Blazers achieved an impressive record of 7 wins and 1 loss.

Gan Guoyang repeatedly scored high points: 57, 33, 41, 42, and 38, as if reliving 1987.

This plunged opponents into another period of maladjustment; teams don’t know how to deal with Ah Gan anymore.

Long-adopted strategies seem ineffective again, and new solutions must be sought.

The Trail Blazers smoothly passed their second regular-season crisis after the season opener, finishing off the 1999 schedule with a 21-10 record as they transitioned into 2000, the Millennium.

The human world history’s possibly most tumultuous yet disaster-prone 20th century entered its 100th year, and also its last year.

Gan Guoyang is undoubtedly the most thrilling and great basketball player of this century, and in the last year of the 20th century, he continues striving, bravely pushing forward for the championship.

In the eight games of December with 7 wins and 1 loss, the Trail Blazers’ only drop was in precisely the most watched, most influential, and most notable game.

They lost to the Boston Celtics at home by three points, 97-94, in the Christmas game, indeed making Portland’s fans disappointed once and bringing concerns.

This year’s Trail Blazers truly stand a chance against the Celtics in the finals, can they? This young challenger is indeed very strong, immensely powerful.

Just like the Trail Blazers in 1986 were to challenge the five-star Celtics, as time flows, everyone shifts positions and changes appearances.