At 37, his body finally couldn’t hold up anymore.
After such a major injury, there would definitely be a cliff-like decline.
Without Malone Bucks, the situation was even worse.
In Portland, they were completely no match for the Trail Blazers.
With Gan Guoyang back in the lineup, the Trail Blazers easily handled their opponents.
121:91, a 30-point victory.
When the game ended, Gan Guoyang shook hands briefly with the Bucks players.
He turned around and asked assistant coach Shalov, "Who are all these players?"
Most of the Bucks lineup was people he didn’t recognize at all.
The NBA’s turnover rate was extremely fast, and the players familiar from the 80s were leaving.
Those with some fame could still get a retirement ceremony to notify everyone.
Some who weren’t well-known just disappeared silently from the league.
In the past, when Gan Guoyang prepared for a game, he would always seriously study the opponent’s roster.
He used to pin the schedule on his locker and adjust his rhythm depending on the opponent.
Over time, Gan Guoyang no longer looked at the opponent’s name list, as he didn’t know many of them.
He didn’t even glance at the schedule; he just played whoever, whenever.
Because Gan Guoyang’s true opponent was only himself.
His health, his mentality, his own condition.
He didn’t care how the opponents targeted him.
Shalov said, "They’re all some new players who just joined the league, like... like that guy, Jon Barry, old Barry’s son."
"Oh? Old Barry’s son, he’s in the league now. He didn’t get much chance today."
"He played a bit during garbage time; I heard he has another son preparing to enter the league too."
"With basketball genes, but they’re mostly diluted."
The NBA has always seen heroic fathers with screw-up sons, while ordinary fathers have sons that become stars.
After all, many superstars’ extraordinary talents come from genetic mutations, considered ’heaven-sent.’
It’s too difficult to replicate such talents across two generations.
After stopping their losing streak, the Trail Blazers went to Los Angeles for an away game, then experienced an overtime battle in Seattle and Denver.
It wasn’t until December 20th, when the team hosted the Golden State Warriors again, that the Trail Blazers finally welcomed Sabonis’s return.
At that time, the Trail Blazers had a record of 15 wins and 6 losses, ranking second in the Western Conference after the Phoenix Suns.
Despite a team full of injuries, under Gan Guoyang’s leadership, the Trail Blazers still achieved a steady record.
Two of those losses happened when Gan Guoyang didn’t play, being absent due to personal reasons.
His ability to carry the team in the regular season was evident.
Beelman even joked, "As long as Ah Gan is here, I could randomly grab four people off the street and make the playoffs with him."
Tonight, against the Warriors, Gan Youwei found his son and said, "Get me a ticket; I want to watch the game live."
Gan Guoyang called the Trail Blazers’ ticket office, and they promptly sent a front-row ticket.
"What’s up, Dad, are you a Warriors fan?"
"I’m in San Francisco; sometimes I go to watch their games, and they’re pretty good."
"They changed coaches this year, playing well; winning or losing aside, they’re entertaining."
"Lots of scoring, it’s more enjoyable to watch."
Hearing his father say this, Gan Guoyang felt quite happy inside.
This time, after moving to Portland, Gan Youwei didn’t clam up about returning to San Francisco after just a few days.
He also didn’t stay in the small attic room, instead moving into the comfortable big room Gan Guoyang arranged for him.
He no longer cooked at home, as there were housekeepers, and he started to relax.
Every day, he practiced Tai Chi, cultivated flowers, read newspapers, and played with his grandchildren.
The rest of his time was spent watching basketball games, both on TV and live.
Gan Guoyang thought, his father probably realized some things from the death of his old uncle.
The old uncle worked hard all his life, honestly not enjoying much.
Worked all his life and passed away suddenly, it’s a pity.
Gan Youwei had a son like Gan Guoyang and was already well-off.
With so much time left in his life, he might as well enjoy his grandchildren and spend more time with family.
He went through many hardships and twists in the first half of his life, and after arriving in a foreign country, finally experienced a different life.
It’s time to enjoy it properly.
That evening, Gan Youwei was seated behind the Trail Blazers’ bench.
It wasn’t his first time at the Rose Garden watching his son’s games.
He would always attend important games in the past.
But this was the first time Gan Youwei actively went to the court to watch.
Gan Guoyang inexplicably felt motivated, as if he needed to perform well in front of his father.
Before the game started, Spree wanted to give Gan Guoyang a fist bump.
Last game, he was really humbled by Gan Guoyang’s 34 points in a single quarter.
However, when Gan Guoyang saw Spree, his eyes were blank.
As if saying, Who are you? Fist bump with me?
Spree was a bit embarrassed; Ah Gan hadn’t remembered him at all.
Mu Lin came over to introduce, "This is Spreewell, the guy who tried to guard you last game."
Upon hearing Spreewell, Gan Guoyang remembered, oh, that wild guy.
This guy hadn’t left his cornrows; it was a simple short black hair, so Gan Guoyang didn’t recognize him.
"Oh, it’s you. Hello. Good luck tonight."
Gan Guoyang fist-bumped Spreewell.
Spreewell felt a sense of recognition.
A true strong player disregards everything.
Skin color, race, nationality, none of it matters.
Against the Warriors tonight, Gan Guoyang once again put on a stellar performance.
Because the Warriors, under Old Nelson’s coaching, genuinely did not defend.