This time, Stockton and Gan Guoyang lifted the AMVP trophy together.
Stockton had a smile on his face and said, "It’s been almost 10 years since we last lifted the cup together."
"Yeah, 10 years have gone by so fast, John."
The last time they lifted the cup together was at the 1984 NCAA finals.
Since then, they’ve been playing for different teams, but their friendship has never been interrupted, and it’s even gotten closer.
David Stern joined them for a photo, bestowing them the title "Star Among Stars."
However, Stern whispered to Gan Guoyang, "You want to snatch this MVP too? You should know who it was originally meant for."
The league had been prepared before the game that as long as the Western team won, the MVP would go to Stockton and Malone.
During the game, the stars would play along to ensure Malone and Stockton got the best stats.
But as the game went on, both sides got serious, and Gan Guoyang took control of the game unceremoniously.
Gan Guoyang scored the highest points, so giving the MVP to Malone wasn’t appropriate.
Simply put, just award it to Ah Gan and Stockton; after all, there was precedent before.
Gan Guoyang glanced at Malone nearby, who had an unhappy expression, and said, "Some say MVP is earned through skill, so of course, I had to earn one."
"Besides, I didn’t take the MVP from Portland last year; it was given to Charles, right?"
"Snatching the MVP in person is even more interesting."
David Stern rolled his eyes at Gan Guoyang.
To be honest, David Stern was somewhat troubled.
He’s been in office for almost ten years since 1984.
Players like Ah Gan and Jordan have followed him through and witnessed the major development of the NBA.
Especially Gan Guoyang, who won six championships, becoming Stern’s hallmark.
Now the NBA image is deeply tied to a Chinese person.
The international situation in 1993 was different from the 1980s.
Americans were genuinely the world’s top power, ready to fight whoever they disagreed with.
After successfully ending the Gulf War, Clinton took office in 1992, and they turned their sights on Somalia.
Americans began interfering in Somalia’s internal affairs, playing the role of world police.
The national confidence was exceedingly inflated, and the NBA, as an American league, had its top player a foreigner.
Though Gan Guoyang was regarded as a star cultivated by America, his participation in the 1992 Olympics shattered many people’s "illusions."
No matter who cultivated him, he’s a true Chinese player who would compete for his country.
The previous "Anti-Gan Alliance" was among players, limited to on-court rivalries.
By this season, it was evident that more and more city fans joined the "Anti-Gan" cause.
Before and after the All-Star game, ESPN conducted a poll.
The survey showed that over eighty percent of respondents said they didn’t want to see Ah Gan and the Portland Trail Blazers win anymore.
Support for Gan Guoyang was still strong; wherever he went, there were crowds and enthusiastic cheers.
But within a larger, quieter group of fans, Ah Gan was no longer the brave challenger against everything.
He had become a complete Evil Dragon, someone everyone secretly hoped to defeat.
Of course, Gan Guoyang knew this, but he didn’t mind being an Evil Dragon.
One must become a dragon, just like a slave who plucks a golden branch, fighting a lifetime to protect it.
He accepted his fate on the court long ago, committed to and loved this game.
After the All-Star game, the players had two days to rest and adjust.
At this time, to defeat Gan Guoyang, the Evil Dragon, the Phoenix Suns made a trade before the deadline.
The Suns sent center Sam Bowie and two first-round picks to get John Salley from the Pistons.
The Suns traded for Bowie initially to deal with Ah Gan.
But Bowie’s performance dropped significantly this season; injuries eventually eroded his fragile legs.
In Phoenix, his playing time decreased, and he was no longer a fit for Paul Westphal’s faster, more agile system.
The Pistons were preparing for a rebuild; Bowie was just to balance salaries, with the picks being key.
The Suns went all out, hoping to build a better team this year to challenge the Portland Trail Blazers’ dominance.
Both the Western Suns and the Eastern Heat sensed the Trail Blazers’ vulnerability.
This year could be the best chance to overthrow Ah Gan’s terrifying reign; teams began recruiting aggressively.
By contrast, the Trail Blazers stayed put, making no significant adjustments.
Jerry West’s main work during this period was to rescue Jerome Kossie.
To restore the Trail Blazers’ reputation in the community and stabilize team morale.
Gan Guoyang knew that the current situation was more dangerous than the first three-peat in 1988.
Back then, although there were serious internal conflicts, everything from top to bottom smelled rotten.
But in 1988, the Trail Blazers were very young, and the players had great conditions.
The only problem was the laid-back attitude and divergence brought by the championship—sure enough, Drexler left after the win.
Moreover, in the playoffs, except for the Los Angeles Lakers, the Trail Blazers didn’t face any notable opponents.
This season, the situation was different; the players were no longer young, with their conditions fluctuating.
This kind of objective decline was far worse than decaying mindset.
Minds can be quickly turned and gathered together, a victory, a speech, can all have effects.
Only objective conditions, the players’ state and level, once dropped, they’re truly down.
Terry Porter, Jerome Kossie, and Sabonis weren’t in their best state for various reasons.
Luckily, Petrović and Lewis, these two energetic forces, grew into All-Stars this year.
This kept the Trail Blazers very competitive in the West.
Of course, the most fundamental is still Ah Gan.
His health and condition are everything.
During the All-Star break, the Trail Blazers conducted routine health checks on Gan Guoyang.
After the check, the team doctor said, "Ah Gan could reject paying health insurance with this report, it’s a complete waste of money."
His body parts were working well; muscles, joints, were all in good shape.
Years of battles of course left some injuries, but none were serious.
Some minor injuries even made certain parts stronger.
Nietzsche’s saying "What doesn’t kill me makes me stronger" was undoubtedly well-proven in Gan Guoyang.
Good physical health alone wasn’t enough; Gan Guoyang also underwent psychological health checks.
Trail Blazers specially invited Dr. Ogilvy, who used to work with the team, for a conversation with Gan Guoyang.
When Gan Guoyang first joined the Trail Blazers in 1984, Dr. Ogilvy tested him.
The test results then showed Gan Guoyang scored the highest, an unparalleled king-level athlete.
After Jack Ramsey resigned and left, Dr. Ogilvy also left Portland and went to San Francisco.
He taught at San Jose State University, providing sports psychology services for the San Francisco 49ers.
However, Dr. Ogilvy always said he never met any player comparable to Ah Gan again.
Gan Guoyang first caught up with the Doctor, then chatted a bit about life and matches, and finally did the test.
Soon after, Dr. Ogilvy gave the results, saying "Ah Gan, you’re still very healthy and psychologically strong. Over the years, you’ve hardly changed."
"Still, there’s a bit of change; I’ve gained many rings."
"Haha, I hope there will be more. But I want to ask you... have the rings become your anxiety?"
"Anxiety? Rings, you mean, like those dragons guarding treasures, worried about the rings being stolen."
"Exactly, the test shows you’re fine. But... I have some intuition telling me you have some deep anxiety."
Gan Guoyang fell silent for a moment and replied, "Doctor, I do have areas of anxiety, but not for the rings."
"Not for the rings?"
"I love championships and victory, but they won’t become my shackles. I enjoy the process of chasing championships, not holding onto them unwilling to let go. What I truly hope to keep is..."
Gan Guoyang was silent, and Dr. Ogilvy didn’t press him any further.
He held Gan Guoyang’s hand, saying, "Now is everything. Hope to witness your successful summit again, Ah Gan."
Gan Guoyang smiled and tightly grasped the Doctor’s hand as well.
Once the All-Star game was over, the playoffs were near.
With a month and a half left, Gan Guoyang and the Trail Blazers were set to launch another assault on the championship.
They’ve reached the summit time and again, so what’s the meaning of continuing to climb?
It’s actually just like mountain climbing; you climb it simply because it’s there.
The championship is there, how can one not strive for it?