He never truly entered the center of power. Although he was a top star player, in terms of internal cultivation, he hadn’t gone through a gradual selection process.
Most of the time, Larry Bird stayed in Naple, treating his back injury, spending time with his family, and doing some simple consulting work, or using his star identity to stand up for the Celtics, acting as a spokesperson or liaison.
For example, having him contact the Trail Blazers to inquire whether Carlesimo would be willing to come to Boston, and other tasks that aren’t insignificant but don’t require decision-making.
Later, there was a vacancy for the position of team general manager. Dave Gavitt resigned, and the owner didn’t give the general manager position to Bird, but instead gave it to Bird’s former substitute, ML Carr.
When Carr played for the Celtics, he was a role player averaging 3 or 4 points, and he was Bird’s substitute, a follower.
Now, he became Bird’s superior boss. Many of Bird’s work and decisions needed Carr’s approval.
Such a disparity in identity and status would be intolerable for most people, let alone Bird, a former superstar who once called the shots.
Moreover, ML Carr had many different ideas than Bird. Bird had his own opinions on player selection, but ML Carr didn’t think the same way.
The result was that some of Bird’s suggestions and ideas went unrespected. How could Bird possibly stay with the Celtics and endure such treatment?
These were still internal issues for the Celtics, and externally, they couldn’t keep up with the times. Their old routine of hijacking draft picks and PUA with their stars no longer worked.
The new labor agreements and trade rules presented a completely different player market landscape, and the methods Auerbach used to thrive were swept into the historical dustbin.
Looking at it this way, it’s difficult to see the Celtics regaining their glory in the short term. Bird had a thousand strategies in his mind but couldn’t find a platform or opportunity to execute them.
This platform, ironically, was the Celtics, for whom he had fought his entire career and brought championship glory. Only Bird could understand the irony and heartache within.
Of course, Bird had a strong heart. Faced with such a situation, he didn’t join in internal struggles or become depressed, but chose to walk away.
If this place doesn’t keep you, there’s a place that will.
The Trail Blazers were also at the tail end of their glory. Bird was indeed worried whether the residues of their dynasty would remain in Portland.
Gan Guoyang was half full, his brain was working again, and he heard the implication in Bird’s words.
Thus, Gan Guoyang analyzed the current situation of the Trail Blazers from various aspects for Bird, and how they decayed and regenerated on their path to seven championships.
During this year and a half of retirement, besides knocking on wooden fish and watching rookies, Gan Guoyang hadn’t skimped on reading and studying.
Moreover, he was originally well-versed and eloquent, speaking thoroughly and insightfully. Soon Bird started to feel dizzy.
Bird was very smart, with sharp and deep insight, but he didn’t like reading books, let alone listening to long-winded speeches. Many times, he relied on intuition.
At first, he could keep up with Gan Guoyang’s thinking, but soon he began to have a headache. This guy was using long, complex sentences!
When Bird was in college, attending classes and taking exams was much harder for him than shooting hoops.
"Stop it, stop it, Ah Gan!" Bird hurriedly waved his hand.
Enough, enough. I know what you’re saying makes sense, isn’t that enough?
Seeing this, Gan Guoyang said to Tang Jianguo, who hadn’t spoken much, "Old Tang, summarize it so that Larry can understand it better."
Tang Jianguo summarized, "It means the team revolves tightly around Ah Gan, with winning the championship as the only goal."
Bird slapped the table, "If you said this earlier, wouldn’t it have been OK? The Trail Blazers will definitely be a great team."
Thus, the three of them shook hands at the dining table, and Bird would become the head coach for the Trail Blazers in the new season.
Donald said, the Trail Blazers are built around Ah Gan to compete for the championship.
Shit, this is the kind of team I love.
------ Published in 1999, co-authored by Larry Bird and Jackie MacMullan, excerpt from "Bird Watching." ------