When the Trail Blazers made this decision, both of them were stunned.
Especially when news came during the draft that the Trail Blazers made a trade to get the ninth pick, after the Dallas Mavericks selected Kobe.
Little O’Neal knew the Trail Blazers would select him with the tenth pick, and his heart couldn’t stop pounding.
Was he going to play with Kobe Bryant and start a professional career together?
Would the Trail Blazers select him at the tenth pick, or did they change their minds, because no team would select two high school players consecutively, right?
Little O’Neal found himself in extreme inner turmoil, but fortunately, the time between the ninth and tenth picks was only two minutes, sparing him from long agony.
When David Stern announced, "The Portland Trail Blazers select, from Ouclair High School, Jermaine O’Neal, with the tenth pick," Little O’Neal finally put his restless heart at ease.
He went up on stage to shake hands with Stern and put on the Trail Blazers cap. Afterward, he warmly embraced Kobe, and both were overjoyed.
In fact, regarding what would happen in the NBA future, what they would face, and what hardships they would endure, they had no concept.
They didn’t need to have any concept; they just needed to enjoy, enjoy the burgeoning strength that hope brings, that joy filled with sunshine and fresh air.
Soon, Gan Guoyang invited them to dinner in Portland. Meeting their idol excited the two young men immensely. Kobe was like a lively magpie, while Little O’Neal was more nervous.
What they didn’t expect was that their arrival, in fact, became two important leverage points for Gan Guoyang’s return to the League.
The "I’m Back" rumors were exciting and unsettling. These days, Kobe was on the phone with Little O’Neal every day, both speculating whether Ah Gan would return to the court.
Regarding Ah Gan’s return, the two showed distinctly different mindsets.
Kobe was mostly excited, as Ah Gan had always been his idol; being able to work with Ah Gan in the Trail Blazers would be a dream come true.
Little O’Neal, on the other hand, was still nervous and apprehensive about the future because his position was the same as Ah Gan’s. If Ah Gan returned, he would not be able to compete for playing time with him.
It’s said that playing with your idol might not be as wonderful as you think. When the filter breaks, you might find weeds growing under the halo.
Before the press conference started, Little O’Neal asked Kobe, "Kobe, if Ah Gan really comes back, can we still get playing time?"
If Gan Guoyang returns, the Trail Blazers will surely aim for a championship rather than a rebuild.
Two rookie high schoolers, how much championship experience could they have? They might not even have time to level up.
They might even become trade chips to quickly assemble a championship roster, swapping them for experienced veterans.
If that’s truly the case, being selected by the Trail Blazers will be nothing but empty joy.
But Kobe was confident, saying, "Of course we can. Not only will I get playing time, but I will also become the team’s core."
Little O’Neal sighed, thinking, "Kobe, you are really confident. Last time during dinner, I thought you were joking, but you’re serious, aren’t you?"
However, when Little O’Neal and Kobe attended Gan Guoyang’s press conference together, feeling the attention and enthusiasm from all over Portland, Oregon, and even All-America.
As they watched Gan Guoyang, like a Sky God, arrive at the press conference room surrounded by the masses from the players’ tunnel.
As they were overwhelmed by the emotions, unable to control themselves from standing up, expressing their inner excitement with unstoppable applause.
At this moment, Little O’Neal had only one thought in his heart: "This is what a real man should be like!"
At the same time, what Kobe was thinking was: "I could replace him!"
Gan Guoyang waved his hand, and the scene gradually quieted down. He cleared his throat and announced to the world:
"I will return to the NBA court, as a player of the Portland Trail Blazers, and continue to fight for victory and championship!"
The scene and the entire Portland were full of jubilation; their basketball Emperor had returned to his loyal Portland.