The weather is getting colder every day, from rainy to snowy in Portland, and Christmas is just around the corner.
Gan Guoyang announced his comeback in July, officially began the games in November, and it’s now December, almost half a year has passed.
Returning to the basketball court has made his life busy again; the brief relaxation period after retirement feels like a distant dream.
Compared to the days before his comeback, Gan Guoyang’s life has undergone some changes. He has reduced his social activities and spends more time with his family, especially with his father and son.
Under meticulous care, Gan Youwei’s illness has progressed slowly, and throughout he has not forgotten his son.
Especially since Gan Guoyang started playing again, he never misses a home game and watches away games live on TV.
Gan Youwei watches every game attentively, takes notes, and places small bets before games, just to remind himself not to forget watching basketball.
Gan Guoyang feels satisfied with his father’s current quality of life and is glad that his decision to return has been beneficial to his father, which makes him feel much more at ease.
As for his son Gan Wenshan, he was very happy to return to Portland because he could play again at Lake Mountain Park with Thompson and the brothers from the Love family.
He started first grade in September. Whenever Gan Guoyang is in Portland, he takes his son to school and reminds him before getting off: "Don’t hit people."
Within just one month of starting school, Wang Fuxi was twice called to the school because Gan Wenshan fought with classmates.
The reason for the fights was simple; boys are always combative, find each other annoying, and easily get into fights over a few words.
Gan Wenshan is a yellow-skinned Asian. Kids don’t care whether your dad is a basketball star or the President of America.
They thought Gan Wenshan was easy to bully, but Gan Wenshan doesn’t argue with people; if there’s a disagreement, he goes straight to hitting.
Once he bloodied someone’s nose, another time he tore someone’s clothes, forcing Wang Fuxi to apologize in person.
Fortunately, Gan Guoyang had a great reputation in Portland, and the school he attended was full of either wealthy or prestigious families, so as long as there were no major issues, conflicts were smoothed over.
Moreover, Wang Fuxi wasn’t easily intimidated; she first apologized and then reminded the school that there might be racial discrimination and bullying issues involved.
The school immediately took action, and overall, after overcoming the initial adjustment period, Gan Wenshan gradually got along with his classmates—also, no boys dared to provoke him anymore.
Gan Guoyang instead worried that Gan Wenshan might start bullying others, so every time he sent him to school, he would remind him with a few extra words.
Fed up with the reminders, Gan Wenshan once complained, "Didn’t you use to hit people too? Why are you lecturing me?"
Gan Guoyang replied, "I... I was working."
"Your work is playing ball, is your work hitting people?"
"..."
"Anyway, I don’t allow you to fight randomly, don’t use violence in daily life; Dad is on a stage, that’s different. Using violence also means exposing yourself to violent retaliation, understand? Unless you’re really being bullied."
Gan Wenshan seemed half-knowledgeable, just nodding, "Anyway, I promise not to fight anyone for the rest of this year."
Only after Gan Wenshan got off the car did Gan Guoyang realize, damn, it’s already the end of December, there are only a few days left this year!
Watching his son’s departing figure, Gan Guoyang made sure he entered the school and then told Quentin to drive to the training facility.
On the way, he let out a long sigh, wondering if he had ever said the same thing to his father.
Back when he first entered the league, full of youthful vigor, fighting countless battles, Gan Youwei worried about him every day...
Gan Guoyang’s life has reached such a stage, constantly facing the return of bullets he once fired.
More than half of the games in December have been played, the Trail Blazers’ performance is quite stable, albeit not overwhelming.
After defeating the Timberwolves with a six-game winning streak, the Trail Blazers immediately faltered in Salt Lake City—this year’s Utah Jazz was terrifyingly strong after welcoming Hornersek.
Jerry Sloan, along with Stockton and Malone, has quietly worked on a tactical system for almost ten years.
Like someone with mediocre kung fu aptitude but strong will, practicing a solid, profound martial art for ten years.
Through those years, battling continuously, facing defeat after defeat, never once thinking to abandon the style and start anew.
He kept honing the martial art, making it ever deeper, finer, with increasingly profound inner strength.
Finally, after forging one sword for ten years, while other masters due to various reasons either weakened or had to start afresh, he burst forth.
Moreover, he acquired a perfect weapon, vastly enhancing his power, unrivaled in the Western Conference.
By December 22nd, before Christmas, the Utah Jazz had an astounding record of 21 wins and 4 losses, leading the Western Conference.
Their record was second only to the Chicago Bulls’ 22 wins and 3 losses in the entire league, better than the Supersonics, Rockets, Trail Blazers, and Lakers.
Gan Guoyang still delivered a super performance against the Jazz, but unlike when facing the Knicks or Timberwolves, facing the Jazz, a single person’s super performance couldn’t win the game.
The Trail Blazers’ less-than-tight defense broke down under the Jazz’s exquisite offense, suffering a crushing defeat in Salt Lake City.