During halftime, another major event of this All-Star game began, where the league would conduct a grand award ceremony for the 50 greatest players in NBA history.
This ceremony, undoubtedly, would be more memorable than this All-Star game itself. Many years later, people may forget the process of this All-Star game, but they will not forget this gathering that encapsulated fifty years of NBA history.
Gan Guoyang and his teammates returned to the locker room, where he took off his sportswear and from his locker took out his red jacket that belonged to him.
He, along with the players of the center group, came to one corner of the court. The lights over the central area of the court were turned off, awaiting the entry of the top fifty superstars.
Standing next to Gan Guoyang were the great centers in history: Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Nate-Sermonde, George Mikan, Willis Reed, Dave Cowens, and others.
The center position was arguably full of stars. Standing among them, Gan Guoyang’s radiance was not overshadowed; instead, he was the most dazzling star among them.
Due to the pension policy, the veteran players were very grateful to Ah Gan. They came over to shake hands with Ah Gan as a sign of respect, and Gan Guoyang hugged them to show friendliness. He was undoubtedly the glory of the centers.
The elder among NBA centers, the first super superstar in history, George Mikan, held Gan Guoyang’s hand and said: "You are a miracle child. I knew about you when you were in high school. You are an epic."
Facing the praise from his predecessor, Gan Guoyang became modest and said, "No, not at all. I’m just standing on the shoulders of giants. Without you all, there wouldn’t be an NBA, and there wouldn’t be me today."
The NBA, as a commercial league, started as a regional small league in 1946, competing with many basketball leagues, experienced bleak business, and was on the brink of bankruptcy, almost being swallowed by the ABA.
Eventually, through the concerted efforts of several generations of presidents and talented players, as well as a wide range of basketball enthusiasts, it grew into a commercial giant centered around the game of basketball, with its influence spanning the globe.
The NBA does one thing very well, which is its emphasis on the passing down of history, its focus on recording, commemorating, and reviewing the league’s journey from weakness to strength, from decline to prosperity, bit by bit.
This is quite similar to the tradition of Chinese people, who are good at compiling history. A civilization that has lasted thousands of years, through engraved knives and brushes, records in words where a nation came from and the paths it took.
This record is a heavy inheritance, giving a nation and country a national spirit and divinity, endowing a land without a traditional ruling religion with extraordinary consensus and cohesion.
The NBA is quite similar, with a short history of fifty years. Countless books have been written about it, and a vast amount of video material has been preserved, providing later generations the opportunity to understand and admire an era, and this laid the foundation for creating the divinity of the NBA.
And Gan Guoyang is undoubtedly the most dazzling and unavoidable Chapter in this history. Even if he hadn’t returned in 1996, his court honors would not have advanced an inch, yet he would still remain the most magnificent Chapter in this annals.
To the sound of grand music on-site, the NBA’s fifty greatest stars entered from four corners of the court. An X-shaped stage was already set up at the center of the court, and they each took their positions in front of the stage in order.
Except for the late Pete Maravich and Jerry West, who could not attend due to conflicts with the league involving the recruitment of O’Neal, there were 48 of the top 50 stars present. They encapsulate the essence of 50 years of NBA greatness.
Starting with the guard group’s Michael Jordan, the host introduced these stars one by one. Each star being introduced would step onto the stage to receive the cheers and applause of the audience.
When Gan Guoyang stepped onto the stage, the liveliest applause and cheers erupted on site. The broadcaster straightforwardly said: "This is the greatest player in NBA history, the most magical, and the most symbolic superstar. A 7-time champion, 7-time Finals MVP, 4-time regular season MVP, 2-time Defensive Player of the Year, 9-time Rebound King, the 1984-1985 season Rookie of the Year, the undisputed greatest of all time, Sunny Gan!"
On screen, Gan Guoyang smiled and waved to the fans. Not only were the fans applauding, but all the remaining stars were clapping for him as well. His achievements were unmatched.
Finally, all the stars gathered together for a group photo, leaving a commemorative silhouette.
The second half of the game continued, but after experiencing the "knighting" at halftime, the veterans were all thrilled and had lost interest in the game’s outcome.
The stage was handed to the young players, providing an opportunity for emerging stars like Garnett, Wei Bo, Rice, and Grant Hill, with the Eastern Team gradually gaining the upper hand.
Knicks Team’s player Glen Rice performed excellently in the second half, continuously hitting shots, helping the Eastern Team gain the lead and ultimately win the game.
Glen Rice scored 20 points in the third quarter, 24 points in the second half, and 26 points overall, achieving the greatest honor of his career to date: All-Star MVP.
For legends like Jordan and Olajuwon, the All-Star MVP is merely an honorary title of a game-like nature, with the so-called "Star among Stars" being a nominal title.
But for Glen Rice, winning an MVP was a big deal, and he was very happy to receive the award, as it allowed him to leave his mark in the history books of the NBA.