The 2000-2001 NBA season reignited the flames of competition, yet another season without Gan Guoyang, where various heroes arose.
In the summer, the Los Angeles Lakers completed a trade, sending Jason Kidd to the New Jersey Nets and acquiring Scottie Pippen and Mitch Richmond.
This trade was not initiated by the Lakers, but Kidd did not want to partner with O'Neal in Los Angeles, seemingly having been influenced by something during the Olympics.
In any case, Phil Jackson got the Pippen he long desired, the Lakers' bench was strengthened, and more importantly, the Western Conference was without Ah Gan.
The 01 season indeed became the Lakers' domain, while the Eastern Celtics encountered Duncan's season-ending injury at the end of the season, losing their championship opportunity.
Meanwhile, Allen Iverson and the Philadelphia 76ers rose to prominence, with Iverson winning the 2001 season MVP and leading the team to the Finals to meet the Lakers.
In a six-game battle, the stronger Lakers defeated the outgunned Allen Iverson 4-2 to win the coveted championship.
Shaquille O'Neal finally realized his championship dream.
In summary, the 2000-2001 season had an exciting conclusion, slowly drawing to a close.
David Stern breathed a sigh of relief; it had been a pretty good season.
However, as he looked at the declining viewership and revenues, he couldn't quite bring himself to smile.
What made him unable to smile even more was that Ah Gan's specter hadn't disappeared from the NBA.
On the contrary, he was trying to reappear on this stage in another way.
And this way was something David Stern definitely did not want to see: he wanted to establish a new team in Las Vegas.
Publicly, Stern was always vehemently opposed to gambling, considering it a poison that destroys the foundations of competitive sports.
In 1999, after Oscar Goodman became the mayor of Las Vegas, he had approached Stern multiple times, hoping to secure a franchise in the gambling capital.
Stern refused without hesitation, stating that unless the gambling city was willing to ban all betting activities related to professional games, the NBA would never go to Las Vegas.
This condition was, of course, impossible to meet, akin to asking NBA players not to play basketball, but Goodman did not give up; he always sought opportunities to persuade.
Until 2001, when Ah Gan suddenly joined this lobbying group, making David Stern vigilant. How did this guy get involved?
Gan Guoyang also made several trips to New York for meetings with Stern, which made Stern very nervous. He knew Ah Gan was remarkably resourceful, and it was always necessary to be cautious when negotiating with him.
Sure enough, Ah Gan began leveraging his connections to lobby the owners of the League's teams, and Stern sensed that this guy might have even managed to sway his assistant, Adam Silva.
Silva would often speak up for Ah Gan and for establishing a team in the gambling city.
Of course, it wasn't just him; many others seemed to think it was feasible.
Gan Guoyang offered a very grand and righteous reason: "If one day it's inevitable for the gambling city to have an NBA team, it would be best if that team was under my command. Because I am in Las Vegas, I can completely isolate the harms of gambling from the NBA. That is my role."
This twisted logic actually gained a lot of support because, in terms of character, Gan Guoyang was indeed quite impeccable, someone the FBI couldn't find fault with after a year of investigation.
However, Stern was still unwilling to easily relent; he wanted to delay the matter, at least until his retirement, leaving it for the next generation of president to handle, as he couldn't do it himself.
Gan Guoyang, of course, would not give up. He began preparing early in Las Vegas, gathering a consortium, recruiting personnel, and taking a backdoor approach to list a sports asset management company—this company originally specialized in funeral services.
On a day in September 2001, Gan Guoyang again came to the Olympia Building in New York for a meeting with Stern, officially under the pretense of reminiscing over old times.
The two talked about many things, with much happening that year, as both sides exchanged words; Stern kept smiling, unwilling to give in.
Until finally, Stern issued an expulsion order, telling Gan Guoyang, "Sonny, it is impossible for me to let Las Vegas have an NBA team, impossible. Unless the Twin Towers fall, don't even think about meddling in the League. Give the young people some breathing room."
Stern's words were half threat, half plea, bearing a mix of anger and helplessness.
Gan Guoyang listened, stood up, and said, "Alright then, you have to keep your promise; we'll see how it goes."
At that time, David Stern didn't really understand the meaning behind Gan Guoyang's words, nor did he take them to heart.
However, a few days later, on September 11, two planes crashed into the World Trade Center buildings, and a few hours later, the Twin Towers collapsed.
The shocking 9/11 event occurred.
Simultaneously, it meant Ah Gan's vow was validated.
In his office in the Olympia Building, David Stern heard the news and fell to his knees.
"My God, my God, my God..."
Stern's soul was drained, turning into a butterfly, flying over the ruins.
(End of "The Butterfly," Volume Three of "Silver Generation"; the conclusion of "Silver Generation.")