As an idol player who never lets fans down, Gan Guoyang always plays whenever he can, and the pre-season games are no exception.
When the DJ on site announced his name, the crowd erupted in cheers, and the spotlight was specially cast on him.
That’s the presence of a ten-time champion returning after just one season away, making fans extremely excited.
Because everyone knows, this guy will surely bring plenty of excitement and spectacular performances to the NBA.
Before the game, some fans said during interviews: "I hope Ah Gan can keep playing, without him, the NBA loses a lot of its charm. He’s an iconic figure. Last season, when I tuned into the sports channel, knowing Ah Gan had retired, I didn’t even feel like watching NBA games. But upon learning of his comeback, I’m an NBA fan once again."
This is the fan effect brought by Gan Guoyang, and further north, Michael Jordan also brings a huge impact.
However, yesterday at the Supersonics’ first pre-season game at the Rose Garden Arena, Jordan was booed thoroughly by the Portland people, unlike the treatment Gan Guoyang received in Los Angeles.
No way around it, one had been defeated, the other couldn’t be beaten, making the circumstances naturally different.
Due to it being a pre-season game, both teams played with lower intensity, more akin to a performance and drill in nature.
Tomjanovich sent out Brad Miller, Mark Jackson, Gan Guoyang, Riddle, and Porter as the starting lineup.
This lineup is traditional and stable, but the backcourt duo of Riddle and Porter is slightly aged.
On the Lakers’ side, the veterans were absent, last season to win the championship, the Lakers could be said to have scoured for various capable veterans.
Just from Jackson’s former players, there were Pippen, Grant, Harper, with Rodman being cut and Horace Grant stepping up.
Additionally, there were Richmond, Brian Shaw, Robert Horry, and other capable veterans, finally allowing them to taste the flavor of championship champagne.
This summer, the Lakers also signed Glen Rice and Lindsey Hunter, further strengthening their bench wing line in hopes of defending their title.
No one expected Ah Gan, that rascal, to just come back like this, and with Horace Grant not renewing, they urgently supplemented the interior with Samaki Walker, bolstering the interior to deal with Ah Gan.
During the game, several of the Lakers’ key players were just going through the motions, without O’Neal and Pippen, lacking the backbone for offense and defense.
The veterans weren’t putting in effort, and the rookies weren’t strong enough, the game quickly became one-sided.
In such a game intensity, Gan Guoyang was truly in his element at the small forward position, defending with hands on hips, attacking swiftly, making consecutive fast-break dunks, fans were thrilled, and he played happily too.
But Tomjanovich knew that neither the regular season nor the playoffs would be played like this, the team’s system needs to revolve around Ah Gan to maximize his energy.
At the end of the first half, Glory Team led the Lakers by 11 points, 61:50.
After the second half began, Tomjanovich changed the starting lineup, moving Gan Guoyang to power forward.
Playing at the small forward position, he was too carefree, often strolling, watching the defense pass right under his nose without even extending a hand.
During the halftime break, Gan Guoyang explained: "This is to conserve energy, I won’t play like this in the regular season."
But Tomjanovich believes that having Gan Guoyang at power forward is better for the team.
Now in the league, the power forward position is on the rise, with Duncan and Garnett, who can play center but choose to bully as power forwards.
There’s also Chris Weber, Dirk Nowitzki, Pau Gasol, like these new-age versatile power forwards, each taller and more capable of shooting and passing, increasingly pressuring the power forward position.
With Gan Guoyang’s current physical condition, he could absolutely handle being in the power forward position for another two or three years.
Then when he’s 40 and really can’t handle the competition anymore, he can move to small forward and stand with hands on his hips in no rush.
Indeed, for Gan Guoyang, as long as he stands on the court, the heaviest burden will still be on his shoulders.
Because to wear the crown, one must bear its weight.