Both agreed verbally, but there was still mutual discontent in their hearts, especially Little O’Neal.
Little O’Neal had been suppressed by Kobe for too long, and this time he harden up, making himself exhilarated and unable to hold back.
As a result, the two agreed with Bird to shake hands and make peace, but on June 5th during team training, they clashed due to a verbal dispute.
During training, Kobe liked to pressure his teammates, loudly reprimanding anyone who didn’t play well and using trash talking to educate them.
Therefore, the atmosphere in the Trail Blazers’ training had always been oppressive and intense, very different from the "unity, tension, seriousness, and cheerfulness" atmosphere when Ah Gan was around.
Pure high pressure without a cheerful and united relationship as a relief valve can easily lead to conflict.
As a result, Kobe and Little O’Neal clashed during training over offense and defense issues, with Little O’Neal giving Kobe a block.
Kobe immediately elbowed Little O’Neal aside, trash-talking relentlessly. Normally Little O’Neal would let it go, but this time he didn’t hold back and punched Kobe directly!
The first battle he was choked by Bell, before the second even started, he got hit by teammate Little O’Neal. Kobe was furious and charged at Little O’Neal, fighting.
But when it comes to fighting, Little O’Neal is indeed stronger than Kobe. Little O’Neal already has the advantage in height and reach, combined with a growing environment where he often fought with his brother. Little O’Neal’s punches are accurate and fierce.
As a result, Kobe took two more punches without landing any himself, and that’s when teammates came rushing over to separate them.
Carl and Bird were both on the training ground, witnessing the boxing match between the two firsthand. Carl didn’t forget to mock Bird: "Is this the result of your ideological work?"
"Say one more word, and I’ll punch you too."
Only one finals game played, and the Trail Blazers are already fighting amongst themselves. How could this game continue?
Bird wished to block the news immediately and privately penalize the two within the team.
However, during the finals, how could the news be contained? The entire team of players, assistant coaches, and some staff saw it.
Now the Trail Blazers are no longer the old family workshop-type team. The notion of everyone being family and keeping secrets is a thing of the past.
Everyone works for a living, and news about Kobe and Little O’Neal fighting in team training is worth a lot just for the scoop—how could it be hidden?
So, on the morning of June 6th, the day of the match, media reports exploded about a brawl within the Trail Blazers, with two core players attacking each other.
Gan Guoyang heard the news from Porter, he paused and asked: "Kobe got hit, right?"
"The news wasn’t clear, but that’s the guess."
"This kid, he can’t have such a mouth without good fighting skills. I’ve always wanted him to practice wrestling and boxing."
"Who do you think hit him?"
"Either Big Ben or Little O’Neal. Others don’t dare. Although the three are actually equal, Kobe..."
Theoretically, Gan Guoyang should be happy that the opponent had internal strife, making Glory’s championship journey much easier.
The strongest fortress is often breached from inside—once the team is disunited, any strong team will collapse.
Gan Guoyang and Jordan, although bickering daily, are actually very united and willing to sacrifice everything for the championship and victory.
Meanwhile, Little O’Neal and Kobe are still relatively young, caught in a particularly delicate phase.
Firstly, they don’t lack championships, as each has three rings, so there’s no need to sacrifice or endure each other just for one championship.
Secondly, the opponents are Gan Guoyang and Jordan. Their need to prove themselves is more urgent than clinching another championship.
Kobe is very obvious, but Little O’Neal is not so apparent.
Kobe thought everyone would cooperate with him, but didn’t expect Little O’Neal not seeing it that way.
Frankly, they both consider themselves important, and on the highest stage, their temper and self-interest both arise.
Gan Guoyang, during lunch, read the newspaper for a while. The current reports still hadn’t revealed specifics and labeled it as "rumor."
Newspapers like the Oregonian stand by the Trail Blazers’ side, reporting negative news with restraint.
Gan Guoyang took out his phone and called major editors and senior reporters at the Oregonian and several major local Portland media outlets.
He wasn’t looking to understand the specifics of the news, but to tell these media to downplay the coverage of the incident.
"Don’t overreport; you can release more after the finals. Don’t put pressure on the two youngsters."
With Gan Guoyang’s deep influence in Portland, his words carry weight. A few calls, and by the afternoon, no media were reporting on the matter.
Including pre-match interviews, no journalists were asking the Trail Blazers players or coaches about those issues.
Jordan saw this and remarked: "You’re quite benevolent, not fanning the flames."
"They’re like my kids; it’s just a match. Why use too many off-court tactics?"
"You don’t treat me like that."
"Are you my son?"
"I’m your dad."
Glory Team almost had a similar internal conflict among core players, but due to restraint from both sides, it ultimately dissipated.
In the evening, before the start of the second finals game, while players were warming up, Bird came to the sidelines to speak with Gan Guoyang: "Thanks, Sonny, your calls helped a lot. I was really at my wits’ end."
Bird tried many ways to stop the spread of news, but the media didn’t listen to him. Not just in Portland, even in Boston, Bird couldn’t shut the mouths of those pesky reporters.
But Ah Gan could; he holds shares in many media, newspapers, and TV stations in Portland, is a major shareholder, and has good relations with everyone, so his words carry weight.
"Your locker room work is not up to par, Larry. I’m just not looking to exploit this for a win. But honestly, at this rate, I don’t think you’ll make it to Game 5."
"I don’t know either; these two guys, maybe because the opponent is you, I feel they’ve gone crazy."
"Don’t blame it on me, buddy. I’m no longer a Trail Blazers player. You should have known Kobe’s temperament long ago; it’s your job to guide his growth, Larry."
Bird stood with arms crossed, he has contributed greatly to the Trail Blazers’ roster building in the past two years.
The team structure is reasonable, tactics are proper, from players to coaching setup, everything is good.
But for some reason, Bird always feels the team is lacking a decisive punch.
Theoretically, Kobe should be that final punch—he’s a superstar who can seal the deal.
This season, Bird saw the possibility of Kobe ascending to the NBA pinnacle at only 24.
Until the finals started, Kobe’s performance convinced Bird that they could win the championship.
However, the situation of the first game and subsequent disputes made Bird realize the path is long and difficult.
"Honestly, I’m also unsure how to guide him. Kobe is a good player, talented, but... I don’t really like him at all. Damn, damn thing, praise basketball, praise Naismith, for if not for him and basketball, the world would gain another deadly serial killer."
"No way, Kobe doesn’t have those skills."
"Don’t joke about it; he’s about to break."
Being consecutively beaten is indeed a severe blow to Kobe’s pride.
Getting choked by Bell was nothing, but being punched by his longtime friend Little O’Neal injured him internally deeply.
Little O’Neal regretted it afterward too, but with the conflict intensified to this degree, it’s unlikely to mend with just an apology.
Gan Guoyang looked at the other side of the court; Kobe was silently shooting, with no smile or expression on his face.
Little O’Neal was on the other side with equally poor emotions.
"How about this, Larry? I’ll be the good guy till the end, and tonight in the game I’ll help you out, reconcile the two’s conflict, okay?"
"What? You’re going to advise them? I’m afraid your position is not appropriate, though I think you’re the only one who can do it."
"You got it wrong, Larry. I won’t go advise them; wrong stance. But you know, when there’s internal conflict, if there’s strong external pressure, it can overshadow the internal conflict."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, 50 points. Get ready to clean up after them, Larry. Once they’ve had a close call, they’ll know how to trust teammates. This is Ah Gan Therapy, you know, very effective."
After speaking, Gan Guoyang went to find Jordan. The two chatted briefly at the sidelines. Jordan chewed his gum, rubbed his nose, and said something.
Bird couldn’t hear, but seeing their expressions, he knew those two cunning old guys were very happy.
Looking at their smiles, even the wrinkles came out.