The Golden Age of Basketball

First, get the tickets for the game, then use my father's connections to try to access the backstage player tunnel.

Lurking around, waiting to see Ah Gan and then calling out to him to extend my invitation.

Unexpectedly, it worked, and Ah Gan is coming to watch me play.

Before, Kobe always watched Gan Guoyang's games, and now I can have Ah Gan watch me play.

This excitement made Kobe's adrenaline surge; he wished the game would start at dawn.

The next day, when Gan Guoyang really appeared in the Laurel Merriam High School gym, the entire school was in an uproar.

Students swarmed like crazy, wanting an autograph or just a touch on Ah Gan's arm.

No matter how the current public opinion is, once Ah Gan appeared, supporters remained fanatical.

Especially the young fans, they worship the strong the most.

Ah Gan is so perfect, dazzlingly strong.

How could the students not support him?

The game almost couldn't take place because of this.

After much effort, the students finally calmed down.

But on the court, Kobe seemed infused with adrenaline.

He appeared calm on the surface, but inside he was as turbulent as a volcanic eruption.

This is his first season at Laurel Merriam High School.

The current team situation is not optimistic, and he has no assistance at school.

In the 20 games that have already ended, the team has only achieved a record of 3 wins and 17 losses.

They are ranked at the bottom in the regional high school rankings.

Forget about the championship, they can't even get into the elimination rounds later.

However, in the year before Kobe joined the school, Laurel Merriam High School won 20 games.

This year the team has faced numerous issues, with injuries, senior players graduating, and various other problems.

But an important reason is that the system at Laurel Merriam High School doesn't fit well with Kobe.

Kobe needs a team where he can be in control, while Laurel Merriam has been traditionally a team-oriented squad.

The school has never had a super talented player who could take charge of everything in its history.

Kobe believes he is such a player.

During the game, he takes a lot of shots freely.

He plays from the first position to the fifth, doing everything possible.

In a 40-plus minute game, he wishes he could play the entirety without resting for even a minute.

All of this is, to some extent, influenced by Ah Gan.

A few days ago, Laurel Merriam High School lost another game.

Coach Donner had an argument with Kobe during the game.

Because Donner wanted to substitute Kobe off, but Kobe refused, wanting to keep playing.

And yet the coach insisted on subbing him off to rest, and as a result, the team lost.

Kobe complained that if he had kept playing, the team would have won; that's what Ah Gan did in tough times.

"He would keep playing and not rest!"

Donner said: "Then you invite Ah Gan to watch you from the sidelines, and I won't sub you out, let him watch you play a full 48 minutes!"

Donner was just speaking in anger, but unexpectedly, Kobe took it to heart.

It just so happened that the Trail Blazers were playing in Philadelphia these days, so Kobe seized the opportunity and really invited Gan Guoyang.

Donner couldn't argue now; before the game, he promised Kobe that today he'd let him play the entire game without resting.

Gan Guoyang sat quietly courtside, appreciating the game. He wanted to see what level Kobe was at this time.

The game started quickly, and Kobe quickly stood out.

Because on the court, you can't help but notice him.

Just like Jordan and Gan Guoyang showcased in NBA games.

Playing on a whole different level from the other players.

His dribbling, speed, explosiveness, and skills far surpassed other players his age.

The only weakness is his frail body and lack of physical confrontation; he's still very young.

Kobe has an incredibly strong desire to control both ends of the court, wanting to be involved in every play.

From the first minute of the first quarter to the last minute of the fourth quarter, he remained full of energy and sprinted tirelessly on both ends.

He took many shots, passed continuously, did everything he could, truly shouldering everything.

But looking at the score, Laurel Merriam High School was trailing.

During the final stages of a comeback, Kobe started shooting without any regard.

He made some, missed a lot, ultimately unable to turn the situation around.

Under the gaze of his idol, Kobe desperately wanted to shine, wanted to win.

He achieved an incredible triple-double of 47 points, 14 rebounds, and 11 assists.

But Laurel Merriam High School lost the game, and Kobe only won the stats.

After the game, Kobe looked very frustrated, while Gan Guoyang did not specifically comfort him.

He shook hands and hugged each player who participated in the game, and they took group photos together.

When it was finally Kobe's turn, Gan Guoyang patted him on the shoulder.

Kobe wiped his sweat, sighed deeply, and said: "I let you down, Ah Gan."

"Do you know where you didn't play well?"

Kobe tilted his head, saying: "I was too selfish? Didn't pass to my teammates? They always say that, think I'm arrogant, not a team player."

Kobe has heard too much of these clichés.

Gan Guoyang shook his head, saying: "No, it's that you scored too little. Thought about it; if you scored 60 today, you would've won, right?"

Kobe's eyes lit up, nodded earnestly, and said: "That's right, if I had made more shots, I would have won."

"So, you need to enhance your offense, Kobe; you're not accurate enough with your shots."

Gan Guoyang's words greatly inspired Kobe.

From then on, he understood a simple truth.

If you want to win, you have to score more points than your opponent.

As he left, Gan Guoyang gave Kobe a phone number.

"If you have any bothers and issues, you can find me; I will help you."

"However, don't call too late; it's best around noon or dinner time."

"Work hard, kid, and remember, score more points! That's your strength."

With a kind of unique emotional bond, Gan Guoyang left Philadelphia to join his teammates in Washington.

Soon, Petrović's medical results came out; indeed, it wasn't just a simple ligament injury.

It was a 35% tear of the external cruciate ligament; recovery in one or two weeks was impossible.

However, Petrović decided not to have surgery and wait until the summer.

Because once the surgery was done, the season would be over, and he didn't want to fall on the path of chasing four consecutive championships.

Conservative treatment would allow him to return to the court in a month and be ready for the playoffs.

In light of this situation, Jerry West contacted Bernard King to ask if he was willing to join the Trail Blazers.

This time Bernard King didn't hesitate and accepted the Trail Blazers' invitation, determined to team up with Ah Gan.

He also wanted to win a championship.

In March, Bernard King left New Jersey for Portland.

He was ecstatic and happy when he met Gan Guoyang.

Putting aside pride, riding coattails was truly satisfying.

Gan Guoyang asked Bernard King: "How's the psychological treatment going? Is the doctor providing help?"

King said: "Not bad, it provided a lot of help, made me let go and understand a lot."

"That's great; you don't need to tell me the details, those are your personal matters."

"No problem, you're my good friend; I can tell you. The root of my pain isn't that I have no games to play, but outside of basketball, I have nothing else worthy of love and being loved. Simply put, I lack motherly love."

"My mother was very strict, so strict that she would often beat me in the kitchen, beating me to the point of utter misery. I remember very clearly, when I was young, after being beaten, I wished my mother could hug me, but no, none."

"I've forever lacked a hug; basketball, alcohol, women, these are all ways to fill that void."

"Yesterday, before I came to Portland, I called my mom and asked why she beat me as a child."

"My mom was silent for a while, and she said, 'That's how I was raised.'

"That's the answer, violence passed down through generations, especially in the Black community. Of course, I no longer blame her now. I don't blame her, and I don't blame myself. I just want to play well, try to win a championship."

After Bernard King finished, Gan Guoyang was silent for a while too. King then asked him: "What are you thinking, Sonny? Did your father beat you when you were a child?"

Gan Guoyang shook his head, saying, "No, never, he never hit me, he spoiled me a lot."

"You're so lucky, Sonny, really, no wonder you're so good. Let's practice some shots! I want to improve my three-point shooting, don't know if it's too late."