The Golden Age of Basketball

"Newton is greater than me."

"It's not about Newton, you understand what I mean, Sonny."

"You mean I'm getting old, should stop mingling with the rookie training camp."

"Oh no no no, I wouldn't dare, it's just... you know, sometimes having you here isn't particularly convenient for us."

Adelman has been handling the Trail Blazers' rookie training camp for years, working with the management to find gaps and fill the roster.

Gan Guoyang's presence indeed could boost morale and attract newcomers, but on the flip side, it also disrupted the coaching team's rhythm.

"Alright, I won't attend the rookie training camp next season, I'll find a place to train on my own."

"Hey! Sonny! You know that's not what I meant, Sonny!"

On the third day, Gan Guoyang withdrew from this season's rookie training camp, and Adelman had to call to apologize.

But Gan Guoyang didn't blame Adelman, he said: "I don't blame you, Rick, we've worked together for so many years, you know what kind of person I am. You just reminded me that I'm already a veteran, having played for 8 years, going into the ninth season as a veteran, I should resemble a veteran, and I indeed can't resonate much with these newcomers anymore. Watching them struggle and then leave, that feeling... really isn't the same as before."

In the past, when Gan Guoyang participated in rookie training camps, most new players could stay, and everyone formed deep friendships.

Like Porter, Kossie, Hornacek, Curry, Petrović, Sabonis and others, after joining the rookie training camp, all stayed long term with the Trail Blazers, and today they are Gan Guoyang's teammates and good friends.

But now? Even if the Trail Blazers selects a top pick for training camp, Gan Guoyang finds it hard to become friends with them.

Gan Guoyang knows in his heart, a person's window to make close friends is just that small segment of life, once past it's gone forever.

Especially for a celebrity like him, a big star, a super idol, it's all the more difficult, so simply, better to take a break.

After the rookie training camp ended, Jerry West informed Gan Guoyang, he signed a veteran, and retained a rookie player.

The veteran signed is an old acquaintance, former Portland Trail Blazers' center Wayne Cooper.

Speaking of Cooper, early in the 80s, he was with the Trail Blazers for two seasons, then was sent to the Nuggets in that big trade with Vandeweghe.

He along with Natt, Leaf supported the Denver Nuggets throughout the 80s, until Doug Moe's era ended, Wayne Cooper left the Nuggets and began a wandering journey.

The Trail Blazers considered signing Cooper back as Gan Guoyang's substitute, but aimed for the stronger Gilmore, and with Mychal Thompson in the team, they didn't sign Cooper.

After the 1991-1992 season, Cooper at 35 was ready to retire, but Jerry West and Buckwalter found him, hoping he'd return to Portland for one more season.

"Perhaps, win a ring, the team might give you a job." That was Buckwalter's promise to Cooper.

So, Cooper decided to persist another year, to be the old vet in the Trail Blazers' locker room, fulfilling the role a veteran should.

Gan Guoyang welcomed Cooper's arrival, Cooper and Calvin Natt had a good relationship, they did funeral business together, had common ground.

The Trail Blazers' locker room needed an old guy to adjust the atmosphere, and Cooper's arrival could evoke Portland people's many memories of the past.

That was the time when they didn't have Gan Guoyang.

The player who stayed in Portland through the Trail Blazers' rookie training camp was Mario Ely.

Ely wasn't a rookie this year, quite the opposite, he entered the NBA draft as early as 1985, but went undrafted.

Later, he played in the CBA, under George Karl, achieving very impressive results.

From 1990 to 1992, he briefly played for the Warriors, 76ers, performing quite well.

This season the Trail Blazers gave him a chance to participate in the rookie training camp, to assess his suitability.

After losing Cliff-Robinson, Jerry West wanted to strengthen the team's forwards.

Kossie got a big contract, but his contract was compensatory, welcoming him might mean a decline in performance.

Reggie Lewis not only takes the starting shooting guard role but occasionally substitutes as the small forward, facing a lot of pressure.

So, adding a veteran with Ely's experience is very important for the Trail Blazers.

Gan Guoyang was very satisfied with West's two signings, West's operations were reassuring.

Plagued by anxiety, he always cares a lot about every detail.

Thus, every off-season, he's like a dam-building beaver, constantly picking up loose ends, patching, to ensure the dam's stability.

Even deep down inside, Jerry West himself isn't sure where a four-time championship team should head, he instinctively finds gaps and deficiencies to fix, working hard.

As they say, character determines fate, and this is what's in Jerry West's character, something impossible to erase in any environment or team.

However, the Trail Blazers' owner Tang Jianguo's character doesn't include these traits; after securing three championships, this owner who once loudly proclaimed "I want to make the Trail Blazers greater" believes his goal has already been achieved, he has made the Trail Blazers greater.