The Golden Age of Basketball.

Chapter 988 The Journey to the East

On July 17, 2002, the NBA trade market officially opened.

Prior to this, all teams had completed their preparations and reached most of the necessary agreements. They were just waiting for the official confirmation, which signaled the start of the competition for rosters in the new season.

Ten months ago, at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas, Gan Guoyang announced his second comeback to the United States, shocking the world and giving a boost to the US stock market, which had been sluggish for a long time after 9/11.

Ten months later, another bombshell in the basketball world exploded in Las Vegas at the MGM Grand Hotel: Michael Jordan and Patrick Ewing will sign with Glorious, joining forces with Forrest Gump to form a team to contend for the championship.

The cover of Sports Illustrated featured a photo of the Nevada nuclear test explosion, leading fans to believe that the magazine had been transformed into a military publication.

This is truly a basketball bombshell, possibly the culmination of two of the greatest player careers in NBA history teaming up at the end of their careers.

From 1984 to 1998, the Forrest Gump vs. Jordan matchups were always the most exciting.

Their skill level far surpassed that of other players, their competition was earth-shattering, and they fought their way from the regular season all the way to the finals.

Although Jordan was always at a disadvantage, he was undoubtedly the closest to Gan Guoyang and the closest to defeating God in the Finals.

In the eyes of fans, Forrest Gump is a god, and Jordan is a demigod. Now that these two gods have joined forces, the sensation they have caused is unimaginable.

The news was so explosive that Ewing's arrival overshadowed Yao Ming's trade. Originally, their arrival was also earth-shattering news that could make headlines, but now it can only be used as an embellishment to Jordan and Forrest Gump's collaboration.

On July 18th, four new recruits – Jordan, Ewing, Yao Ming, and Andre Miller – appeared together in the press conference room of the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas to unveil their new jerseys and give interviews to reporters.

Reporters from all over the United States and even the world flocked to the hotels. Many people arrived in Las Vegas two days in advance after hearing the news, checked into hotels, and boosted another wave of consumption.

In the summer, the Chinese national team, along with many NBA Summer League teams, will hold a summer league in Las Vegas.

It can be said that with the arrival of the Glorious team, the return of Gan Guoyang, and the addition of Jordan and Yao Ming, Las Vegas is replacing Los Angeles and Portland as the basketball center city in the western region.

Between 2001 and 2002, many brand-new basketball training facilities, gyms, and physiotherapy centers were built here, providing comprehensive training and living services for professional players during the off-season.

Besides professional players, many amateur players, basketball enthusiasts, and fans choose to spend a full summer vacation in Las Vegas.

During the day, there are all kinds of basketball leagues, big and small, that you can participate in and watch. At night, as long as you have money in your pocket, the major casino hotels can provide a one-stop service, allowing you to enjoy true relaxation.

In contrast, the decline of Atlantic City on the East Coast seems inevitable; it's too old, with gambling as its only attraction, and its ability to drive consumption is far less than that of the complex Las Vegas.

Oscar Goodman's strategy of introducing professional sports teams as soon as he became mayor was absolutely correct, because the job creation, consumption-driving ability, and cyclical vitality of the sports industry are far superior to pure gambling.

The positive effects of Las Vegas's brilliance prompted Goodman to continue bringing in teams from the MLB and NFL leagues, further expanding the scope and breadth of the Las Vegas sports industry.

Of course, the Glorious's position in Las Vegas is unshakeable. At least in the 2002-2003 season, they will be the most watched professional team in the United States, unmatched by anyone.

At the signing press conference, Jordan and others showcased the Glory's latest red jersey design. This is the Glory's new away jersey for the new season, which has been redesigned and is more stylish than last year's.

Gan Guoyang attended the press conference and, along with Jordan, Yao Ming, Ewing, and others, donned the new jerseys and took official photos.

From the end of the draft in late June to the official signing, the Glorious team has settled everything in Vegas for the two veterans and two rookies in just over half a month.

Unlike last year, when the team had just established itself and the players could only stay in hotels after arriving, they don't have to.

Glorious established his own real estate company, Glorious Realty, which operates real estate development and resale home sales in Las Vegas.

Players on the Glory team can use internal channels to buy or rent local properties at a lower price, and then sell or rent them out at a better price after leaving the team.

In the future, baseball and football players who come to work in Las Vegas will manage their properties through Kristallnay Realty, making them part of the Kristallnay's revenue stream.

Landing earlier has these advantages.

Las Vegas is, after all, a young city; it's famous, but not very big.

With a population of over 50, and a total population of 210 million in Nevada, it's still less than a county or a second-tier city in China.

This place is a perfect niche, and Guanghui moved in early and secured many ecological niches.

With their current reputation and expansion speed, it won't be long before Las Vegas residents and tourists see their illustrious brand in all aspects of life and entertainment.

This is also one of the reasons that attracted Jordan and Ewing to join Glorious – not just basketball, but a real industry.

This is a vibrant new world. Gan Guoyang promised to give them a share of the Glory team after Jordan and Ewing retire, making them minority shareholders who can participate in the team's daily operations and have a truly stable future.

The promise was more tempting than a championship, and Forrest Gump's integrity was something Jordan and Ewing could absolutely trust.

The Glory team is thriving and there's no need to worry about them being suddenly sold.

Gan Guoyang's recruitment of Jordan and Ewing was also aimed at expanding the list of partners and strengthening the team's influence.

It's dangerous for such a large brand, with so many interests involved, to be protected without anyone cooperating.

Jordan built a huge empire for Nike, but their collaboration on the team was not very pleasant.

Jordan has transferred his shares in the Trail Blazers to join the Glory.

The press conference lasted quite a long time, and the reporters had a lot of questions, about Jordan, Yao Ming, and Forrest Gump. For a moment, they didn't know who to ask.

The press conference lasted from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM, at which point the host called a halt and everyone went to lunch.

Many reporters still crowded around, asking all sorts of questions. The air in the press conference hall was so stuffy and suffocating that people inside felt dizzy.

"This is what daily life will be like in the future. The NBA is a league that is very open to the media. From on the court to off the court, including your life, everything will be exposed to the cameras to satisfy people's voyeuristic desires. There's no way around it; this is part of the money you earn. Just get used to it slowly," Gan Guoyang said to Yao Ming, worried that he wouldn't be used to NBA life.

Yao Ming nodded. Actually, it was alright, because Yao Ming was someone who grew up in the spotlight.

When Yao Ming was four years old in 1984, he was featured in the Xinmin Evening News because he came from a basketball family and was tall.

The newspaper published an article titled "A Little Pearl in the Basketball Family," which confirmed Yao Ming's age; he was born in 1980.

In the sports world where age falsification is rampant, Yao Ming has become the athlete with the most definitively confirmed age, as evidenced by newspaper reports.

Because of his exceptionally tall stature, Yao Ming is always the center of attention wherever he goes, and he is used to being the center of attention.

Of course, the development and frenzy of the NBA media is still somewhat beyond imagination, although he knows that a large part of the spotlight is on Gan Guoyang and Jordan.

They are true superstars. From their words to their actions, they are so natural and relaxed in front of the media, without the slightest bit of tension. They can be described as having a great time.

After leaving the press hall, Gan Guoyang treated all the media reporters to a buffet at the hotel. They could drink as much as they wanted with their ID, or they could exchange their ID for a small amount of chips at the hotel casino and play a few rounds on the slot machines.

"Can I play a couple of rounds?" Jordan quietly asked Gan Guoyang.

"Gambling is prohibited on the team. From the moment you signed the contract, you are a Glorious Player, and you must abide by the discipline."

"The season hasn't even started yet! I'm just playing for the Glory, not being sold to another team."

"You're one thing with the Bulls, and another with the Glorious. Besides, in my opinion, the season has already begun, hasn't it, Michael? The level of attention we're under doesn't allow us any failures, do you understand?"

"I understand, stop lecturing me."

"I have ten rings, so you have to listen to me."

In the restaurant's private room, Yao Ming and Ewing silently watched the two bicker, their composure and intimacy in front of the media vanishing without a trace.

Ewing told Yao Ming, "You'll get used to it. There are no gods in this world. Once you get to know each other better, you'll realize we're all just human."

Yao Ming nodded, agreeing that she made sense.

Ewing looks very old, especially compared to Jordan and Gan Guoyang, even though he entered the league a year later.

However, Ewing is far inferior to Jordan and Forrest Gump in terms of maintaining his form. His body shape has changed, his body fat has increased, and his once strong and powerful face has become flabby under the ravages of time.

Gan Guoyang was willing to play with Ewing, partly out of friendship, as they had a good relationship and he wanted to help his old buddy win a championship.

On the other hand, it's also about finding a teacher for Yao Ming. Although Gan Guoyang can coach Yao Ming, as a key player, he might not have the time to teach him personally.

With Ewing joining the Glorious, his current ability will definitely only allow him to sit on the bench. His condition is about the same as Kevin Willis', and he will have more time to guide Yao Ming.

Ewing possesses solid fundamentals and outstanding shooting ability among centers, making his technical characteristics well-suited to Yao Ming. Conversely, Gan Guoyang's playing style is too difficult for Yao Ming; building a strong foundation is more important for him.

Guanghui Realty arranged a luxury apartment for Yao Ming near the training facility for him to stay temporarily.

During this period, Yao Ming familiarized himself with life in the United States while developing training plans to prepare for games with the national team and in the NBA.

According to the agreement with the Basketball Association, Yao Ming will represent the national team in world-class competitions, mainly the Olympics and the World Championships.

As for Asian-level events like the Asian Championships and the Asian Games, participation is optional, depending on the circumstances, and will be decided by Yao Ming, the coaching staff, the Basketball Association, and the Glory Team.

As for other competitions, such as warm-up matches and cup competitions, we will not consider them at all and will not participate in any of them.

The Basketball Association is also helpless. For example, Gan Guoyang only plays in the Olympics and doesn't play in any other national team competitions.

The team won one gold and one silver medal with the help of others. Basketball Association leaders, you should be secretly happy and stop having so many thoughts.

According to the plan, the national team will come to Las Vegas for training in August. Yao Ming and Wang Zhizhi will join the national team there. After the training camp, they will participate in the Men's Basketball World Championship in Indianapolis in early September.

By the end of September, there will be the Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea, but Yao Ming will not participate. He will stay and participate in the Glory team's preseason training camp to prepare for the new season.

As for the national team, having Wang Zhizhi is enough.

The two-month training period from July to September is crucial for the players' condition.

Yao Ming lives alone in a spacious apartment. In addition to a translator, the Glory team hired a Chinese chef to take care of his meals. There are also housekeeping services that come to his home every day to clean and tidy up, ensuring that Yao Ming can devote all his energy to training.

Yao Ming had already adjusted to the time difference, waking up on time every morning, and then the translator would drive him to the UNLV training facility for training.

Besides Yao Ming, Jordan and Gan Guoyang trained there every day, and they trained for the entire day.

The Glory team's training team developed a comprehensive, step-by-step training plan for Yao Ming, aiming to gradually enhance his physical strength, correct some of his bad habits during games, and change his shooting form as required by Gan Guoyang.

Gan Guoyang believes that Yao Ming has a good shooting touch, but his hand shape is suitable for mid-to-close range shooting, not for long-range shots. This is not conducive to developing Yao Ming's mid-to-long-range shooting ability and must be corrected as soon as possible.

This is a painful thing for Yao Ming, who has been playing basketball for more than ten years and is already 22 years old.

A change in shooting form requires a change in muscle memory, which could potentially affect his overall performance.

He's 22 years old now, not 12.

After thorough communication and analysis using the latest video and software analysis equipment, Yao Ming agreed with Forrest Gump's point of view and decided to make some adjustments to his hand shape to make his shooting arc higher.

No major changes are needed; just minor adjustments and improvements to a few shooting habits can yield excellent results.

It can improve his overall shooting percentage and also help develop his outside shooting.

Gan Guoyang's playing style has long proven that once a center has an outside shooting ability, his power is extremely strong.

In many series and crucial games, Gan Guoyang's three-pointers have played a game-changing role.

Last season, Gan Guoyang's three-point attempts reached a very high level, surpassing hook shots and leaning-forward jump shots to become his most important means of scoring.

Regarding physical strength and weight, many say Yao Ming needs to gain weight, but Gan Guoyang believes there's no need to rush.

Gan Guoyang's model for Yao Ming is not O'Neal, nor a heavy center like Ewing, but a tall, agile, and versatile center like Smits.

The one who really needs to gain weight is not Yao Ming, but Gan Guoyang himself.

After the failure of last season, Gan Guoyang decided to gain some weight.

It's not to improve combat ability, but to protect joints and body.

Gan Guoyang's knees are perfectly fine and remain as strong as steel.

However, his back, elbows, and other upper limbs require more muscle support.

Furthermore, as explosive power declines further, the importance of strength becomes even more prominent.

Gan Guoyang began spending more time in the gym, sculpting the details of his muscles, especially the deep muscles and small muscle groups, using muscle mass and control to compensate for the further loss of speed and explosiveness.

Gan Guoyang thought to himself, no matter how much he declines, he should at least be at the level of peak Karl Malone, right?

As for Jordan, it was a different story; Gan Guoyang demanded that he lose weight.

"I'm in great shape, why should I lose weight?"

"Good? Good my ass! Look at your shooting percentage, your efficiency is so low, and you're still saying you're good?"

"That's because of the supersonic style of play; my offensive efficiency can't be too high!"

"Because your knees are no longer good. You had knee inflammation in 95. Face your age and condition!"

The two argued again. Jordan believed that his current condition was fine, while Gan Guoyang insisted that Jordan had to lose weight. Jordan felt that losing weight would reduce muscle mass and physical strength.

And why should you gain weight and fight the disease, while I have to lose weight?

Such arguments occurred repeatedly after Jordan joined the Glorious.

The two argue about everything, not because they always disagree, but because it concerns who controls the team.

And these two guys are both fiercely competitive, having battled for most of their lives, their entire professional careers. How could they possibly be on good terms?

Sometimes their arguments were so intense that Yao Ming felt terrified. Were they really teammates? Could they be breaking up tomorrow?
As a result, after each argument, the two acted as if nothing had happened, continuing their training and eating as usual.

Jordan initially gambled secretly, but after losing repeatedly and unable to win, he learned that Forrest Gump had made arrangements with the casino to ensure that any player from Glorious would lose, regardless of who they were.

What's the point of gambling if you only lose and never win? So gradually, Jordan stopped gambling and was content with playing mahjong with a few old friends every week.

He spent the rest of his time training, and eventually decided to lose weight and improve his diet, temporarily giving up cigars and some high-calorie foods to get his body in top condition and prepare for the new season.

Both players are taking the new season very seriously because they know it's about their honor.

If you can't deliver your best performance and win the championship, no matter how high you were initially praised, you'll fall hard in the end.

Inspired by these two, Yao Ming also trained very hard, making a little progress every day.

Meanwhile, other teams in the league are also undergoing significant changes.

On August 1st, another major trade occurred: the Los Angeles Lakers and the Miami Heat completed a trade.

The Heat traded Wang Zhizhi, Rasheed Wallace, Jim Jackson, and two future draft picks to the Lakers in exchange for Shaquille O'Neal.

Another major personnel change: O'Neal finally couldn't take it anymore after the Lakers were repeatedly eliminated by the Forrest Gump team.

Now, the Glorious team has welcomed Yao Ming and Jordan, and it feels like they're all here for Shaq.

After free agency opened, O'Neal submitted a trade request to the Lakers, but Heat's Riley had been preparing for a long time, having been eyeing O'Neal as a big fish.

So O'Neal swam from the west coast back to the south coast, and returned to Florida.

O'Neal preferred to work with the Heat to rebuild rather than stay in the West and be tormented by Forrest Gump's team.

The landscape of the east and west has thus undergone significant changes.

But to O'Neal's surprise, just five days later, on August 6, the league announced an important decision.

Due to financial difficulties, the Hornets will relocate from Charlotte to a new city, New Orleans.

Meanwhile, the Las Vegas Glory, as a new team, will follow the same rules as when the Heat and Timberwolves joined the league: they will spend one year in the Western Conference and then another year in the Eastern Conference.

Thus, in the 2002-2003 season, the Glorious would become an Eastern Conference team, while the New Orleans Hornets would be relegated to the Western Conference as a balance.

O'Neal's plan to travel east to escape Forrest Gump has temporarily failed.

(End of this chapter)