The Golden Age of Basketball

The 1994 season came to an end just like that.

Some people finally reached their peak, some were still just a bit short, and some were about to exit completely.

Such things happen every year in the NBA.

At the end of the season, both core players of the Pistons, Isiah Thomas and Bill Lambier, announced their retirement.

Unlike the sadness the entire league feels when other players retire, Thomas, especially Lambier, made everyone applaud and cheer upon their retirements.

This tyrant of the NBA schedule for ten years, the Dark Prince, the Ax-Wielder, was finally leaving the court.

Some players even used it as an excuse to throw a party at home, inviting friends to celebrate the departure of this jinx.

The summer of 1994 remained exciting, with the biggest trade coming from the Seattle SuperSonics, who suffered a shocking playoff upset and finally lost patience.

The team's weakness in rebounding and inability against tall centers made the SuperSonics determined to bring in a sufficiently strong center.

Meanwhile, in the Eastern Conference, Patrick Ewing watched Olajuwon reach the Eastern Finals consecutively and Jordan win championships, with nothing to show for his many years in New York.

Adding to this, always feeling out of place in New York City, Ewing submitted a trade request, hoping to be sent to a championship-contending team in the Western Conference.

Hence, shortly after the trade market opened in July 1994, the SuperSonics traded Sean Kemp and Glen Rice to the New York Knicks for Patrick Ewing.

The league's landscape was again shaken by the movement of these big centers, and the SuperSonics suddenly became strong contenders for the Western Conference championship.

At the same time, the Los Angeles Lakers, after tanking the 1993-1994 season, succeeded in gaining the second pick in the 1994 draft.

When the Bucks picked Glenn Robinson, Jerry West unhesitatingly selected Jason Kidd, ready to reignite the Lakers' showtime era.

West had his eyes on Kidd for a long time; the people of Los Angeles needed a second Magic, as for a second Jabbar?

The Lakers were still tirelessly pursuing Ah Gan. This summer, Gan Guoyang, holding a player option, could opt-out and become a free agent to join the Lakers.

This was Jerry West's perfect plan, perfect but for needing Ah Gan to nod his agreement over the phone, saying he was willing to leave the Trail Blazers.

He didn't owe Portland anything anymore; he could completely leave.

But Gan Guoyang didn't; he continued to execute his contract for the 1994-1995 season, representing the Trail Blazers.

Meanwhile, the Trail Blazers were still licking their wounds, reorganizing their coaching staff, management, and support departments.

Old Spo's son left college, played professionally in Germany for a year, and his father recruited him to work for the Heat.

But Little Spo refused. He finally joined the Trail Blazers as a video analyst, becoming part of the coaching staff.

Additionally, PJ Carlesimo's assistant coaching team added another member: Rick Carlisle from Boston.

At the draft, the Trail Blazers acquired Shooting Guard Alon McGee, a player with considerable potential.

In short, the Trail Blazers were slowly emerging from past destruction.

However, on December 21, 1995, just before Christmas, Portland fans faced something they didn't want to encounter.

Gan Guoyang suddenly held a press conference, stating that for family reasons, he had to leave his beloved basketball court.

At that time, the Trail Blazers' record was 16 wins and 5 losses, ranking first in the Western Conference, with great momentum.

Just as people expected Ah Gan to lead the Trail Blazers to return to form like in 1990, the retirement announcement came out of nowhere.

However, Gan Guoyang had given a warning a year earlier that he might leave at any time for family reasons.

Gan Youwei had suffered a stroke while Gan Guoyang was away for an away game; after the game, he immediately returned to Portland upon receiving the news.

The situation wasn't serious. The doctor said it was due to early years of overwork, poor living conditions, inhaling lots of grease smoke, and Portland's humid and chilly climate.

Gan Youwei was already in his thirties when he had Gan Guoyang. Now he was over 60. He had endured much hardship when young, and all sorts of ailments started emerging as he aged.

Though Gan Youwei kept saying he was fine, after discussing with his family, Gan Guoyang decided to retire and move to the dry, warm climate of California.

The decision stirred widespread reactions; Gan Guoyang's departure came slightly later than expected, but it ultimately happened.

His father's health was the main reason, but privately, in conversations with his wife, Gan Guoyang mentioned he felt less motivation.

If he was his former self, he would never have lost Game Six of the 1994 Western Conference Finals; he would have scored 60 points and led to a Game Seven.

"But on that game day, I thought, it'd be nice to lose the series in Portland. I could take a shower and quickly go home to accompany you, Dad, and the child..."

He still often thought of Petrović and Reggie Lewis, wondering what the Trail Blazers would be like if they were still around.

Thinking about if they were still here, could the Trail Blazers advance to the Finals and beat Jordan and the current Chicago Bulls?

The two eventually left and took with them a part of Gan Guoyang's hope for the future and passion for basketball.

After deciding to retire, Gan Guoyang and his family moved back to California, to the warm and pleasant San Francisco.

Now it was Gan Wenshan's turn to cry and fuss; he didn't want to leave Portland and his friends there.