The Golden Age of Basketball

On July 6th, Gan Guoyang decided to make a comeback, like a grand fireworks gala.

The explosion of public opinion was brilliant, offering people a chance to hear the voices and reactions from all sides.

A week of settling and fermenting allowed everyone to be mentally and promotionally prepared.

The ripple effect of Gan Guoyang's return will gradually spread throughout this summer.

Moreover, the summer of 1996 had more significant events than just Gan Guoyang's return to the NBA.

Various factors combined, making the summer of 1996 destined to be much more exciting than an average summer.

The NBA officially responded to the press conference with unprecedented speed.

President David Stern warmly welcomed Gan Guoyang's return.

He did not attend the press conference in Portland as he was visiting Asia at the time.

Ah Gan's comeback news is conducive to more in-depth cooperation between the NBA and the Asian market.

In addition to Gan Guoyang, Hu Weidong was selected by the Los Angeles Lakers at the 39th pick of the 1995 draft.

However, for the 1995-1996 season, Hu Weidong did not go to America to represent the Jiangsu Team in the inaugural CBA.

By 1996, with Ah Gan's comeback, the Chinese market was bound to experience new expansion, providing Hu Weidong with a great opportunity to play in America.

From a business perspective, the more Chinese players playing in America, the better, which absolutely facilitates the further rooting and blossoming of the NBA in China.

Moreover, if Hu Weidong can play in America, it would have an absolutely pioneering significance.

Because Gan Guoyang is essentially a player cultivated domestically in America, while Song Tao didn't get much chance to perform, got injured early, and left a faint impression.

Hu Weidong is different; he is a genuine basketball talent cultivated by the Chinese system, and if he can play for the Lakers and perform well, it will genuinely gather momentum.

Just the day after Gan Guoyang decided to make a comeback, on July 7th, a prestigious newspaper in China published a related article.

"Gan Guoyang Returns to the NBA, League President Visits China, Hoping More Chinese Players Can Venture into the NBA, Adding Color to the World of Basketball."

This report essentially laid the groundwork for the public opinion regarding whether Hu Weidong could go to America to play basketball; Stern's trip to China had yielded yet another fruitful result.

It's only a matter of time before Hu Weidong goes to play for the Lakers, at which point he may well don the Purple and Gold Legion's number 8 jersey.

The league supports and welcomes Ah Gan's return, with skyrocketing viewership, expanded impact range, and loads of money to be made.

By the summer of 1996, the league's salary cap had already increased to 24 million US Dollars, which was five times more compared to 1986, a decade earlier.

A fivefold increase in the salary cap signifies a simultaneous fivefold growth in league revenue, rivaled only by the GDP growth of China during the same period.

China's GDP grew sixfold from 1986 to 1996 over ten years and continues to surge with even more accelerated growth, no wonder Stern is so optimistic about this market.

The league and owners hope Ah Gan will return to continue enlarging the pie, while the managers and players have varied reactions, each with their own agendas.

Pat Riley has always had animosity towards the Trail Blazers, so when "I'm Back" hit the headlines, this guy immediately kept making comments and complaints.

Since the Trail Blazers ended the championship monopoly in 1993, in 1994, 1995, and 1996, the championship finally returned to the Eastern Conference.

Whoever between the Chicago Bulls and the Miami Heat reached the finals would be the champion, and they've all tasted the wonderful taste of a championship.

And then you tell me that terrifying nightmare is coming back? We've only just enjoyed three years of beautiful dreams.

"I think retirement should be thorough; if one day I retire, I would enjoy my retirement life instead of not being able to bear the loneliness and coming back, then what reason did I initially retire? Was it just a joke?"

"Moreover, for a team to return to its prime, to the dreams of the past, is not an easy task. It can easily turn into a nightmare."

Riley seemed to be advising Gan Guoyang, but in reality, he was genuinely worried that Gan's comeback would once again influence and change the league's landscape.

And while he was complaining in public channels, he was privately trying to reach out to Gan Guoyang to see if he would be willing to come out of retirement for the Heat.

If he was willing to come to the Heat, then it would definitely be a completely different set of statements.

To get, then cherish; but if it's out of reach, it's best if it can be destroyed, this was Riley's attitude towards Gan Guoyang.

Furthermore, the Heat had a tumultuous summer in 1996, with the contracts of Hakeem Olajuwon and Drexler both set to expire next year.

The Heat were currently deadlocked in negotiations over contract extensions with Olajuwon and Drexler.

Olajuwon had just gotten married this year to a beautiful young wife, and he wanted a large, long-term retirement contract.

During the 1995-1996 season, Olajuwon was still one of the best centers in the league.

As for Drexler, after winning the championship in 1995, years of effort had finally paid off, and Drexler had slackened.

During the '96 season, Drexler only played in 50 games, completely losing out in his competition with Michael Jordan.

Riley could see that both parties were growing weary of one another.

Riley was unwilling to stop; he didn't want the team to lose its competitiveness and enter a trajectory of decline and rebuilding after winning the championship.

After winning the championship in 1995, mid-season in '96, Riley traded away the former championship hero, the small guard John Starks, for Tim Hardaway from the Golden State Warriors.

This trade was both brilliant and ruthless; it retained better competitiveness for the Heat but also dealt a blow to the team's morale.