Chapter 2204 - 25: Unfit to Be a Sovereign
The match is played joyfully, with both teams’ scores rising quickly, reflecting a mutual scoring agreement.
Gan Guoyang also plays happily. He can run, but he needs to run strategically and with restraint.
The long season is really tough when constantly on defense. Occasionally letting loose, not defending and just attacking, feels really good.
Like standing under the basket, hands on hips, watching Warriors players score effortlessly, or defending with his back to the basket at the top of the arc, then sprinting downcourt after the opponent misses, catching the ball and dunking with ease—that’s a real thrill.
Gan Guoyang thinks, if he could always play like this, playing until 45 wouldn’t be a problem.
But this can only be done occasionally; this kind of example shouldn’t be set. If done too often, morale will scatter, and the championship will be a dream.
However, as the All-Star game approaches, Gan Guoyang and the Radiance’s relaxed state is evident.
After casually flattening the Warriors in Oakland with offense, they then faced the Lakers and Clippers, where the Radiance stumbled.
They even lost to the Sacramento Kings. The Kings started a long and seemingly endless streak of poor performances after Chris Weber’s departure.
Such losses are still acceptable for the Radiance. Gan Guoyang set the team’s primary goal to maintain health, as long as everyone is healthy entering the playoffs, the regular season record won’t matter as much, they just aim to stay in the upper half.
But Porter was dissatisfied, returning to Las Vegas with a 1-3 record from the California away games, Porter was not pleased with the team’s performance.
Originally, the team could get two days of rest; Porter increased the team’s training content, especially in fitness and shooting. The team’s outside shooting was terrible in these games.
"I can shoot more accurately than you all now!" Porter said during practice, dressed in a white T-shirt with a whistle around his neck, demonstrating a one-minute three-point-shot session.
This guy’s three-point shooting is indeed accurate, even after many years of retirement. You can see from his maintained physique that he has never stopped training, it’s become a habit.
"Terry, with your current form, why not make a comeback?" Gan Guoyang joked with Porter.
Porter rolled his eyes at Gan Guoyang, ignoring him, and said, "I’m just fulfilling my last duty, not staying on duty forever."
With the Radiance’s performance declining, Gan Guoyang’s dedication on the court has also decreased. Another reason is that the 2007 All-Star game will take place in Las Vegas.
As the host, Gan Guoyang has to allocate some energy to the All-Star event preparations and cannot focus entirely on the court.
Actually, Gan Guoyang doesn’t need to get too involved in the All-Star game itself. Wang Fuxi started preparations last season, and Las Vegas is well capable of organizing and hosting major events.
Especially large-scale sports events; since the construction of Gump Stadium, many medium and large sporting events have been held there, with Gump Sports Asset Management Company involved in hosting.
During the rapid establishment of the Las Vegas Radiance, the team nurtured a highly capable and professional team, who are still active in Las Vegas with appearances at various events and shows.
Gan Guoyang offers suggestions, ideas, and makes decisions where needed.
What truly concerns Gan Guoyang is the labor negotiations.
In the 1999-2000 season, Gan Guoyang successfully prevented an NBA shutdown and extended the labor agreement through the 2006-2007 season in one go.
After this season ends, the labor agreement will expire, and a new round of negotiations and battles between labor and management will begin.
Gan Guoyang’s current position is very unique; he is both an owner and a player—being singular in NBA history.
Therefore, his opinion plays a significant role in labor negotiations. During this All-Star event, star players from various teams have opportunities to connect, and the NBA office is concerned about another union dissolution and threat of shutdown similar to 1988.
Until now, preliminary negotiations between labor and management have been unsuccessful, leading to the shadow of another shutdown looming over the NBA at the end of the 2006-2007 season.
Ultimately, it’s still about unequal distribution of money. Management has made a fortune thanks to Ah Gan and the Radiance, without any team losing money.
However, in the 1999 labor negotiations, 58% of the revenue was allocated to players. This means most of the money earned by the teams was issued as salaries to players, which made the owners very unhappy.
This even includes Wang Fuxi. The Radiance earns a lot annually and then distributes a lot across the league, plus pays players and caters to Commissioner Stern. Earning money is really difficult.
Thus, the owners unanimously hope to lower the percentage to 50%, a fair split is deemed normal.
In 1999, the mention of 58% had its special historical background, and Ah Gan deeply engaged, strongly acting to suppress the management.
This time is different; Ah Gan not only represents the players, but he is also part of the management side. You can’t favor the players outside and continuously support them, can you?
Meanwhile, players, due to high taxes and daily expenses, naturally feel money is not enough and wish to increase the percentage from 58% to 60%.
"We form this league with over 400 people, while there are only 30 owners, taking 40% of the income is already a lot." This statement was made by the newly appointed president of the Players Union, Derek Fisher in 2006, indicating the labor negotiation will be another fiercely contested battle.