Chapter 2208 - 27: The Successor

Chapter 2208: Chapter 27: The Successor

The All-Star Game could proceed as usual, and by 2007, the content of the All-Star had already been enriched and altered.

Besides the regular game, rookie challenge, slam dunk contest, and three-point contest, there are new additions like the skills challenge and shooting stars competition.

The former veterans game had been canceled long ago due to the old players being overwhelmed and because players’ incomes have gradually stabilized and become substantial.

The shooting stars is a replacement event where retired stars, current stars, and WNBA players form a trio to see who can hit a half-court shot first.

The skills challenge consists of basics like dribbling, passing, and shooting, focusing on who has the shortest completion time.

In fact, David Stern most wants to add a one-on-one duel, with its guaranteed topic-worthiness and intensity.

Because basketball, after all, is a sport of confrontation. Be it shooting stars or skills challenge, they essentially lack mutual confrontation, resembling non-confrontational sports like running, swimming, or shooting, missing the essence of basketball.

However, a one-on-one duel has a significant issue: it makes the loser look bad.

The advantage of basketball being a five-person team sport is that the team can lose, but I, personally, haven’t lost.

Through stats, passing, assists, etc., you can enhance your contribution, and if you lose, there’s a reason.

But one-on-one dueling is different; losing is just losing, without any excuse.

Especially on a big stage like the All-Star Game, losing one-on-one means the whole country will know, and videos will spread everywhere, becoming classic forever.

Moreover, if there’s a showdown between superstars and someone strong in dueling but unknown defeats a super player, where will that star put their face? Where will the League’s face be?

The League’s star-making plan could very likely be exposed naked in a worldwide duel.

By then, many stars would be in a dilemma; participate with high risks and low benefits, or face constant criticism if they don’t. It’s best to leave it alone.

Therefore, though the idea was good, Wang Fuxi, while preparing the All-Star Game, also tried to push this project.

But after multiple examinations, the idea was abandoned—it was indeed too prone to problems.

At first, David Stern also appreciated the project but later said: "Mrs. Gan, aside from your husband and some unknowns, no one would dare participate in this kind of competition."

Stern knew this well, Ah Gan is insanely confident, as a center has the advantage in dueling, and would definitely dare to go up.

Others, perhaps Kobe would dare, but Nike wouldn’t let Kobe go up, resulting in a stage for unknowns to stand out.

Ah Gan dueling with unknowns, fringe players—what would be the point?

Wang Fuxi also saw this point, and ultimately the one-on-one duel died before birth, with no immediate prospects of entering the All-Star.

On the day of the slam dunk contest, Gan Guoyang became one of the judges, along with Michael Jordan, Dominique Wilkins, Julius Erving, and Vince Carter to score the participants.

This might be the most luxurious panel of judges in NBA dunk contest history; they are all champions of the dunk contest, having contributed many classic moments.

Ultimately, Jerald Green won this dunk contest with a spectacular leap over a Vegas gambling table.

Although the difficulty wasn’t very high and the table was a bit low, the creativity was quite good, embodying the gambling city’s style.

On the day of the regular game, Gan Guoyang wore the Western Conference jersey, took photos with everyone, and gave interviews to journalists.

He knew this was his last time participating in the All-Star Game, and he felt a bit reluctant.

Although he wasn’t very keen on the All-Star Game, most of the time he had great fun.

He has AMVP, the three-point king, the dunk king, leaving many famous scenes, with no regrets for him.

Security at the hotel and arena remained tight, with all journalists prohibited from asking questions unrelated to the All-Star Game, especially labor negotiations.

Through effective suppression, currently both labor and management are willing to sit down and talk slowly, with both sides willing to make certain concessions.

An important reason is that Gan Guoyang said if they can’t negotiate well, he’ll invite everyone to Vegas in the summer, hosting and negotiating along with them.

Many people recalled the "Hot Day Negotiation" in Vegas in 2001—the Nevada desert in summer, with no air conditioning, negotiations running 24/7; everyone would be skinned alive, even if they don’t die.

Under this threat, both sides might as well negotiate early and make some initial progress, so as to avoid Gan’s intervention during the offseason, which would be fatal.

Though not friendly to journalists, the Vegas All-Star Game was very fan-friendly. After strict security checks, many fans got close to players, got photos taken, shook hands, got autographs, and interacted closely with their idols.

From the first day’s media day, to the second day’s fan meet-and-greet, followed by another autograph session before the regular game.

David Stern even sighed and said: "Sonny, you really don’t treat players as humans with this intensive fan activity schedule. Why don’t you be the next League commissioner?"

Gan Guoyang laughed and said: "Players are meant to serve fans after all; signing autographs and taking photos are much easier than training and playing. Since we’re in Vegas, we should satisfy the fans and make their ticket purchase worthwhile."