The Way of the Center

When he was very young, when An Jie took over the orange basketball from his father, this guy might never have imagined that one day, he would be able to stand on the podium of the NBA for three consecutive years. The crumbs fell from the sky, the singing of the fans never stopped, and the flashing lights of the reporters once made me feel dizzy.

No one knows how many people on this planet became hoarse from shouting and passed out from drinking when Anjie won the O'Brien Cup for the third time to create a dynasty. Inside and outside the Moda Center arena, those men, women and children who did not know each other all embraced together. On the land of China, some people even set off firecrackers for this.

On the second day after Anjie and his team won the championship, many companies had to temporarily take a day off. Because their bosses can't go to work themselves...

An Asian, led a young team to create miraculous achievements in the modern basketball arena. All that Anjie has done has gone far beyond the scope of basketball.

Now, even people who don't pay attention to basketball or the media have to mention this matter. On the night of winning the championship, China's news network even spent five minutes talking about Anjie's creation of a dynasty.

It has been a long time since the sport of basketball has set off such a frenzy all over the world. But An Jie, this guy with yellow skin and black hair, once again pushed basketball to the world.

Such a scene can't help but remind people of Michael Jordan, the guy who performed miracles in the 90s.

The day after winning the championship, the Trail Blazers team was immediately invited by the Portland city government. On day three, the city of Portland hosted its biggest championship parade in three years.

On this day, 70% of the stores and companies in Portland were on holiday, and many citizens flocked to the streets to cheer for the heroes who created the dynasty. In addition to local fans in Portland, many fans from afar also joined in. Among them are Asians, Europeans, and even some supporters from Africa.

The route of this parade is also the longest in three years. The players and management of the Trail Blazers used two open-top buses to carry them all. Along the way, all the Trail Blazers held the O'Brien Cup to accept the worship of the fans. The entire process of the parade took three and a half hours to complete the journey!

In the end, the end point of the parade was chosen at the square outside the Moda Center. It couldn't have been a better choice to end it all in the place where the dynasty was created.

"This place made me who I am now. I used three consecutive championships to repay the city that took me in! I love Portland! This city is my second hometown! I love you too! You are basketball The sixth man on the field, help us to reach the end!" On the temporary podium, the first sentence of An Jie's speech caused the scene to rage for a full 10 minutes before it gradually subsided.

Everyone knows that when Anjie said the phrase "I love Portland", he meant it sincerely. Otherwise, this guy couldn't have kissed that hardwood floor in tears the night he won the championship.

The parade continued until the evening before it finally came to an end. When the fans dispersed, traffic in the entire city of Portland was paralyzed. The streets are crowded with people and cars, but the buildings are empty.

Finally, the Trail Blazers returned to the team showroom in the Moda Center. Angie remembers Orsi taking him around the showroom when he first came to Portland. At that time, there was nothing here except a few insignificant trophies.

But now, three golden O'Brien Cups were lying in the very center of the showroom. Each of these three trophies is hard-won, and each one will leave countless images in An Jie's mind.

"Look guys, you fucking did it!" Ricard turned around and looked at the group of young men who made history in front of him. There was nothing but pride in his eyes.

"We built a dynasty, a real dynasty. Every practice, every drop of sweat. Every game, every offense and defense...Three years, little by little, has brought us to where we are today. This step." Ricard turned his head to look at the three trophies in the display box, and was so fascinated.

"I think we have to use a carnival night to put an end to all of this." Suddenly, Ricard changed the subject. The players looked at each other and smiled, all screaming and rushing out of the arena.

The establishment of a dynasty will always encounter various difficulties. However, this trailblazer team has survived all difficulties.

Since the "ok" combination of O'Neal and Kobe, countless strong players have tried to make all this a reality. However, only Blazers and An Jie did this.

When Anjie was questioned, when Aldridge's mother was ill, when Lillard was troubled by injuries, when Ricard was seriously ill... these are all difficult Time, failed to crush the Trail Blazers. It is precisely because they have experienced tempering that they can become the ones who created the dynasty.

This Portland carnival night, let this group of guys who are desperately trying to win on the court indulge in a good time...

After all, they are living legends.

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After the carnival night, the Trail Blazers officially announced their disbandment, and the players officially started their vacations.

On June 17, An Jie returned to China with his wife and children. The reason, of course, is that An Jie was invited by the Chinese Basketball Association to attend the celebration banquet.

As soon as he got off the plane, the enthusiasm of the Chinese fans made Anjie smile. It took nearly an hour, and An Jie stepped on the special car under the protection of the airport case.

The celebration banquet that day was very formal, but An Jie had long been used to such situations. He and Catherine are very comfortable at the dinner table. After all, no matter how big an official is, they dare not play their temper in front of An Jie.

One day after the celebration banquet, An Jie was invited by Yao Ming to fly to Shanghai. In Shanghai, Yao Ming's youngest daughter seems to like An Xiang very much. She always teases this little brother from time to time. If there is one thing that these two children are really similar to, that is, they are both a size bigger than children of the same age.

After a few days in Shanghai, Anjie and Catherine flew back to Ames, where this dream began.

"Happy birthday!" An Jie spent his 26th birthday in the bearded restaurant, accompanied by his family and his old and new teammates.

On the dining room of the Beard's house, there are many old photos of the Cyclones from that year. Now that An Jie and the others looked at these things, they really had endless aftertaste.

In the photos, those who fought side by side with An Jie on the basketball court, some are already in suits and leather shoes, and some are already potbellied. Mike Taylor has become half European. "Big bull" Morris has also taken root in Oklahoma. As for the young Ricard in the photo, at this moment, not only the wrinkles on his forehead have deepened, but he has also become an NBA-level godfather of the dynasty.

And the naughty daughter of the shop owner has become a mature and virtuous wife. Everything is so magical. At that time, who could have imagined that when An Jie returned here at the age of 26, the world would become like this.

"I'm going to participate in the draft!" When Anjie made this decision on that lonely night in Ames. History has already been changed by that skinny guy.

At the age of 26, before he knew it, An Jie was already a "three-year-old" person. An Jie, who was a little dizzy from drinking, looked out the window of the store. At this moment, he seemed to see that pure white night seven years ago again.

On that snowy Christmas Eve, An Jie didn't know how long he walked. He was very unfamiliar with everything around him, and suddenly found a restaurant that was still open.

The appearance of this restaurant is ordinary, and the red light tube spells three words on the door of the restaurant: Chinese cuisine...