When the game ended, the sound of the buzzer echoed especially long and loud.
Championships were no longer as important to Portland; they had won too many.
Ah Gan was the most important. He rose from the bench, raised both hands high, both to accept the cheers and to bid farewell to the fans.
This was the grandest championship celebration in NBA history, with red and white confetti falling from above and a multitude of balloons released to the ceiling.
A host of celebrities and stars from the arts and sports world, including Michael Jackson, Michael Jordan, and Mike Tyson, came onto the court to shake hands and hug Gan Guoyang, celebrating the championship with him, bidding him farewell.
Gan Guoyang's old friends, John Stockton, college coaches, teammates, and classmates, all came to the scene to congratulate the birth and retirement of this legendary ten-time champion.
Also, Gan Guoyang's family—his father, his wife, his son, and daughter—all came over to hug him.
