The Way of the Center

This Anjie stood in front of his cabinet and carefully picked up the number 00 jersey that had accompanied him for many years.

The reason why No. 00 was chosen was because Anjie hoped that he would start from scratch after the season was reimbursed. But now, he has added too many things in his blank career.

An Jie put on the jersey and moved his arm. This dress is still so fit and comfortable. The name of the Trail Blazers on his chest is still so conspicuous. The number on the jersey is no longer as simple as the jersey number.

The others are seizing the time to change equipment, but An Jie does all this without hurries. No one urged him, everyone knew why Anjie would do this. This guy just wants to enjoy it slowly and enjoy the last time of his career.

Put the jersey into your pants and put on the ten-generation basketball shoes of the way of the center. An Jie stood up and jumped twice. This guy stopped and looked up and led his teammates out of the locker room!

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"Damn traffic! Can you hurry up!" A man sitting in a car was obviously blocked by traffic.

"Sorry, sir, I can't help it in such a serious traffic jam." The driver replied helplessly. If he was driving a plane, he would have passed by.

"Oklahoma is really lively today. Well, you turn on the radio and I'll hear if there is a live broadcast."

The driver immediately tuned to the sports radio station, but it didn't talk about the NBA playoffs. Also, what age is this, and there are still broadcasts where the game will be broadcast live.

The man sitting in the back of the car looked at his watch and chopped his foot anxiously.

It is obvious that the Chesapeake Energy Arena is right in front of him, and it is clear that he is not far from that place. But near the stadium, the traffic was basically paralyzed. The guy in the car can only watch the time go by, while the car doesn't move.

If this continues, he is likely to miss Anjie's game. So the guy pulled the car door directly in the middle of the road and removed his tie. He decided to run over!

When this tall man started running on the street, countless people raised their phones to take pictures of him, and even screamed at him.

The one who came to Oklahoma to watch An Jie's game was no one else. He was one of the heroes of the first dynasty of the Trail Blazers, LaMarcus Aldridge, who used to be An Jie's right-hand man.

Aldridge never got involved in a championship when he left the Trail Blazers. After playing with the Spurs for a few years, Aldridge was traded. After spending several seasons in the Raptors and Pacers, Aldridge decided to retire.

This is the second year after Aldridge retired, and he was out of breath running outside the Chesapeake Energy Arena, as if returning to the time when he and An Jie had a morning jog. It feels so good...

Aldridge ran all the way and rushed into the court. As soon as I entered the stands, the huge cheers rushed toward my face, and the swaying stadium would surely cause an earthquake to occur to people who didn't know.

"Pegboard hat! Anjie, he prevented Westbrook's breakthrough and layup!" In the next second, Aldridge heard the narrator's fierce roar, yes, this is Anjie's game! This is Anjie!

After the block was completed, Anjie handed the ball to Lillard, and he ran forward frantically. This guy's flexible figure on the basketball court makes you never see that he is a person who will retire.

Lillard headed into the penalty area, and the Thunder immediately got up three people to block the shots. However, Westbrook leaked the ball back, An Jie steadily caught the ball, leaped high, and stretched his arms one by one.

"Boom!" The stands of Anjie Center boiled again.

Lillard raised his arms and gave Anjie a high-five. The fans from afar screamed frantically, and there was only one voice in their mouths. "Ann, Ann, Ann, Ann..."

An Jie enjoys this feeling. He greedily **** the air in the Chesapeake Energy Arena. The cheers of the fans passed Anjie's ears, he really wanted to be here forever.

"Do you know Mike, Ann is a man who can't even beat time!" Jeff Van Gundy looked at Anjie's performance on the court. As long as he said he wanted to play, there would definitely be many teams willing to give him a shot. A 30 million contract.

In the first half of the game, although Anjie performed well, but the strength of the Thunder team was too strong. In just 24 minutes, the Thunder achieved a 14-point lead at home. The Blazers with a serious aging lineup couldn't keep up with the rhythm of the Thunder.

In the second half of the game, the cheers of the fans became louder and louder. Chesapeake Energy Arena is not the home of the Thunder, nor the home of the Trail Blazers. Here, today only belongs to Anjie.

The Thunder didn't show mercy. In fact, they couldn't show mercy. As long as there is relaxation, the monster Anjie will reverse the situation. So far in this game, the Trail Blazers have been overwhelmed. Had it not been for Anjie, the Thunder might have been able to celebrate their reaching the Finals.

The point difference has been maintained at about 10 points, Anjie is very hard at both ends of the offense and defense. If he doesn't fight at this time, he won't have a chance to fight. This time, there is really no chance to fight. Because after losing today, Anjie will no longer have the next season.

In the last 10 seconds of the game, the gap between the Trail Blazers and the Thunder still had eight points. There is no doubt that Anjie and the others are going to lose, and the Thunder are about to reach the finals as they wish.

But at this moment, the fans gathered here from all over the world don't care about the outcome of the game. They just want to seize this moment, seize the last ten seconds of time.

An Jie ran into the three-point line, leaning on a young center for a position. Lillard did not hesitate, and after half-court possession, he hit the ground and passed it to Anjie.

In five seconds, An Jie steadily caught the basketball. He leaned back and prepared to turn around.

In four seconds, An Jie turned around steadily with his still superb steps.

In three seconds, An Jie took off, leaning back slightly.

In two seconds, this 00 raised the basketball, pressing his wrist and finger.

For a second, the basketball fell into the net in the tears of the fans, and the electronic buzzer sounded to represent the end of the game. Anjie hit the buzzer, but the victory did not belong to him.

Zero seconds, legend, ending!

The big screen of the Chesapeake Energy Arena did not show a victory celebration, but a few simple words. "Angel 00, retired."

"Don't go, Ann!" I don't know which fan made a heartbreaking shout, making the whole stadium heard this voice.

In the next second, all the fans stretched out their hands, as if they could seize the elapsed time. Everyone cried, and the fans could only repeat a sentence intermittently. "Don't go, Ann."

An Jie smiled slightly. He stood in the middle of the field, bowing one by one from the stands.

Westbrook didn't feel much joy after winning. He suddenly ran over and hugged An Jie. At this moment, his emotions were completely released.

After that, all the players and coaches of the Trail Blazers also gathered around to hug Anjie. Aldridge ran into the court wearing a suit and joined the ranks.

An Jie was surrounded by people again, but this time, it was not for victory.

"I don't want you to leave, Ann, don't!" Westbrook never thought that he would be so sad because of a person's retirement.

"Asshole! Step on my corpse to enter the finals and win the championship for me! I cried and cried here, what do you look like!" An Jie reprimanded Westbrook, but he didn't know that he had already cried and watched.

Far away in Portland~www.novelmtl.com~ The whole city is silent at this moment. The Chinese fans who stood in front of the TV also recalled the golden age of Chinese basketball.

Why is there always parting? And parting, why is it always so heartbreaking?

"He... he's gone." Thunder general manager Presti stared blankly at the court under the luxurious box.

Neil Orsi beside him did not speak, but just nodded.

After the crowd dispersed, Anjie waved at the fans again. This was the last time he said goodbye to the group of people who supported him.

Then, with the support of his teammates, Anjie walked into the player channel and disappeared from everyone's field of vision.

In the summer of 2008, when Anjie entered the NBA arena on behalf of the Thunder, people might not have thought that a brand new legend was about to begin.

Now, in 2024, when Anjie waves to the fans and turns to leave, the legend is over...