The Golden Age of Basketball-Chapter 1417 - 41: Thanks for Your Cooperation

David Stern originally hoped that the stars would gather together in harmony, showcasing the current thriving state of the NBA.

Unexpectedly, these stars, each with high pride, competed against each other on the court, and off the court, they continued to fight, with no one yielding to the other.

The announcement of the top 50 stars had already sparked considerable controversy, and during this All-Star lunch, Jordan and Chamberlain attacked each other, likely causing another round of heated debates when it gets out.

While it is naturally good to spark discussions, Stern did not want too many controversial topics at the All-Star game meant to highlight his achievements; harmonious coexistence would be better.

Fortunately, Gan Guoyang arrived just in time, using his strength and charisma to subdue everyone present. The old-timers had no objections to his prowess and status.

Gan Guoyang is now not only recognized as the greatest basketball player in history but also serves as the chairman of the Players Union, a representative figure in global basketball, and a chairman of one of America’s four major funeral service companies.

Of course, these are not the most important reasons; what truly made Gan Guoyang respected was his work in the Players Union.

One of the most meaningful things Gan Guoyang did during his tenure as chairman was to increase the pensions of these veteran players and establish a new, more extensive retirement fund.

As early as 1964, Oscar Robertson stepped forward to negotiate with NBA owners on behalf of the players to establish a retirement security system for NBA players.

At that time, many NBA players earned meager salaries, having to find part-time jobs to make ends meet while playing in the League, lacking adequate security.

In the 60s, some teams couldn’t even pay salaries; players dedicated a lot of time and youth on the court, and once injured or retired, their lives easily slipped into difficulties.

Oscar Robertson, along with Bob Cousy, led the players in challenging the League during the All-Star game, ultimately forcing the owners to compromise and secure pensions for the players.

Back then, a veteran who served 10 years in the league could receive a monthly pension of 600 US Dollars after turning 65, which was a considerable sum at the time. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

More than 30 years later, the NBA had become one of the most profitable professional leagues in the world, with a bench player earning more money than old players did throughout their entire careers.

US Dollars in pension is too little for current NBA players, so in the labor negotiations in the summer of 1996, Gan Guoyang proposed establishing a new pension system.

A portion of the league’s income would be set aside each year to establish a retirement fund, providing retirement salaries for players who have served for three, five, or ten years, across different age groups.

The income levels naturally exceeded 600 US Dollars, sufficient for many veterans to enjoy a respectable life in their later years.

This pension plan not only involves current NBA players but also benefits all former players who have served in the NBA for a certain number of years and are still alive.

Especially the old players from the 50s and 60s, who really didn’t earn much playing their whole lives and had no advertising or endorsement income.

Except for a few stars with outstanding investment foresight and great fame achieving financial independence, many fell into financial crises early, even facing bankruptcy.

Figures like Russell, despite winning 11 championships, still had to look for jobs in the league in the 70s and 80s. When coaching didn’t work out, he went into TV commentary and broadcasting, getting humiliated by the likes of Rick Barry with a foul mouth.

Rick Barry was not much better off, playing with a group of old fellas in the All-Star Legends game, exhausting himself to death just to earn some appearance fees.

Wilt Chamberlain basked in glory while playing, but after retiring, without marriage or children, he participated in programs everywhere to make a living, publishing autobiographies and competing against this and that, all essentially to earn some money.

Even Jabbar and Dr. J Irving, despite being very illustrious stars, not players from the 50s and 60s, and earning quite a bit in the 70s and 80s with endorsements, advertisements, and movies,

Still need to come out after retirement for one-on-one duels, satisfying the curiosity of fans and TV audiences; ultimately it’s to monetize fame. In reality, the duels looked unpleasant, with the old figures getting exhausted.

(Originally, this match was supposed to be Jabbar vs. Chamberlain, but Chamberlain backed out at the last minute, so the organizers had to find Dr. J to fill in.)

Professional sports eventually cater to youth, with fierce competition and considerable harm to the body; no one can rely on playing basketball for life.

Moreover, many star players earn much when they’re young but also spend much, easily adapting to luxury but struggling to return to frugality; many fall into financial crisis upon retiring.

The new pension scheme initiated by Gan Guoyang seemed like timely rain to many veterans, and after it was agreed upon and officially implemented, more than one veteran called Ah Gan to thank him.

This pension, although not as high as the income from playing, provides the veterans with a stable income source in their later years, maintaining a basic level of dignity and decency in life.

Then, if you wish to earn money based on your fame, you can; if you don’t want to or can’t, you’re ensured you won’t end up on the streets, helpless and lonely.

Moreover, this pension fund also includes health insurance, covering a substantial portion of medical expenses, which is a blessing for the elderly.

Hence, when Gan Guoyang asked, "Who opposes?" who could actually bring themselves to say the word "oppose"?

After the All-Star lunch gathering ended, the veterans left in groups of twos and threes, leaving only Gan Guoyang and David Stern, who hadn’t finished eating, in the restaurant.