The next morning, the Trail Blazers announced to the public that Van Exel would be leaving the team indefinitely and would not return for the series.
Bird probably did not expect that his decision to change the starting lineup would result in a key player leaving the team directly.
But the proud and stubborn Bird is unlikely to change his mind due to a player's opposition—unless that person is Ah Gan.
Gan Guoyang was not indifferent to Van Exel's departure; he called Van Exel that night to ask where he was.
Van Exel said directly, "I've returned to Portland."
Gan Guoyang didn't persuade Van Exel to return to the team but said, "That's good, wait for us to return to Portland. But by then, you may no longer be able to play with the team."
Van Exel complained to Gan Guoyang over the phone, only to find that Ah Gan neither objected nor agreed nor did he try to persuade him, simply listening quietly.
