Malone has always been unwilling to accept defeat against Gan, but this time he had no choice but to accept it.
With a 77-win season, even if the Trail Blazers decline in future seasons, they remain the top favorite to win the championship.
No team in the Western Conference is a match for the Trail Blazers. It might even be another four consecutive championships, or at least a continuous entry into the Finals. In conclusion, Western Conference teams have no chance.
Since the 1980s, Malone has been taking hits from Gan and the Trail Blazers in the Western Conference, and he's had enough. He doesn't want to waste more time and energy.
Therefore, although he's nostalgic for Seattle, where he spent seven years building his career and his life, tightly interwoven with the city,
Nothing lasts forever. After shaving off his beard, George Karl chose to leave and continue pursuing his championship dream elsewhere.
