At this time, in Los Angeles, Roberts had already contacted Innovation President Michael Ovitz by phone.
Ovitz is a talented agent. He pioneered the method of agent bundling and secured great benefits for his stars, including box office share. This allowed him to be continuously rated as the Hollywood star by relevant media from 1990 to 1992.
The most powerful person among entrepreneurs, more than two-thirds of Hollywood stars are under CAA.
"Old K?"
After hearing Roberts' suggestion, Ovitz instinctively felt that this was an opportunity and that he should make some headway.
Old K is not an American, nor is he white or black. He has just entered the league. He is also a center. He is not even a talented center like O'Neal. He does not have gorgeous skills. His commercial value in the United States should not be very great, but he
Has its own characteristics.
"Caesar the Conqueror."
He picked up a copy of the Los Angeles Daily News and turned to the sports section, where he saw Wang Tiejun's majestic photo of Wang Tiejun looking over the audience on the front page.
He quickly analyzed the characteristics of Lao K and divided them into two.
The first is the professional characteristics. He is a powerful center who is domineering and unstoppable. Currently, no one in the league can suppress his low-post play in terms of strength.
This is enough for Old K to gain a firm foothold in the NBA. Judging from the current development trend, becoming a star is certain, but it will take time to grow into an All-Star. After all, there are three super centers above him.
Come on, there are two in the west.
Second, it is the identity characteristic. Old K is an Asian, the first to land in the NBA, and even the first Asian to land in the four major professional sports leagues in the United States.
This feature is what really makes him attractive, and it is also this feature that gives Lao K a certain commercial value.
As long as Old K can gain a firm foothold in the NBA and use his ability to innovate, he can develop his commercial value in Asia.
…
In the morning of the 15th, Lao Wang got up. After a while, Lao Zhang also arrived, and the two of them started busy preparing food and drinks.
Chef Lao Zhang and Lao Wang worked together to combine Chinese and Western cuisine. Several large dining tables were prepared in the front yard, surrounded by some benches.
When it was busy until about ten o'clock, a car arrived outside. The Suns players came in groups, as well as the coaching staff and trainers, including Mr. Colangelo, adding up to thirty
The remaining people.
Wang Tiejun took a look and saw Tom Chambers, walking in with the others on two crutches.
"Tom, haha, long time no see."
He went to visit Chambers with Barkley and the others at the end of last month. They hadn't seen him for a while and ran over immediately.
"I heard that you are going to have a party, old K, so why don't you give it a try, and by the way, get to know your great supporter?" Tom Chambers said with a smile.
"Old K, what delicious food have you prepared for us?" Buckley shouted at this time.
"Oh, I saw it."
Danmarli saw a few dining tables nearby and immediately ran over with a smile.
"It smells so good, what is this?"
He asked, pointing to a large pot of simmering red crayfish.
"Don't tell me you don't know this thing?" Kevin Johnson said next to him.
"Of course I know it, but why is it so fragrant? It's much more fragrant than crayfish boiled in Cajun powder, and there are no potatoes or anything in it. My mouth is watering," Dan Marley shouted.
"This is the garlic crayfish made by Lao Zhang, the way we Chinese eat it."
Lao Wang ran over and fished one out. After a few pulls, the white and tender shrimp meat came out. He threw it into his mouth and chewed it deliciously. While eating, he nodded and said: "Not bad, it tastes good. It's cooked. It's ready."
It’s time to eat.”
"I'll give it a try."
Damali swallowed and rolled up his sleeves impatiently.
"Hey, Dan, it's not noon yet." Lao Wang shouted hurriedly.
"You ate it yourself, can't we eat it? We are the guests, and this is prepared for us." Dan Malli glared at Lao Wang with dissatisfaction.
"What you said makes sense." Lao Wang smiled.
"Go away, go away."
Buckley elbowed Lao Wang away and squeezed in. Others rushed forward and began to share the crayfish.
"Oh, not bad, delicious."
"Awesome, I love the taste."
"Zhang, the crayfish you made is so delicious!"
Everyone was shouting and shouting while eating.
"Tom, I am Lao K's personal trainer, personal assistant, nanny, and chef. You sit here and I will get you a plate."
Lao Zhang helped Chambers sit at the dining table and introduced himself.
"Haha, you have so many jobs, so you have to ask me to pay you more," Chambers laughed.
"His name is Wang Grandet Tiejun, so let me work for nothing." Lao Zhang said with a smile.
"Haha..." Tom Chambers laughed.
Everyone chatted while eating. Zhang Lili was well-liked. He also came from a basketball background and was more familiar with the NBA than Lao Wang. We had common topics and soon became familiar with the Suns.
"Old K, is this the wooden stake you rely on to practice Iron Mountain?"
After Buckley ate a dozen crayfish, he noticed a huge wooden pile in the corner of the yard. Thinking of what Lao Wang said about the iron mountain leaning against the wooden pile, he immediately ran over and started driving around the wooden pile.
Turn around.
"Good guy, you can't cut this thing with a knife, so you hit it with your body? Old K, maybe your head is broken? You will be injured."
"Old K, are you really going to hit this thing with your body?"
Kevin Johnson and the others also ran over and started discussing it.
Lao Wang patted the iron and wooden pile with a diameter of sixty centimeters, and said with a smile: "I'm telling you, if you can hit it to move, even just one move, Karl Malone will be knocked away by you."
"So strong?" Buckley opened his eyes wide.
Who is Karl Malone? The strongest guy in the league currently, with a maximum bench press of 210 kilograms. Although Old K is very strong now, he is still not as strong as the postman. His strongest bench press seems to be only 190 kilograms. But Old K’s arms
It's normal to have a lower bench press score if it's longer.
The Suns and Jazz have already played two games this season, and there will be another game later. When the time comes, Old K will have the opportunity to compete with the postman, and he also wants to see who is stronger between the two.
He started, put his hands on the big wooden stake, and pushed hard. Well, the surrounding space didn't move at all, let alone the wooden stake.
"Come here." He let go of his hand and pointed at Lao Wang.
"I haven't practiced for a long time. After I buried this thing, I tried it that day. I haven't practiced since then. I will try it today."
Lao Wang nodded, took off his coat, and began to make preparations.
After a few minutes of activity, he came to the wooden pile, stood one step away, sunk the stake, and breathed evenly. Suddenly, he stepped forward and started the bear step. The moment he got close to the pile, his right elbow hit him with one elbow.
On top of the wooden pile.
"Bang!"
The impact was deep but not loud, and the wooden pile did not shake at all.
"pain!"
Buckley and the others clenched their teeth. It wasn't that it hurt them, it was just that they felt pain just by looking at them.
But in fact, this is wood pile driving, which is to practice until the hitting part loses pain, practice until the bone density and muscle density of that part are much higher than other parts, and practice until that part develops thick calluses.
The next moment, Wang Tiejun's bear step moved forward again. At the moment when he pressed against the stake, his feet stopped, his waist and abdomen twisted, the six forces united into one, he leaned hard, and with a bang, his right shoulder struck extremely fiercely.
Hit the wooden pile.
Step back, then step forward, and another round of impact begins. Each round of impact starts with the elbow and then leans back.
"Bang bang bang..."
Next, he began the extremely boring task of driving wooden piles.
"Zhang, does Lao K usually train like this?" Colangelo came to Lao Zhang and asked.
He felt that training like this was too weird and dangerous. What should he do if he got injured? If he continued to practice like this, he would definitely get injured.
Lao Zhang shook his head and said: "Mr. Colangelo, this is the first time I have seen him practice like this, but this kind of training is normal in our domestic martial arts community. As for whether he will be injured, he has been practicing this way since he was a child, so he should be fine.
.”
"Have you been practicing this since you were a child?"
Colangelo murmured.
While everyone ate crayfish, they watched Lao Wang's piling performance for twenty minutes before Lao Wang stopped to take a breath.
He looked at Barkley and the others and asked breathlessly: "Who wants to try it?"
Everyone looked at each other, who dared to go up and try? It would be over if he got hurt.
"Don't get involved, don't get hurt. We are going to compete for the championship this year, so be careful." Barkley shouted.
"I knew you would be like this."
Lao Wang said with a smile: "This kind of training is done every day for ten years. Just like shooting a basketball requires muscle memory, we need to train our elbows and shoulders like iron."
"Have you been practicing for ten years?" Barkley said in surprise.
Lao Wang calculated that he first drove piles when he was eight years old, in the second grade of elementary school. After arriving at Cangzhou Sports School in the third grade of junior high school at the age of 14, apart from cultural classes and basketball, he had no time to practice martial arts. All other martial arts were lost.
, even Tieshan has practiced a little less, especially in the past two years, he has not practiced at all.
"Eight years, I have been practicing for eight years."
He asked again: "Don't you want to give it a try? If you don't want to try it, then since I have started practicing, I will continue to practice."
"You just practice, we'll forget about it." Barkley quickly shook his head.
"Old K, when my legs heal, I'll try your tortoise punch." Tom Chambers shouted.
"Haha..." Everyone laughed when they heard Wang Baquan.
Wang Tiejun's Tieshan practice lasted until noon. He not only trained his elbows and shoulders, but also his back and chest.
In these two parts, the impact force will be smaller.
"Old K, your deltoid muscles are so developed!" After he finished practicing, Barkley shouted with envy.
Lao Wang raised his arms in a toned posture and said with a smile: "I rely on these deltoid muscles for my livelihood, how can I not develop them?"
"Tie Jun, do you want to apply medicated oil now?" Lao Zhang asked.
"Wipe it." Lao Wang said quickly.
"I'll get it," Lao Zhang said.
After a while, he wiped it on Wang Tiejun, while the others watched.
Lao Zhang rubbed it and said, "Tie Jun, how are you doing?"
"It's not that good. If you use too much force, the strength is too low. The muscles and bones are not rubbed, and the medicine cannot penetrate." Lao Wang said with disgust.
"You kid, I suggest you get someone from your hometown to help. You are considered a little star now, and you should raise a team of your own." Lao Zhang shouted.
"Am I also considered a star?" Lao Wang said in surprise.
Barkley shouted: "Old K, I heard that you have received endorsements from several local companies. What are you if you are not a star?"
"Haha..." Lao Wang laughed proudly.
However, he thinks Lao Zhang is right. Now that he has an endorsement contract, it is not expensive to hire someone from his hometown. It doesn't cost much, so he should consider it.
"How about contacting the martial arts school and asking for two brothers to come over?"
After thinking about it, I decided to wait until I return to China later, as it is not convenient to contact me now.
At two o'clock in the afternoon, the party ended and Lao Wang trained for a few more hours. When he was about to have dinner with Lao Zhang, he received a call from Los Angeles.
"Hello, are you Mr. K? I am Rick Gemarone, vice president and partner of CAA."
"Innovation, oh, hello, Mr. Gemalone."
"Old K, I hope to have the opportunity to cooperate with you. I wonder if we can find an opportunity to meet in the next two days?"
"These two days? Sorry, I have a home game these two days and can't go to Los Angeles. How about the All-Star weekend?"
"It doesn't matter, I can go to Phoenix, it's very convenient."
"Well, then, Mr. Gemaroni, I'll wait for you here."
After hanging up the phone, he looked at Lao Zhang, who had been paying attention to him, and said: "As I told you, Roberts introduced me to Innovation. Their vice president called and wanted to come here for an interview."
"You decide for yourself, think carefully, and be sure to hire a lawyer when signing the contract," Lao Zhang warned.
The next morning, Wang Tiejun was training at home.
Lao Zhang was supervising him next to him, and his role was still very important. He supervised whether Lao Wang's movements were up to standard and not in place, so that his training effect was better than before.
The system evaluates his training. Training content that does not meet the standard will not be recorded because the training effect cannot be achieved.
At noon, Wang Tiejun went to the training base to eat and drink as usual, while Lao Zhang made his own food at home. Although he moved out, he still ate and drank here.
When he was about to go out, he received a call from Rick Gemalone, saying that he had arrived.
"So fast?"
Somewhat surprised, I opened the door and went out to take a look. I actually saw a middle-aged white man standing outside the courtyard gate, with a young white man who looked like an assistant behind him.
"Old K, I'm glad to meet you. I hope we have opportunities to cooperate. I'm very optimistic about your development in the United States and Asia."
"Hello, Mr. Gemalone, please come in."
After greetings, he invited people into the living room and introduced Lao Zhang.
Gemaroni looked at the house. It was the most ordinary two-story single-family house with very simple decoration. He shook his head and smiled: "Old K, this place is too shabby. I also saw your car just now. It is too low-end. If
If you want to be a real football star, you should live in a more luxurious villa or high-rise apartment and be equipped with a better car. These are essential elements for you to show your social status."
Lao Wang quickly shook his head and said: "That's too luxurious. I just want to live here. That car is also good. I just bought it."
"No, no, Lao K, if you hand over your brokerage contract to CAA, we can solve all this for you. We won't let you take money out of your pocket. What we want to do is to let more money go into your pocket.
"Gemarone said with confidence.
"Then what will you do?" Lao Wang asked curiously.
Gemaloni smiled and said: "Of course I will package and position you, and then tap your potential commercial value. You now have a certain reputation in the United States. Your commercial value has not been realized at all, let alone the potential commercial value.
, this is such a waste!”
"I just received several local endorsement and sponsorship contracts, totaling more than 600,000 yuan." Lao Wang quickly took out several contracts.
He felt that Jermaine was a little too strong, so he wanted to regain his momentum.
But after taking the contracts, Gemalone flipped through them casually, put them aside, shook his head and said: "Old K, these contracts are too shabby. As long as you sign into CAA, we can find better ones.
More influential brands, even international brands.”
"..."
Lao Wang opened his mouth, feeling that his momentum was suppressed, and everything about him was not seen by this person.
"Old K, this is the contract I have drawn up. Please take a look at it first."
At this time, Germalone took a contract handed over by his assistant, placed it in front of Lao Wang, and said: "You are the first Asian to land in the NBA. I am considering your development, except for the United States, mainly in Asia."
, and your country.
At the same time, you will be the first NBA star signed by our CAA, and we have a lot of resources to lean towards you.
Frankly speaking, because of your Asian and Chinese identity, we hope that you will become a sports star with world influence, at least in the United States and Asia should have greater visibility.
Specifically, CAA's brokerage contracts are divided into four levels, namely S-level, A-level, B-level, and C-level, which correspond to superstars and first-, second- and third-tier players respectively.
According to my analysis of you, you now belong to level B. This includes your strength and your popularity in the United States, but coupled with your identity as an Asian and Chinese, I will upgrade your contract level to level A.
.”
"A-level?"
Lao Wang is not sure what this represents, but it feels like it's okay. It's only S-level.
Gemaloney continued: "In terms of contract sharing, you have already signed the NBA contract. If you sign a second contract later, we only need one point, but we will definitely choose a team that is most suitable for you.
The city will also strive for the best contract and treatment for you.
In terms of commercial contracts, since you are not an artist and are our first NBA signee, we only take a 15% commission.
This is very low. No matter how big the name is in Hollywood, even a superstar still gets at least 10% commission. This is the bottom line of the agency.
Moreover, our first contract is only for three years, and for ordinary newcomers, we have at least a five-year contract, and the conditions for terminating the contract are not harsh.
Last but not least, CAA will pay you a signing fee of one million US dollars when signing the contract."
Well, Lao Wang surrendered and stopped resisting. He had to admit that he just couldn't care less about money. The conditions of CAA seemed really good.
In fact, NBA has no rules about signing fees. CAA is doing it completely according to the rules of the entertainment industry.
The two parties talked for a while and discussed the contract, then ended the first meeting and agreed on the time and place for the second meeting, which was the All-Star Weekend a few days later.
The location was in Utah because Germaloney suggested he go there. It was an opportunity to gain exposure and he couldn't give it up casually.
In addition, Jay Maloney suggested that Lao Wang not sign those five contracts now.
The two of them were sent away, but the contract remained.
"Brother Zhang, do you think it's okay for them to take 15% of the contract share?" he asked after returning to the house.
"I think it's okay. The commercial agency contract for NBA stars is at least 10%. Just like Hollywood, you can't let people work for nothing, right? They have to promote you to the outside world, find endorsements and sponsors for you, and they also have to consume money.
Their resources. As a newcomer, if they can really get you an endorsement from an international brand, it will be worth the price."
Lao Zhang looked envious.
"Okay, let's find a lawyer to look at it. I've signed this contract." Lao Wang made up his mind.
