Chapter 64 The Biggest Busyman of All-Star Weekend
This year's All-Star Weekend was held in Los Angeles and was co-hosted by the Los Angeles Clippers and Los Angeles Lakers.
All-Star Weekend is the biggest festival of each NBA season. There are three days of games in total. The most watched one is the All-Star Game on Sunday night. Fans will use their votes to select the ten most popular starting players in the East and West.
, and then the head coaches of the 30 teams in the league selected fourteen All-Star substitutes.
A total of 24 All-Star players will be produced each season.
However, there are at least about 50 players who can be called all-stars in the NBA. Stars who can enter the all-star game for many years are usually superstars, superstars, or even historical superstars.
In addition to the most watched All-Star Game on Sunday night, the All-Star Weekend also includes the All-Star Rookie Game on Friday night, skills competition, three-point contest, slam dunk contest on Saturday night, and some famous players and women's basketball teams.
A challenge between players and current players.
At the same time, during these three days, NBA officials will also organize players to participate in many community activities and care activities.
Although Fan Xi is just starting out, he is the busiest person during this year's All-Star Weekend.
Not only was he selected for the All-Star Game, becoming the youngest All-Star starter in NBA history, but he also entered the Rookie Game. In addition, he also signed up to participate in the three-point shooting contest because he was short of money before and won the three-point shooting contest championship.
There will be a prize of $25,000.
Now, when he returned to his temporary rented apartment and learned about Nike's offer from his mother, his whole scalp was numb.
Nike spent US$200 million in cash to invest in Fanxi New Company, holding a 35% stake. At the same time, they also established an operations team, a sales team, and provided Nike's supply chain and sales channels.
This is equivalent to Fan Xi's parents providing the production line and obtaining 30% of the shares.
Fan Xi provided the character image and obtained 35% of the shares.
In addition, Nike also agreed to Wu Su's request, and the new company still hired Fan Xi to be its spokesperson, with the endorsement fee being US$10 million per year.
Equivalent to the drought and flood guarantee clause.
This is an unprecedented cooperation agreement. Even Michael Jordan's contract is not so "outrageous".
Of course, there are also big differences between the fledgling Jordan back then and the current Vandenheede. Jordan had absolutely no ability to produce his own sneakers at that time, but Vandenheede had this ability and had a vast Asian market.
When Fan Xi showed his style as the "Asian flying man" on the court, Nike had to compromise.
Fan Xi said: "I think this contract guarantees our best interests. However, things like operating costs, design costs, and sales costs must be stuck."
"Of course." Wu Su said: "I have hired the best lawyers, and we will calculate and set an upper limit with reference to the current operating costs of Nike. Moreover, we are the major shareholders, and we have a veto power."
Fan Xi was relieved.
He believed in his mother very much, and he believed that her mother would definitely win.
Later, Wu Su said that she would have more contact with other brands. If there were no better conditions, she would choose to cooperate with Nike. After all, they are the number one company. With their blessing and promotion, there will be
It will help your own brand quickly seize the market, and you can even step on their shoulders to become the world's number one brand. It is not impossible to acquire them in turn when the time comes.
Wu Su has always been a business wizard, but she just didn't find the opportunity. Now that the platform appears in front of her, she can't wait to show off her skills.
"By the way, Xiaoxi, next we will find a management team for you, who will handle your domestic and American commercial endorsements. Now there are many brands that want to cooperate with you."
Wu Su said to Fan Xi.
Fan Xi nodded and said yes.
As Fan Xi's fame and influence grew, it became necessary to form a brokerage team.
NBA stars have their own agency teams, which not only handle salary negotiations, commercial endorsements, business activities, investment matters, media relations for them, but also help them handle chores in life, purchase air tickets, move, contact doctors... etc.
In the Lakers, Fanshie is currently the only one without an agent. Even the substitute player sitting at the back of the bench often has an agent appear in the training camp to communicate with the Lakers player director and help him get playing time.
He builds relationships.
Fan Xi's savage growth to reach his current position is already a miracle among miracles.
Now, he urgently needs a team to help him handle various matters.
It was like today, during the day, almost all he saw in the media were reports of Kendall Jenner kissing him, while the details of his great performance in the game were ignored.
If there is a professional team, they will contact the media and let the media report more on his great achievements instead of surrounding him with gossip.
Although the latter is also a beneficial way to enrich Fan Xi's image and expand her influence.
…
When Fan Xi arrived at the training ground for the rookie game, he heard someone discussing him.
"...That guy is simply a miracle. No undrafted player has ever been as successful as him. Not only did he become a regular starter for the Lakers, he was also elected to the All-Star Game. Even Michael Jordan was not as brilliant as him..."
"Yes, having a handsome face is really popular. In fact, his level is not very strong. Just because of his undrafted status, people do not have high expectations for him, and no team specializes in studying him, so
Give him room to develop..."
"If there were three female stars surrounding me every day, I would be in the headlines every day. Look at Blake Griffin and John Wall, the two No. 1 picks have been robbed of their limelight."
"...Shh, that guy is here..."
When Fan Xi walked into the stadium, the discussion there gradually stopped.
Representatives of the outstanding newcomers of the same class looked at me with envy, jealousy, and some mixed with "twisted hatred".
Fan Xi is a phenomenal rookie. Although he has only played a dozen games, his popularity and influence have surpassed any of his peers.
The trees that are beautiful in the forest will be destroyed by the wind.
When you become the center of attention, people will naturally hate you.
This year, the outstanding rookies elected to the first-year All-Star Rookie Team are Kings center DeMarcus Cousins, New Jersey Nets forward Derrick Favors, and New York Knicks guard Landry Fields.
, Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin, Minnesota Timberwolves guard Wesley Johnson, Detroit Pistons center Greg Monroe, San Antonio Spurs guard Gary Neal, Washington Wizards guard John Wall
, and Fan Xi.
Except for Fanshie, these selected rookies are all high-ranking players in 2010, including Blake Griffin, the top pick who was retained in the grade in 2009.
But now, although the undrafted Fan Xi comes from the lowest background, he has the highest reputation.
Fansheed glanced at the three players discussing him, namely Knicks guard Landry Fields, Detroit Pistons Greg Monroe, and San Antonio Spurs' Gary Neal.
The performance of these three players this season is not particularly outstanding. They are slightly lower in the rookie lineup.
The top rookies who have performed well this season are John Wall, Blake Griffin, DeMarcus Cousins, and Timberwolves Wesley Johnson.
"Hey, Jack."
While Fan Xi was dribbling, a reckless giant man walked over.
Fanci raised his head and recognized this tall man with a smile on his face. He was DeMarcus Cousins, the cornerstone of the Timberwolves.
Because his name Cousins is similar to that of his cousin in English, Chinese fans affectionately call him his cousin.
This guy is a very talented center with very solid and comprehensive skills. He not only has the ability to play in post-ups, but he is also good at attacking in front of the frame.
However, he has a very bad temper, and he often gets technical fouls for yelling on the court.
But this does not affect everyone's high expectations for him. Many people even think that he has the opportunity to become one of the top three super centers in the league in the future.
Fan Xi was a little surprised to see him coming over so kindly, because he had never dealt with Cousins before.
"Hello." Fan Xi nodded to him.
"I'm a fan of Taylor Swift. I like her songs so much that I bought her album. Can you ask her to sign it for me? I know you have a close relationship with her."
Cousins even said a little shyly.
Very much like a groupie.
Fan Xi was greatly surprised. In his impression, the tower-like Cousins should be a rude man, but he didn't expect that he also had a delicate side.
He quickly said: "Okay, if I meet her next time, I will tell you for you."
Cousins immediately became happy and even looked a little excited.
Then, he solemnly said to Fan Xi: "Taylor is a good girl. She is very talented, very beautiful, and her height matches you very well. I think she is more suitable for you than Jenna and Selena. You two
It must be a match made in heaven."
Hearing Cousins' analysis, Fan Xi felt even more embarrassed.
I didn't expect Cousins to have such a gossipy side.
"Kevin Durant said he wanted to drink Scarlett's bath water. To be honest, if there was Taylor's bath water, I would drink it too..."
puff!
Before Cousins could finish his words, Fan Xi lost control.
It seems that the Chinese fans were right in giving him the nickname. He is indeed a big cousin.
Some people look like a glaring King Kong on the court and are not easy to mess with at all. But when they get off the court, they look like King Kong Barbie.
Fortunately, John Wall walked in at this time, Cousins hurriedly walked over to say hello, and Fan Xi breathed a sigh of relief.
Cousins and John Wall were college classmates. They helped the University of Kentucky reach the NCAA quarterfinals in their freshman season and were both selected to the NCAA first team. Subsequently, in the 2010 draft, they were selected with the first overall pick and
The fourth pick was selected by the Wizards and Kings.
It can also be regarded as a good story in the NCAA.
Fan Xi was envious of them at that time.
Now that I am competing with them on the same field, I can't help but feel a little emotional. It feels like a dream has come true.
Then Blake Griffin came. He was the last player to come.
Originally, he was supposed to be a player on the second-year team. He was the No. 1 pick in 2009, but because he was reimbursed without playing a game in his rookie season, according to the rules, he was counted as a rookie in 2010.
Cousins seems to have some disagreements with Griffin. This guy was polite when he saw Fan Xi, but when he saw Griffin, he returned to his irascible personality. He had many head-to-head confrontations with Griffin during training.
Later, during a chat with Wesley Johnson, Fanshi realized that Griffin had dunked on Cousins during the game and also made the top five goals of the day, so Cousins was particularly angry with him.
After hearing this, Fan Xi muttered in her heart, it seems that her eldest cousin is indeed a child.
The head coach of this year's first-year rookie team is Spurs assistant coach Mike Budenholzer. The two assistant coaches are active player Amare Stoudemire of the New York Knicks and the general manager of the Celtics.
Manager Kevin McHale.
Stoudemire is an old acquaintance of Fanci. He still regrets why the Knicks did not give Fanci a multi-million contract. He believes that if the Knicks get Fanci, the Knicks will now be the strongest in the Eastern Conference.
Team up.
When he saw Fan Xi, he gave him a warm hug, showing his familiarity with the other players.
However, head coach Mike Budenholzer seems to dislike Fanci.
Although he is the interim head coach, he still has absolute control over the rotation of the players. He included Fanci in the substitute lineup, and reduced Fanci's possession of the ball during tactical drills, allowing Fanchy to run more.
He seemed to treat Fanci like a role player.
Kyle McHale showed some opposition, but after all, this was just a performance game, and he finally didn't say it.
However, when communicating with Fan Xi in private, he showed his appreciation for him.
McHale is a super star player of the Celtics. His jersey was retired at the North Shore Garden Arena in Boston. After his retirement, he was also called the general manager of the Celtics. He personally built the Big Three, Kevin Garnett and
He traded Ray Allen and defeated the Lakers to win the championship in 2008.
"I admire you very much. I think you will become a superstar." McHale encouraged Fanxi. He also said to Fanxi: "If you have the opportunity, you can play for the Celtics."
He never forgets his identity as a Celtics player.
A long time ago, the league's biggest rival teams were the Celtics, representing the Celtics, and the Purple and Gold Lakers.
Fanci was certainly aware of this history. He smiled and said to McHale: "I don't think the Lakers will ever consider this deal."
McHale raised his eyebrows: "Who can say for sure what will happen in the future?"
He seemed to have some confidence.
The two chatted for a while, and then the second-grade team came to the court for training.