NBA : Formidable Center

###

**New York**

"LeBron James' $90 million over seven years! Your offer is simply insincere!"

"Mr. Falk, you must understand that big man shoes are harder to sell. Our offer genuinely reflects our considerations. Perhaps you'd like to rethink?"

Five years, $5 million? What a joke.

Not even close to LeBron's half-year earnings!

This is the third overall pick, the NCAA Finals MOP.

He's not some beggar on the street to be brushed off with loose change.

"You'll regret this!"

Unwilling to endure further humiliation, David Falk angrily hung up the phone.

---

Shortly after *March Madness*, before being drafted by the Cavaliers, LeBron James signed a historic 7-year, $90 million sneaker deal with Nike.

This contract shattered records for rookie shoe deals, surpassing Kobe Bryant's 6-year, $48 million contract. Nike's bold move not only shocked college players but also many in the NBA.

A high schooler yet to play an NBA game or earn his first paycheck had already secured a deal worth such astronomical figures!

This stirred envy among rookies, who flocked to sneaker brands seeking endorsement deals.

However, their dreams of riches were crushed when they were offered far less—nowhere near LeBron's million-dollar-per-year contract.

Still, for many rookies, a $1 million annual deal was already exceptional.

But David Falk wasn't satisfied.

Building a commercial empire required a high starting point.

For an ordinary third pick, $1 million a year might suffice.

But for Wang Song, a Chinese big man, this was far too low.

Years ago, Falk had helped Michael Jordan leverage a Nike partnership into a brand empire with ongoing royalties.

He firmly believed he could achieve similar success with Wang Song.

The NBA teams had fought fiercely to draft Wang Song, so why not the sneaker brands?

Determined, he dialed another number in his contact list: Reebok.

This powerhouse, still reeling from being rejected by LeBron's team, was in desperate need of a signature athlete to boost morale.

---

**China: Jiangjin City, Chi Town**

At a small footwear workshop, a group of individuals was grappling with the challenges of their industry.

"Young Zhong, Jiangjin has sprouted more and more small businesses like ours. Competition is fiercer than ever!"

As one of the early entrants in China's sports goods market, Anta had long been a rising force. In 1999, it had even signed an Olympic champion for endorsements, pairing with CCTV campaigns to cement its reputation.

"Yes, Dad," the son replied, hesitating.

"The competition is indeed stiff, and profit margins are shrinking."

The elder nodded thoughtfully. "Seems we'll need to explore new avenues."

Hearing this, his son brightened.

"Dad, have you been following the basketball market here in China lately?"

"Hm?"

"Ever since Yao Ming entered the NBA, the CBA has seen explosive growth. Basketball courts are sprouting everywhere, and the demand for basketball shoes is surging!"

The elder pondered this insight. "True. We should explore partnerships with the CBA. Basketball shoes are indeed selling well."

Encouraged, the younger man continued, "Additionally, we should think about expanding overseas, Dad. Foreign markets are where the real opportunity lies."

The father's eyes gleamed at the suggestion. "Overseas, you say? Interesting. What do you propose?"

"Have you heard of Wang Song, Dad? He's just like Yao Ming—a Chinese player drafted into the NBA. As the third overall pick, he's already gaining recognition in America."

---

The elder nodded, his thoughts turning to missed opportunities from the past.

Back when Yao entered the NBA, Anta had almost partnered with him but missed out.

"What about the cost? I heard NBA endorsement deals are exorbitant."

Smiling, the son reassured him, "Don't worry, Dad. Let me handle this. Anta needs a basketball brand ambassador for its overseas market. Wang Song would be perfect. He'd appeal to both domestic and international audiences."

With that, a grand vision for Anta's global expansion began to take shape.

---

**Season Preparations**

The 8-game preseason quickly wrapped up, and the rookies' trial period was over.

Now they would face the rigors of the regular season—against seasoned NBA players, All-Stars, and superstars.

Media outlets buzzed with reports on the rookie performances, sparking heated discussions:

- *"LeBron James Dominates: Akron Prodigy Averages 28/7/7 in Preseason!"*

- *"Detroit's Regret: Darko Milicic Buried on the Bench with 15 MPG."*

- *"Chinese Star Wang Song Shines: 17/11/5 Averages Help Knicks Maintain Winning Streak!"*

Fans debated fiercely:

- **"Detroit really dropped the ball. Anyone would've picked better!"**

- **"Imagine missing out on Wang Song after all that hype. Tragic!"**

- **"LeBron looks unstoppable at 19. No one can handle him physically!"**

- **"Wang Song is just as impressive, especially with Nash feeding him the ball. Knicks games are pure art!"**

- **"Anyone notice Wang Song's improved physicality and post presence?"**

As the regular season loomed, the stage was set. The world watched eagerly, waiting to see if this new crop of talent could live up to the hype.

Check out my P@treon for advance chapter on [email protected]/Twilight_scribe1

*(End of Chapter)*