Two Hundred and Fourteen: Xiaobaitiao Can't Stop
On July 1, 2011, the old labor-management agreement of the alliance officially expired, and the labor-management parties also conducted the last negotiation.
In the end, the two sides still had huge differences and failed to reach any agreement. The NBA officially entered the lockout period, which is also the second league among the four major professional sports leagues in the United States to be suspended after the NFL was suspended in March 2011.
During the lockout, the free agency and trade markets are closed, and players will not be paid. Even, players can't use the team's training facilities for any reason, and the team can't hold any summer training camps, exhibitions, team meetings, and coaching rallies.
The entire NBA, from coaches to players, has fallen into a state of "extended vacation".
Although he knew that such a thing would happen, Link was still a little helpless. In the next half year, Link will usher in a period of no games to play. The Grizzlies' trade of Jimmy Butler and the renewal of Link's contract must also be postponed until after the free agency and trade markets open.
After the lockout began, one of the most obvious changes was that many players chose to play overseas.
Europa League and ba are the two major strongholds for players to choose to travel. Countless nba main players have inextricably linked with ba, and this summer ba has become extraordinarily lively.
Under the arrangement of Jeff Austin, Link also went to major cities to start his business trip. Don't underestimate the commercial value of a first-year undrafted pick, if you are good enough, if you can attract attention. Even a rookie player can flex his muscles in business.
Link still remembers that before crossing over, Lakers rookie Kyle Kuzma organized two trips to China. Although Kuzma's trip to China is not as crowded as when Kobe came to China, his popularity is also unmatched by other rookies.
Compared with Kuzma in the future, Link also has yellow skin without losing his skills and appearance, which naturally made his trip to China go very smoothly.
When he came to China, Link was actually very impressed. This is the first time he has "returned to China" in nearly a year. Looking at the familiar street scenes around him, Link still felt nostalgic.
Sitting on the bus, Jeff Austin has been introducing Link to the itinerary of his China trip. In fact, the itinerary of this kind of commercial activity is similar. During the day, I go to some characteristic snack streets or restaurants to eat Chinese food and shorten the distance with the fans.
Similar to Thompson eating stinky tofu and Wade eating bean juice in the future.
But for Link, none of that was a problem. He is a "born and raised" Chinese, and eating Chinese food is just right to his appetite.
In the afternoon, I will go to some schools to participate in public welfare activities and play basketball with the children.
In the evening, a 1v1 streetball match organized by Nike will be arranged. Hearing this, Link suddenly became interested. Picking up the schedule and looking at it, sure enough, the opponent is Wang Wuyou.
"That's about your itinerary these days, how about it? Are you excited for your first trip to China?" Austin gasped after reading a long itinerary.
"Excited is fine, but it feels familiar."
"Familiar? Weren't you born in America?"
"Uh, but I've been to China before, hehe."
While speaking, Link's bus arrived at the hotel where he was staying. Before the car stopped, a large number of fans rushed up!
Looking at the crowd of fans outside the car window, Link felt his scalp tingling! In Memphis, although he is also a star, to be honest, the population of Memphis is not enough to see! Even if Link was strutting on the road, it was impossible for so many people to gather on the empty street!
"Hey, did you see it? This is the legendary Chinese battle! Let's go Link, the Chinese fans can't wait." Austin laughed proudly. The Chinese market he dreamed of is now in front of him!
Link did not expect that his popularity in China seemed to be quite high. But think about it and know that there must be many Chinese fans who hate themselves.
After all, he is an ab. That's how Chinese people are, and sometimes both ends are unflattering. You will be discriminated against in the United States, and you will be scolded in China. But blacks are everywhere. At least these fans who are willing to come to see him, Link is still very willing to treat them with enthusiasm.
Link got off the bus and waved to the fans. He stood in the middle with a height of 2.03 meters, and still could not see the end of the crowd.
"Everyone! Thank you! Thank you so much for your support, I'm very happy!" When Link got out of the car, he uttered a sentence in Chinese with a Beijing accent. This time, the fans around are even more crazy.
If a superstar wants to be recognized by fans, in addition to his strength, the sense of distance between him and the fans is also an important indicator.
No matter how well you play, but you cannot integrate into the fans, the natural popularity will not be too prosperous. Even if you are only a third-tier star, but you are close to the fans, you will become popular.
At this point, the one who has done the best is the "Ma Political Commissar" Lao Ma. He is not only integrated into the fans, but truly integrated into Chinese basketball and Chinese life. As the saying goes, the food should not be too ugly. Everyone knows that they come to China to make money, but how to make money, whether the Chinese are willing to make money for you or not, depends on the individual.
Link thinks, he doesn't need to pretend to be so high-profile and big. Interacting with fans who like you is also a kind of enjoyment. Besides, without these fans, where would Link get any commercial value.
Afterwards, Link signaled to the security staff not to separate himself from the fans so far. He kept the crowd infinitely close to him, then patiently satisfied the fans' quest for photos and autographs.
Austin squeezed into the crowd, but did not complain, but felt relieved.
Link is a good boy. He has not forgotten that he has also gone from obscurity to shocking the entire league. He has not forgotten that he was once a part of this group of ordinary people.
From the bus to the hotel gate, Link walked for half an hour in a short distance of 50 meters, and the time was basically spent on signing autographs and taking photos.
In the end, Link walked backwards and waved to the fans until he disappeared into the elevator.
"You're very good, you know how to make the fans like you." In the elevator, Austin seemed very satisfied with Link's performance just now.
"Is there? I just try to respect everyone who respects me." Link shrugged, this is how he gets along with others.
After that, Link participated in various activities according to the procedures. At noon, I went to the snack street to eat a lot of snacks. Of course, every time he walked to a place, there were countless cameras facing him two meters in front of him, which was actually quite unnatural.
But seeing Link gobbling down all Chinese food with chopsticks, even "dark dishes" like stinky tofu, Chinese fans suddenly felt that this guy was no different from us!
In the afternoon, Link performed "Go to your basketball dream show" at a certain elementary school. A primary school student's layup was blocked in place by Link ruthlessly, which was a little skinny. Of course, Link finally picked up the little player and dunked a basket, which was considered compensation.
After participating in school activities, Link told Austin that he hoped to participate in more charitable school basketball activities in the future. For example, building basketball courts for schools in remote areas, teaching basketball to students in places where the popularity of basketball is not high, and similar things.
Link knew that after Yao Ming became the chairman of the Chinese Basketball Association in the future, he personally participated in the basic popularization of basketball. Yao Ming said it well, super genius cannot be cultivated, it has to be discovered. The better the foundation, the greater the chance of discovery.
Link can't play for the Chinese team, so let's help Chinese basketball go better from the side.
Even putting aside Link's feelings for China and doing more charity work, it's not a bad thing after all.
Austin took down all Link's requests, and he felt more and more that Link, this guy, wasn't just a player.
It is impossible for a professional player to achieve great success if he only knows how to play.
In the evening, the battle between Link and Chinese streetball and Wang Wuyou came as promised. In recent years, Wang Wuyou has participated in many similar business activities. Back then, Link was also very envious of him having the opportunity to play against NBA-level stars.
But I didn't expect that I would now become the party to fight against Wang Wuyou.
There is nothing to say about this 1v1. Wang Wuyou is very serious, but Link is really not interested in this game. After all, the difference between the two is too much.
The difference between professional players and amateur players cannot be filled with hard work. What's more, Link is still a professional player who plays in the top basketball league.
Link let Wang Wuyou score a goal, and then scored five goals in a row to end the game.
At nine o'clock in the evening, today's activities are all over. The fans dispersed, leaving only Link and his team in the arena.
"It's nine o'clock, are you sure you want to continue?" Austin looked at Link, this time his tone was serious.
"Okay, I just overheated. If you don't practice, it's a waste of your physical state."
Austin nodded, then waved at the staff. Two Spalding basketballs for NBA games were brought up, which Link brought on purpose!
With the cooperation of a staff member, Link still practiced spot-up shooting. Even on vacation, he has to stay in shape and continue to accumulate his little white bars!
The gap between two equally talented players is often widened in the offseason.
"By the way, about the trainer, how have you arranged it? Jeff."
"Don't worry, I already have a few candidates. When the business activities are all over, I will arrange the best trainer and the most suitable training for you. And after this offseason, you will be a better player of."
Austin suddenly felt that Link's future development might be better than he imagined.
A talented player is not necessarily successful.
But a talented, hard-working and emotionally intelligent player will never fail.
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