Chapter 115: CCTV's Special Report

CCTV sent a large formation this time, not only the camera team from the sports channel but also the general channel.

Clearly, CCTV attaches great importance to Fan Xi; they intend to establish Fan Xi as a very important cultural export symbol.

The Lakers opened the door wide. The Lakers' PR manager accompanied the CCTV production team and released word that any material CCTV wants to shoot is allowed, including entering the Lakers' locker room to do an exclusive interview with Fan Xi. The premise is that it is a non-game day.

On game days, few media outlets are allowed to bring cameras into the locker room.

Fan Xi arrived at the Staples Center and greeted the production team from China very enthusiastically.

He took the reporters to visit the Staples Center, and the production team also turned on the cameras in a timely manner; these were all their materials.

Fan Xi introduced the history of the Staples Center to the reporters, introduced the Lakers' bench, and even thoughtfully told everyone, "Usually, Phil will sit in this position, and Kobe doesn't want to sit right next to Phil Jackson..."

These things were simple introductions for Fan Xi, but for the reporters, they were first-hand materials, things that domestic fans had never been exposed to.

It turns out that in the NBA, there is also the issue of seating arrangements.

Talking with interest, Fan Xi even walked onto the court and said to the reporters, "Look, this is where I hit my first three-pointer in my first official game; that ball was the beginning of my NBA career."

"Then, here, is where I lifted the All-Star Game MVP."

Fan Xi pointed to the center of the court.

He knew it like the back of his hand.

The reporters were very happy. Fan Xi's sunny and cheerful nature made the interview interesting. Fan Xi is a person with a good sense of the camera; when he speaks, there are not as many heavy accents as Yao Ming, and his tone is not official.

Dressed in casual clothes, Fan Xi is like the campus heartthrob in a university, fresh, handsome, sunny, and stylish.

The cameraman stood behind watching the lens all the way; he even felt like he was filming an idol drama.

His intuition told him that if this documentary were broadcast, it would definitely attract the pursuit of domestic star-chasing girls.

Fan Xi led the production team into the player tunnel. Along the way, Lakers staff members kept running over to greet Fan Xi enthusiastically.

Fan Xi also nodded to them one by one.

These staff members all like and respect this Miracle Child very much.

In these two months, Fan Xi won the hearts of a large number of staff members.

He walked into the locker room, sat down, and the camera team quickly set up the lights for him, entering the formal interview.

The reporter was a famous host from CCTV's sports channel.

He has a good way with words.

"Today, we are very excited to invite the most popular basketball player in the country and even the world. He rewrote the history of Chinese guards in the highest hall of basketball, he became the most exciting Miracle Child in the entire NBA... Everywhere he goes, there are crazy followers. Who is he? He is Fan Xi."

After the host's passionate opening remarks, the camera focused on Fan Xi.

Fan Xi smiled and greeted the camera.

"Hello, audience friends in front of the TV. I am Fan Xi, the number 10 player of the Lakers. I am very happy to meet you here. Have you eaten?"

Fan Xi had a flash of inspiration and greeted the audience in a vivid and interesting way.

Then, the host began to ask and answer questions with Fan Xi: "Fan Xi, do you know? Now there is a crazy Fan Xi fever nationwide, streets and alleys are discussing your name, and your crazy performance in the NBA. Everyone thinks that you have taken over Yao Ming's banner in the basketball world..."

"No! No! No! I am still just a rookie. I haven't contributed to the country yet," Fan Xi said seriously.

This sentence moved the host very much, because Fan Xi said it from the bottom of his heart.

"I really want to join the national team," Fan Xi's next words were even more upright and correct, nothing to say.

The host was very moved.

Then, he said, "I think the national team will become stronger because of your arrival."

The news that Yao Ming is about to retire makes domestic fans very panicked. The London Olympics will arrive next year, and everyone is worried about the strength of the national team. But now, Fan Xi has emerged suddenly, invisibly giving fans a shot in the arm.

Previously, everyone was still worried that Fan Xi would not join the national team. But hearing Fan Xi say this, all doubts would be dispelled.

Fan Xi is a good boy.

He is truly one of us.

The host's gaze became kinder and kinder; he believed that Fan Xi's popularity in the country would get higher and higher.

Then, he began to ask Fan Xi some questions.

Asking about the process of Fan Xi joining the Lakers, asking if Fan Xi is used to life in the Lakers, asking about Fan Xi's state of mind after becoming famous in one game, asking about Fan Xi's changes after constantly creating miracles, asking about Fan Xi's feelings after defeating James, asking about Fan Xi's mood after winning the All-Star Game MVP, and also asking about Fan Xi's views on the Rookie of the Year.

Fan Xi answered them all very seriously.

"I am a sophomore at Davidson College. I thought I could be drafted at the time because my teammate Stephen Curry was drafted the year before. However, I was eventually undrafted, and then I kept sending resumes and videos of me playing basketball to the email addresses of general managers of various NBA teams. Later, I received a tryout invitation from the Lakers and got a 10-day short contract. Then, I got a chance to play in the last game, I hit a key shot, and from then on, I stood firm."

"I still remember after I finished that game, Lamar Odom took me back to his house. That was the first time I truly integrated into the NBA. Before that, I felt like I was just a passerby."

"The NBA values strength very much. If your strength is not good, then... it's not that no one respects you, it's just that people will automatically ignore your existence."

"My life in the Lakers is very good. After the game where I defeated the Bulls, the general manager came to talk to me about a contract renewal, but I refused. I felt I could get a higher contract, and the facts proved that my risk was correct. The Lakers set a precedent for me; they respect me very much, and they are thirsty for talent, giving me a rookie contract that has never existed in the NBA. It caused a lot of controversy, but I am very grateful to the Lakers. There is a saying in China: 'A thousand-mile horse is common, but a Bole (a talent scout) is not common.'"

"This is probably why the Lakers have been a strong NBA team for so many years."

"Defeating LeBron James... actually, you can't say it like that. Because in that game, the most important gimmick at the time was Kobe vs. James. They are the two signature superstars of the NBA, and their positions are here..." Fan Xi said when talking about this matter, using both hands to gesture to his forehead.

"I seized the opportunity in the final moments of that game. Kobe left because of an injury at the time. They might not have valued me that much, feeling I was just a rookie who had just emerged. They didn't even attack once in the final moments, and then I completed the buzzer-beater under Wade's defense."

Fan Xi told the story in detail.

"Winning the All-Star Game MVP was a very unexpected thing. I didn't think about these things at all before the game started. At that time, the American media actually felt that I entered the All-Star Game through the back door. But, All-Star head coach Popovich gave me a lot of playing time, Kevin Durant and I have a good relationship, he fed me a lot of balls, and Kobe... they were all fulfilling me. Finally, I hit a buzzer-beater over Wade's head again... I don't know why it's always Wade defending me."

Fan Xi laughed when he said this.

The host also laughed.

He believed that the "first-hand information" Fan Xi told in detail would definitely make domestic fans ecstatic.

"Regarding the Rookie of the Year, I haven't considered it until now. John Wall and Blake Griffin are two first overall picks, in Chinese, they are the 'Zhuangyuan' (top scholars). Their physical conditions are very strong, and they also play very well. The American media feels that they can both become superstars, super-stars, even stronger than All-Stars."

Fan Xi's speaking rhythm was very slow, and his tone was very gentle.

The host had already anticipated that this program would have explosive ratings.

Then, he began to ask Fan Xi some gossip questions: "In the Lakers team, who do you have the best relationship with?"

"All very good," Fan Xi said seriously: "In the Lakers, the first player to reach out to me was Lamar Odom, Matt Barnes also habitually protects me on the court; if someone uses small tricks on me, he will run over and glare at them."

"Kobe is a good big brother. You just said it, he gave me a Ferrari at the All-Star Game. But I decided not to accept this gift because it is too valuable."

"He also taught me many game techniques, telling me how to save energy and deal with crazy road trips. Whether in life or on the court, he gives me a lot of advice."

"Fisher and Gasol, although they don't talk much to me, they are both very kind people. The newcomer Dunleavy is also very good..."

Fan Xi praised his teammates.

"Then what about the head coach? Do you have a good relationship with the coaching staff?" The host asked a meaningless question.

Because even a fool knows how to answer.

However, Fan Xi raised his eyebrows and said: "I don't really like the coaching team. Phil is always testing my tactical understanding. He even got tactical manuals from other teams for me to read. And Old Winter, he makes me practice extra every day, makes me run back and forth... they all enjoy the joy of torturing me."

Fan Xi was clearly complaining.

But everyone could hear that the relationship between them was really very good.

Subsequently, some irrelevant questions were asked.

Fan Xi answered them one by one.

Then, Fan Xi invited them to have lunch together to fulfill the duties of a host.

Everyone was very happy.

After saying goodbye, Fan Xi went to the arena for extra practice. And the camera crew went to the club to interview Kupchak.

It can be seen that CCTV wants to make a comprehensive and three-dimensional formal program this time.

Because Fan Xi's status in the Lakers is rising, the Lakers are willing to cooperate with the promotion.

Kupchak sat in the office and was very polite to the production team from China. He said happily to the camera: "Our biggest luck this season is discovering Jack, this super superstar."

Kupchak praised Fan Xi endlessly.

Midway, Little Jack heard that the Chinese production team had arrived, so he also specifically came over to greet them and promised to the camera: "As long as I am in the club for one day, Jack will never think about leaving Los Angeles."

The CCTV reporters felt the sincere enthusiasm.

Therefore, CCTV proposed whether they could follow and shoot a game at the Staples Center; they guaranteed that they would only shoot some sideline footage and footage in the player tunnel.

Because they wanted domestic fans to know the real scene of Jack Fan on game day.

This is actually a request that oversteps the boundaries.

Generally speaking, teams do not allow internal shooting. Even for some documentary filming, many contents have to be avoided.

However, Jim Buss gave the privilege; he actually agreed. And he also told the production team: "Except for not being able to enter the locker room, and not being able to shoot continuous game footage for more than 10 minutes, all actions are given the green light."

Not being able to enter the locker room is a hard rule for every NBA team. Not being able to shoot continuous game footage is for copyright protection of the broadcasting TV station.

CCTV was overjoyed.

When Fan Xi learned from Ma Chen that CCTV wanted to track his day throughout, he was shocked.

Because the game CCTV chose was the Lakers vs. New Orleans Hornets.

In this game, Kobe Bryant had already told him on the phone that he would most likely be absent.

Fan Xi would face the Hornets' backcourt pressure alone.

Especially the pressure from the number one point guard, Paul.

"This is a perfect presentation opportunity. Believe me, Fan Xi, this will be the best promotion we can do for the country, it will definitely set off a storm in the country and even in Asia."

"No player has ever done this kind of thing, not even Yao Ming."

Ma Chen said excitedly.

He is a media practitioner, he knows the communication laws of the media too well.

In his view, this will bring endless attention and fame and fortune to Fan Xi.

After Lu Yuan learned about this, he was also very excited.

He said to Fan Xi: "Seize this opportunity, we can increase the domestic quote by at least thirty percent."

The arrow is on the string.

Fan Xi returned home.

He turned on the TV and saw Scarlett Johansson walking the red carpet at the Oscars. She generously revealed her new tattoo on the inside of her arm: jf.

The female anchor in the news commented, saying that Scarlett Johansson has a new lover, but it definitely won't be the legendary Jack Fan. Because normally, the abbreviation for Jack Fan should be fx.

Fan Xi gave a bitter smile and changed the channel.

Taylor Swift announced the schedule for her first concert in Los Angeles and also said she would invite Fan Xi to attend her concert.

Then, he changed the channel again.

This time, he saw Chris Paul.

Chris Paul was wearing a meticulous suit; he had already arrived in Los Angeles.

The number one point guard came aggressively. When reporters asked him what he thought about this year's complex playoff situation.

He didn't answer the question, but said aggressively: "I don't care about the playoffs, I only care about the next opponent, Jack Fan!"

... ===== CHAPTER 116 =====