Chapter 15: Negotiating a contract with the Kardashian family

Fan Xi was surrounded by reporters.

Everyone crowded around him.

Fan Xi's magical performance in two consecutive games, two consecutive super buzzer-beaters, has made him the most popular basketball player in Los Angeles.

Just like a meteor streaking across the dark sky, dazzling and brilliant.

"Fan, tonight you got 27 points and 20 assists. You are the first player since Magic to get more than 25 points and contribute 20 assists for the Lakers. And this is only the second game of your career, and you are the first rookie in history to get such great data in the second game and complete a buzzer-beater. In fact, you are still an undrafted player. Now the media calls you the strongest undrafted player in history. How do you see this?"

The reporter from the local Los Angeles media "Orange County Register" asked Fan Xi first.

Fan Xi showed a charming smile.

His face is really refreshing. In the NBA, he is definitely the most handsome and exquisite athlete in history. Even in Hollywood, where handsome men gather, it is difficult to find an opponent.

So, when he smiled, he even heard the hurried breathing of the female reporter next to him.

A smile can bewitch all living things.

"I am very grateful for the praise of that media, and I will also work hard to achieve this goal." Fan Xi said sincerely and confidently.

Fan Xi's state made the American reporters feel a bit surprised, because athletes playing in the NBA before were mostly subtle, gentle, and even introverted and shy.

It is rare to be as sincere and confident as Fan Xi.

"Tonight you defeated Derek Rose. As everyone knows, Rose is the first point guard of the new generation, and his speed is extremely fast. However, we saw that you have many effective interferences against Rose. How did you do it? What will defeating Rose bring you?"

The ESPN reporter continued to ask.

Fan Xi still kept a charming smile and replied: "I don't think I defended Derek Rose, he is unstoppable. My defense against him is based on the fact that he doesn't know enough about me, and I took advantage of this aspect. Similarly, my buzzer-beater against the Bulls tonight is also due to this. I cannot deny these objective facts. But for me, this is indeed an exciting game. It will make me more confident, and at the same time, it will make me win playing opportunities in the team. I will become better because of this."

Fan Xi is very sincere.

His sincerity lies in the fact that he does not shy away from some objective factors. In fact, he could completely subjectively praise how excellent and powerful he is.

But he didn't do that.

Because he knows he will be more powerful.

"So, are you worried about hitting the rookie wall after your opponents have studied you thoroughly?" The ESPN reporter continued to ask.

The rookie wall is an inherent saying in the NBA.

Many rookie players will have a high-light period after joining the league, relying on their physical fitness or unique skills to sweep the league. However, soon their opponents will establish a defensive database for him through a huge system and form targeted defense.

At this time, many potential rookies will fall in front of the rookie wall.

If you can't break through the rookie wall, you will become mediocre. This is why many players are 'rookie is the peak'.

"No."

Fan Xi shook his head confidently, and then said in a very certain tone: "I will become stronger and stronger, more and more unstoppable. The current me has only shown one percent of my talent."

Fan Xi's words are very domineering.

It even made the reporters a bit shocked.

Of course, they like such 'domineering' players, because readers and audiences like such explosive points. And once Fan Xi doesn't realize his wild words in the future, they will turn back and ridicule him.

Just like when Stephon Marbury claimed to be the 'world's number one point guard', and Dampier announced that he was the 'second center in the West', these words eventually became jokes.

Then the reporter asked him: "By the way, we saw the Kardashian sisters cheering for you on the sidelines today. Did you know each other a long time ago?"

Fan Xi sold a pass and said: "You will know my relationship with them when you watch their show this weekend."

The last question was still asked by ESPN. Their sideline reporter said: "Our commentator Charles Barkley, that damn fat man. He said that if you get a formal contract, he will kneel on the ground and shout 'Jack Fan is the Basketball Emperor'. We are all looking forward to the fulfillment of this bet. The last time we were so happy was when he kissed a donkey's butt, and it was also because of a Chinese person. So, can you reveal it now? Didn't the Lakers provide you with a formal contract?"

Fan Xi smiled.

He raised his eyebrows, spread his palms, and said: "I don't know yet, let God handle the matter of fate."

With that, the interview ended.

Fan Xi left the media with the impression of 'sunny and confident' and 'generous and decent'. Of course, being handsome is indispensable.

At this time, Fan Xi didn't know that Derek Rose was discussing with Bulls head coach Thibodeau.

Thibodeau was still annoyed by this failure at first, and even had a furious posture.

However, Rose said to him: "I think this failure is a good opportunity for us. We might be able to sign Fan."

"I like him too much. His speed is very fast, his reaction on the court is very calm, and he has excellent shooting ability. He can play with me and serve as an assistant in the double point guard. He can also lead the rotation lineup when I rest, and our offensive firepower will not be greatly reduced."

"He is simply an excellent partner tailored for me by God, and I will definitely have a strong chemical reaction with him."

Rose said to the head coach in a very, very certain tone with some requests: "Let's bring him back to Chicago. He is Robin beside Batman."

Rose rarely gives his opponents such high praise; he is actually a silent person.

Fan Xi's touch on him tonight was too great; he even felt that Fan Xi was his B-side.

Rose's open shooting ability is not good, Fan Xi is excellent.

Rose's connection assists are slightly above average, Fan Xi is very good.

Rose's defense relies more on his body, Fan Xi's experience and skills are excellent.

And both are fast, and both have unstoppable courage.

Therefore, Rose really wants to recruit Fan Xi, let him be a substitute, and grow up with him.

Thibodeau gradually woke up from the anger of failure. He began to recall Fan Xi's excellent performance in the game. Then, he had to admit that Rose was right.

And he had the idea of recruiting.

The strong teams in the East are too fierce. Not only the super Big Three composed of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh, but also the old Big Three in Boston. The semi-circle tactic built by the Orlando Magic with Warcraft Howard still has great lethality, and there is a group of forwards in Atlanta with explosive athletic ability.

Although the Bulls are temporarily ranked first in the East, it is not safe when they reach the playoffs.

Fan Xi is now a completely free agent.

Once he rejects the Lakers' contract, he can sign him completely.

"I will discuss it with the general manager later, he will agree." Thibodeau said.

At this time, Rose added: "This guy's asking price is not low, he claims he wants a ten-million annual salary. But I think, if the offer is lower than the full mid-level, he won't come."

Hmm?

Thibodeau was stunned.

Not lower than the full mid-level contract, won't come?

You know, the annual salary of the 2010 top pick Kyrie Irving is at the mid-level level. He, an undrafted player, wants to get higher than Irving? This is unrealistic.

"But he is worth it."

As if seeing the doubt in Thibodeau's expression, Rose added: "For top rookies, the rookie contract itself is a kind of exploitation. With Fan's ability, he can completely get an annual salary of more than five million. Do you think Steve Blake, who has an annual salary of 4 million, is better than him?"

Rose's words made Thibodeau come back to his senses.

He thought about it, and it was true.

When Rose and Thibodeau were discussing.

Phil Jackson also found Jimbas and General Manager Kupchak who hurried over from the VIP box upstairs.

Phil Jackson's relationship with Jimbas is actually not that good.

The Lakers is a club controlled by the Buss family. Old Buss has three children in total, and his eldest son is responsible for other sports businesses. The Lakers became the base for the competition between the younger son Jimbas and the daughter Jeanie Buss. They both want to operate this club.

And Phil Jackson is Jeanie Buss's boyfriend, and Phil Jackson has been a head coach for a lifetime. He hopes to have some small shares in the Lakers and become management. Just like the Lakers gave Magic Johnson back then.

But Magic Johnson is different from Phil Jackson. He is the founder of the Lakers show-time. In the 1980s, he raised the Lakers' market value and influence to an incredible level, making the Lakers the absolute king of Los Angeles. However, his salary at that time was very low. He signed a 10-year contract with the Lakers in his rookie season. Later, wages soared, and the Lakers gave him some shares to compensate him.

The situation now is completely different from back then. Jimbas strongly opposes giving the Zen Master shares.

"We have to keep Fan. No matter what way you use, what kind of contract you offer."

The Zen Master said to them in a very, very unquestionable tone, even an order.

"If we let Fan go, there will be many, many teams scrambling to sign him. By then, he will become the biggest opponent of the Los Angeles Lakers."

Phil Jackson is definitely not alarmist. He has already seen Fan Xi's broad and bright future.

Kupchak said: "Yes, we are here now to reach an agreement with him. We have prepared a lottery contract for him."

The Zen Master shook his head and said: "If it's just a lottery contract, I feel I might not be able to take him down."

With that, he walked to the other side.

This sentence made Kupchak and Jimbas very puzzled: Can't even a lottery pick sign him? He is an undrafted player. This is already breaking the rules, breaking the rules, and breaking the rules again.

At this time, they saw the TV on the wall of the passage, and the picture of Thibodeau being interviewed appeared on it.

"... This is a sad failure, a frontal sniper. We were defeated by a powerful rookie we have never seen before."

Thibodeau said on TV: "However, I am not as sad as I imagined. Because Rose told me that he and Jack have agreed that this powerful rookie will soon join Chicago."

When Thibodeau said this, the reporters below were in an uproar.

Thibodeau showed a confident smile: "Are you surprised? Don't you know that the 10-day short contract Jack signed with you is only 5 days left?"

Thibodeau's words made Jimbas and Kupchak emerge with anxiety at the same time.

They looked at each other and ran quickly to find Fan Xi.

Fan Xi was talking to the Kardashian sisters.

They were all congratulating Fan Xi on completing a great performance. Jenner hugged Fan Xi tightly for almost 20 seconds, and she kept saying: "You are my hero, you are my hero, great! Great!"

Jenner is a basketball fan.

She felt that Fan Xi met all her imagination of a basketball master.

Her sisters looked at her with very open eyes. The family style of the Kardashian family is not that strict. If Jenner said to them that she wanted to go out with Jack tonight, they would even prepare cars and hotel suites for their date.

In their view, 16-year-old Kendall Jenner can already find a boyfriend to date.

In fact, Jenner already has a certain reputation in the modeling circle.

Why can't a woman who can support herself find a handsome, tall, and strong boy to start the first date in their lives?

The Kardashian family is very open.

Odom's wife Khloe even said to Fan Xi: "What do you think of Jenner?"

This is almost an explicit hint.

Fan Xi is very shy, his face is red to his ears. He is a good man. Although he is already 19 years old, he really hasn't seriously found a girlfriend. Even though he was the most popular player among girls at Davidson College, he has never let them get him.

Stephen Curry can testify to this.

Kim Kardashian began to invite Jack to be the best man at her wedding, because Jenner is her bridesmaid. She will soon enter the marriage hall with Nets forward Humphries, although it doesn't look that solid.

At this time, Jimbas and Kupchak walked over in a hurry.

Kupchak walked over and said to Fan Xi very anxiously: "Hey, Jack. Let's sign. We have prepared a lottery contract for you, 3 years for 11 million US dollars, the first two years are fully guaranteed, and the third year is a team option."

Fan Xi hadn't had time to speak.

The women of the Kardashian family started talking all at once.

"Wow wow wow... hey, you are so stingy, Jack performed so well, you only gave 11 million US dollars, and let him work for you for three years, this is too low." Kim Kardashian spoke first.

Then it was Khloe: "My husband's performance is mediocre, and he has 14 million US dollars a year, why doesn't Jack even have a fraction of his? This is unfair."

"Jack should at least get 10 million. You can't find a man more handsome than him in the NBA. His figure is simply great. And his 3-pointer..." Although Kourtney couldn't grasp the point, she thought Fan Xi should be worth a ten-million annual salary.

Jenner also thought so: "You can trade the other three point guards of the team, anyway, Jack can do the work of the three of them alone..."

In this world, the most painful thing is to reason and talk about contracts with women.

Now, Jimbas and Kupchak are experiencing the most, most, most painful thing in their careers: they have to chat about contracts with the most troublesome female family in the United States.

... ===== CHAPTER 16 =====