Chapter 27: David Stern's Heavy Use

When the NBA League headquarters received the contract backup submitted by the Lakers, they were startled.

Soon the assistant found the deputy commissioner of the League, which was Adam Silver, the second-in-command who was about to take over after David Stern retired.

Silver looked at this contract very unexpectedly and shocked; this was a contract that transcended convention, and there had never been one in history.

However, it didn't violate the rules.

He hesitated.

He didn't know how to handle it, so he went to ask David Stern for advice.

He still needed to learn from Stern in many aspects; Stern had been at the helm of the NBA for more than 30 years, and it was he who turned the NBA from a small league into a global big league, it was he who made the NBA's influence soar all over the world, and it was also he who made the salary level of NBA players surpass other leagues.

David Stern saw this contract, and he was also startled.

This made him feel caught off guard.

"The Lakers actually gave such an amazing contract? Eight-figure annual salary???" Stern hadn't seen any big waves in his life; he had seen many historical contracts.

The shock this contract gave him was probably equivalent to... Jordan and the Bulls signing a 30-million US dollar contract a year, and it didn't count toward the salary cap.

Because both were unprecedented.

"The Lakers doing this is a bit destructive to the unspoken rules." Adam Silver said worriedly.

He believed that the NBA League headquarters should be the guardian and defender of order.

But David Stern raised his head after thinking for a long time, and he said to Adam Silver: "We should agree to this contract quickly, and take advantage of the fact that Jack Fan's fame is unparalleled in North America, and publish it quickly."

Agree? And publish it?

Adam Silver and the assistant were stunned.

This was a way of handling that was completely different from their thinking mode.

David Stern saw that they didn't understand, so he smiled and said to them: Do you know why the Lakers have been able to stand tall for so many years?

The assistant answered: Because they have always maintained the configuration of a strong team.

Adam Silver said: Because Los Angeles is a big city and has a huge attraction to stars.

"Both are right!"

David Stern recognized their answers: "There is another point, which is that they have precise vision, and they have the courage, willing to spend money on stars. Back then they were willing to give Wilt Chamberlain unprecedented salary, willing to take an All-Star level center to trade for a 13th pick rookie, willing to give O'Neal a maximum salary contract, willing to give Magic Johnson shares, willing to give Kobe unprecedented renewal terms..."

Speaking of this, David Stern paused slightly. "Now, they handed the contract to Fan Xi."

Adam Silver was very surprised when he heard this: "You mean, Fan can be mentioned in the same breath as these superstars?"

"I don't know. But I choose to believe in the foundation of the Lakers for decades, and their rarely missed signings." David Stern said: "And, I want to remind you, Fan is a Chinese player. After Yao retired, China and even Asia need a basketball hero, and Fan looks like the best object. He is handsome, he is confident and even a bit arrogant. He is full of charm, he has a lot of peripheral news... most importantly, he has legendary quality."

"Since the Lakers have made such a decisive and fearless choice, why don't we agree?"

David Stern stood up, and he patted Adam Silver on the shoulder: "You still have a lot to learn."

"Do as I say."

David Stern instructed them like this.

Adam Silver learned another important lesson, and they hurriedly went to arrange it.

When they were about to go out.

David Stern suddenly called them: "I heard that someone recently left a message on the fan forum, saying they wanted to add Jack to the All-Star voting list?"

Both were stunned, and the assistant answered: "There is no such rule at all. And, the All-Star game is about to start next month, there is no need, right."

The assistant was an orderly person.

But Stern and Adam Silver both laughed.

They were worthy of being people in high positions.

Stern said: "Issue an announcement, if Fan Xi or any other player can get 1 million votes, they can be included in the candidate list, and this vote will be calculated as the All-Star vote."

This...

The assistant hesitated.

Adam Silver had long understood, and he patted the assistant on the shoulder and said: Hurry up and do it.

If Fan Xi could get 1 million votes, he would basically lock in the position of All-Star starter; the competition between point guards in the West this year wasn't particularly fierce. Chris Paul had been in injury this season, his current votes weren't high, and there was Steve Nash, the former MVP's state had declined significantly in the past two years, and his stats weren't as eye-catching as before after the team gave up playing run-and-gun.

The assistant nodded, and he hurriedly went to do it.

He didn't quite understand why the League did this.

Is it possible that Jack can really enter the All-Star game?? Those who can enter the All-Star game, which one isn't a big star who has been famous for a long time, and their popularity base is very solid.

In history, the number of times rookies entered the All-Star game by voting was very few; in the impression, it seemed that only Yao Ming, and Hill from earlier.

Can Fan Xi become the third one?

The assistant felt it was very difficult.

Fan Xi didn't know that the NBA top management was talking for him, and had done two things that could change his fate.

He was choosing a gift at this time; he didn't want to go to the dinner party of Humphries and Kim Kardashian empty-handed.

This could be counted as a big party for their friends before marriage; although it wasn't popular to stuff red envelopes in the United States, some etiquette was still needed.

Although in public opinion, the Kardashian family's reputation was mixed, but for Fan Xi, they were indeed people who helped him a lot; if it weren't for their reality show, it would be difficult for him to achieve such influence now.

At least on the streets of New York, many people had recognized him, and asked him for photos, and even welcomed him to join the New York Knicks.

Fan Xi finally bought an exquisite hairpin at a luxury store, which cost him 1,000 US dollars.

This was the truth his mother told him when he was very young.

If you want to give a gift to someone, and your money is not so sufficient. Then you'd better buy some things with extremely low cost-effectiveness.

Just like, if you spend 1,000 US dollars to buy a suit for someone, people will feel that this suit is ordinary.

However, a 1,000 US dollar hairpin.

My God!

It's too precious.

Fan Xi followed this concept of gift-giving.

He soon met up with Lamar Odom; Lamar Odom had already learned the news of his renewal with the team.

He said to Fan Xi: "Now everyone inside the team knows your renewal amount; this number stimulated most people. Even Ron Artest, Luke Walton, and others have great complaints; they think you only played three games and got so much money, while they have contributed a lot to the team."

"Kobe is pacifying them."

Lamar Odom told Fan Xi the first-hand news.

Fan Xi nodded; he knew... this would inevitably form a storm inside the team. After all, even in Western society, there was still the so-called 'thinking of not worrying about scarcity but worrying about inequality'.

Not to mention, Fan Xi was still so young, and his qualifications were so shallow, why did he get an annual salary of more than 10 million?

"I feel your contract will soon become a hot spot for national discussion. Shannon Brown made a scene at the hotel; he probably knew he was about to be traded. He said this was an unequal treaty signed between California and China, and he also said he wanted to poke it to the media, and also said he wanted the Players Association to jump out and review."

"However, Fisher is the chairman of the Players Association. He said there was no problem with this contract, and he also said he wanted to encourage more such contracts. Because the rookie contract was originally a kind of exploitation."

"This Derek Fisher is a person who can be dealt with."

Odom said to Fan Xi.

Fan Xi nodded and said he knew.

However, from the current situation. The media would know about this sooner or later, and it would definitely lead to great public opinion.

Phew!

Fan Xi took a deep breath of turbid air. He had already welcomed the brand-new pressure.

He wasn't afraid of challenges, nor was he afraid of criticism. He knew he was definitely not someone who didn't deserve his position; as long as he moved upward step by step, he would always prove himself.

Not to mention, he still had an energy halo in his brain.

God knows whose talent will be lit up next, and whose technique will be lit up.

Fan Xi was simply too confident in his future.

Fan Xi and Odom came to Humphries' manor; Humphries wasn't considered a superstar in the NBA, and didn't even count as an All-Star player.

He was just a blue-collar worker in the NBA, responsible for grabbing rebounds and secondary offense.

However, his luck was quite good; he exploded in the contract year and signed a contract with an annual salary of seven or eight million US dollars.

It was just that this contract money might not be enough for his current expenses.

He married a woman from the Kardashian family, and he was bound to spend more money.

So, this was why news was everywhere now reporting that he spent 5 million US dollars to buy a super big diamond ring for Kardashian.

After Fan Xi walked into the manor, he gave the gift to Kardashian; Kardashian was indeed very surprised and praised Fan Xi for knowing how to give gifts.

In contrast, the watch Lamar Odom spent 20,000 US dollars to give didn't make her feel surprised, because she had too many watches.

Since not all the guests had arrived, the courtyard looked a bit deserted.

The groom-to-be Humphries soon came over to entertain Fan Xi; he said he had seen Fan Xi's performance on TV, and he liked Fan Xi and other scene words.

He also said that later, his teammates would all come over.

And some friends from the entertainment circle and socialite circle.

It could be seen that Humphries was trying hard to cater to Kardashian and trying to enter the entertainment circle.

But it looked like he was just a simple and honest child.

At least in Fan Xi's view, it was like this.

Perhaps they weren't that compatible.

Fan Xi thought so in his heart.

But he didn't say it.

Soon Jenner came to find him.

And just at this moment, Fan Xi saw a familiar beautiful shadow.

At first, it was a bit blurry... almost didn't recognize her after she put on clothes.

... ===== CHAPTER 28 =====