Generation Z Artists

Chapter 163

Jordan went into seclusion.

He even completely relinquished his power as team president, ignoring external affairs and focusing solely on self-torture.

There was no gambling, no socializing, no showing off, and no interviews.

Only Tim accompanied him, devising a recovery training plan for him with a maximum duration of four and a half months and a total of nine short cycles.

Before starting, he only asked one question: "How much speed can I regain by losing weight?"

"You can no longer be a speed-based shooting guard."

Tim shook his head and stated the facts.

"Pursuing shooting guard speed at this age will put too much unnecessary stress on your knees and ankles."

You can only play a speed-oriented small forward at best, keeping your weight at 96 kilograms, conserving most of your strength, and seeking mismatch advantages.

Danzi coldly pressed, "Would that be enough to beat him?"

"To beat him, you need consistency, not speed... Unless you go back to being 22, you'll never be able to compete with him in terms of speed."

Tim was extremely professional, dismantling Fang Xinghe into pieces.

"Fang's shifts in center of gravity and rhythm are the best in the league, so don't try to lock him down, that's impossible. The only way to beat him is to control the distance, defend against drives and allow shots, and force him to use more complex movements to get rid of the interference and make mid-to-long-range shots."

His height and wingspan meant he had to expend more energy and effort to break free, and that was his opportunity.

His shooting consistency is still not quite there yet. Once the preparatory movements for a drive become more numerous and complex, the accuracy of his shot will decrease further.

Taking an 11-point one-on-one as an example, we should force him to take three or four shots from a two-point position one step inside the three-point line, causing him to miss two of them.

At the same time, maintain your consistency. He can't interfere with your turnaround fadeaway jumper. As long as you're consistent enough and don't miss a single shot, you have a chance to win by one or two points.

Jordan remained silent for a while, seemingly deep in thought.

After a long pause, he nodded: "You're right. Only by meeting a considerable number of extreme conditions can we possibly win by one or two points."

Danzi may be stubborn, but his instinct for basketball is unmatched.

Fang Xinghe isn't the strongest in the absolute sense, but he has two absolute strengths, so he can't be completely locked down. The only solution is to work on the details one by one.

If you pick the right card, you can win; if you pick the wrong card, the outcome is still uncertain.

"I will not underestimate my opponent again."

Danzi's eyes burned with a fierce flame, a desire to win, but it was more than just a desire to win.

"I'll give it my all, I'll bet everything!"

"I have absolute confidence in you."

After explaining the objective reality, Tim started encouraging the BOSS.

“That kid is strong on offense but weak on defense. As long as we can get all 11 points and disrupt his two shots, we will win 10 out of 10 games. It’s not difficult. His skills are far from top-notch. I can see that clearly.”

"Yes, he needs at least a few more years to hone his skills."

Danzi sneered: "Dribbling, shooting, experience, ball control... there are no shortcuts to those things. He'll soon realize what a mistake it was to spout nonsense at me!"

Tim joked casually, "Should we invite the media in for a tour?"

"Of course!"

Given Danzi's petty nature, she nodded vigorously without even thinking.

"It would be great to announce my comeback with a perfect open tournament, wouldn't it?"

"That's fantastic, fans will go crazy over your recovery!"

"Hahahahaha!"

Danzi laughed heartily. At this moment, he didn't even think about money, shares, business, or anything else.

It was his agent, David Falk, who reminded him.

“Okay, I can’t stop you from making a comeback, but we can’t just let Paulin get away with it like this. We also need to have more detailed discussions with Nike.”

“Go to him and ask for what we deserve.”

Jordan responded without hesitation.

"His current equity stake is far from enough; he has to give up more. Otherwise, even if I win the one-on-one match, I won't play a single day for him!"

"OK, I'll take care of it."

Falk nodded readily, then added, "But you need to figure out how to get along with Fang. It's not easy, you know what I mean."

Jordan suddenly fell silent.

After a long while, he finally uttered a single word.

"So……"

After Jordan spoke, there was a long pause. Falk and Tim didn't press for details, but simply waited quietly.

Only after finishing that set of bench presses did Jordan ask the second half of the question with a piercing look in his eyes.

"If I beat him and am willing to accept him, do you think we can still create another miracle?"

“Of course.” Tim nodded seriously. “He can attack like AI and pass like Bird. He will be the best teammate you’ve ever played with. Your offense will destroy everything!”

Danzi was deeply moved.

At the same time, he was filled with concerns and found it difficult to settle down.

His outward reaction was that he didn't respond, but instead huffed and puffed as he did the second set of training.

“I have no doubt about your abilities, but…”

Falk, observing the situation, said meaningfully, "You can't treat him like Kobe. He's a superstar who's completely different from you."

"Yes, no one sees him as Jordan's successor."

Danzi spoke in a low, melancholy tone.

"And that is precisely the problem."

……

The media were frantic, wanting to know what exactly happened on the day of Fang Xinghe's tryout, but Jordan refused to give any interviews, and Fang Xinghe disappeared from the media's sight.

Only one security guard gave a few vague and furtive replies.

"They had a one-on-one fight, yes, Fang Xinghe and Mai Kou."

"The result? Fang won, but that doesn't mean anything. Michael hasn't played basketball for over two years, has he?"

"Were there any arguments or conflicts? No, they were having a good time."

"No, please stop asking. I didn't see what happened, so I can't reveal any more."

Since then, rumors have circulated among fans that Fang Xinghe defeated Michael Jordan in a one-on-one match.

Because Jordan's disheveled state was not visible, it did not have a significant negative impact.

Those who firmly believed the story was false mocked Fang Xinghe for being nonsensical.

Those who think it's very likely don't think losing a one-on-one game is a big deal. Jordan's current physique is obvious to all. It's just for fun. Losing a few points is nothing.
Looking at the various online revelations, Wang Chali deduced, "It's probably a public relations tactic by Jordan's team; they're taking precautions."

"that's not important."

Fang Xinghe waved his hand, appearing indifferent.

"I never intended to release the recording. What's so great about beating a fat bastard?"

“Then, next time…” Wang Charlie hesitated for a moment, “Jordan will definitely be fully prepared and develop a more targeted playing style. Can we still win?” Fang Xinghe glanced at the mid-range shot, which had already risen to 90 points, and chuckled.

The significance of 99 points of coordination lies not only in integrating strength and agility and providing explosive power, but also in the fact that coordination is crucial for the development of skills themselves in daily training.

If you recover in four and a half months, does that mean I shouldn't improve?

"Don't worry, if I can beat him once, I can beat him a second time."

Fang Xinghe was confident but not underestimating his opponent, and said with a smile, "At worst, we can go back to China now."

"Huh?!" Wang Chali was full of question marks. "What does going back to China have to do with beating Jordan?"

This is a huge deal. If I go back to China now and make a name for myself, I can easily get three to five points of Star Glory value once I become the top scholar. If I also increase my strength and speed, what can Danzi use to fight me?

Xiao Fang, the guy who was being arrogant, smiled but didn't explain. He started to consider his next move.

Going back to China? Actually, that's a good idea...

In the past few days, Pauline has been going crazy for him, calling him every day to invite him to do this and that.

There was nothing serious going on; they were all private invitations.

Sterling also regretted it—that idiot owner of the Clippers wanted Fang Xinghe to play for the Clippers.

This jerk has more beautiful dreams than flowers, saying things like, "As long as you wholeheartedly reject the Wizards, we are willing to trade up to them for the number one draft pick at all costs."

Pauline did receive an offer, but the Clippers pulled out half a squad of junk, clearly intending to get Fang Xinghe to force a trade.

"Damn it, is he obsessed with money?"

The team members simply couldn't understand it; even Wang Charlie couldn't figure it out.

Why would he assume we'd cooperate with something like this?

"Could it be because of the rumor that the boss angered Jordan during his tryout with the Wizards?"

Eighty percent yes.

After the Wizards' tryout, Fang Xinghe stirred up a huge uproar in the league.

First, there was a dramatic shift in the rookie draft rankings.

The news suddenly broke that Kwame had undergone three weeks of secret tryouts with the Wizards. Logically speaking, shouldn't he be the number one pick?

However, the Wizards kept Fang Xinghe's tryout results a secret, not releasing a single word to the public.

Next, Fang Xinghe rejected tryout invitations from the Bulls, Hawks, and Warriors, which was even more puzzling and unsettling.

Teams holding the third, fourth, and fifth picks sent invitations, but he didn't go to any of them. Could it be that he received a draft promise from the Wizards?

However, rumors also circulated that Fang Xinghe beat Jordan in a one-on-one match, and the two had a huge argument that almost escalated into a physical fight.

Which is true? Which is false?
Other teams in the league have no idea which news is a smokescreen.

However, ESPN's rookie rankings boldly placed Fang Xinghe at the number one pick.

Hubie passionately endorsed the decision, saying, "There is absolutely no controversy this year. No matter who gets the top pick, just close your eyes and choose Fang Xinghe. There are no other options!"

Then a new problem arises—teams holding the second, third, and fourth picks don't lack centers, but the best prospects in this draft happen to be four centers: Quammon, Gasol, Little Shark, and Mike Tyson. How should they be ranked?
They can't get a turn, and they argue every day.

Not only the media was making noise, but the sense of crisis also made these rookies restless. Except for Gasol, who didn't participate, those guys were constantly criticizing Fang Xinghe.

Besides the rising stars, established figures and veterans who had already gone fishing also started to ride the wave of popularity.

Oh, right, the conference finals are going on right now. In the West, the Lakers are playing the Spurs, but nobody's watching. In the East, the 76ers are playing the Bucks, but nobody's watching either.

This year's regional finals ratings dropped to their lowest since 98. OK's crushing defeat of the depleted Spurs and the 76ers and Bucks' mediocre performances were nothing compared to Fang Xinghe's performance.

The influence of "The Oprah Winfrey Show" is gradually materializing, and with various media outlets delving deeper into Fang Xinghe's life, he is now the hottest new star of this period.

The literal translation of Star River and the English name Supernova have appeared alternately in the media, both referring to him.

However, Fang Xinghe himself is not in a hurry to capitalize on the hype, so no media outlet has been able to interview him.

As a result, his name appeared even in The Wall Street Journal, a newspaper that focuses on finance.

It was all positive talk, mentioning that because of Fang Xinghe, the stock prices and market capitalization of many Japanese and South Korean companies soared, and that Fang Xinghe possessed a special international influence, with a cautiously optimistic view of his business performance in the United States.

Then, at that very moment, Fang Xinghe actually returned to China.

More than 30 hours later, when the news was reported by The Washington Post, the American media was in an uproar.

No way, buddy, you're just leaving like that?!
Americans couldn't understand this behavior because Fang Xinghe's appearance fees, service fees, and speaking fees were at their peak. He could easily appear on any program and not only get paid, but also rapidly expand his influence.

But Fang Xinghe actually gave up just like that...

Brands interested in endorsing him can't find him, media outlets wanting to invite him to TV shows are powerless to reach him, and fans who want to learn more about him are frustrated and disappointed...

Anyway, this hype started strong but ended weakly.

With the main figure gone, the trending topic naturally fades quickly and has no way to continue.

Before long, the social and cultural sections forgot about him, leaving only the basketball category in the sports section to remember him fondly.

Actually, this was something Fang Xinghe did intentionally.

The developed capitalist country of the United States is different from China, and also different from Japan, South Korea, and Southeast Asia.

Looking at those "traffic stars" who can monetize their popularity, such as the Kardashian sisters, their methods must be ruthless, doing whatever it takes to grab attention.

But Fang Xinghe can't be like that. His base is in East Asia, and his biggest attribute is that of a cultural fanatic. He has to have a sense of shame and style.

This placed extremely high demands on his skills in harvesting leeks.

Since the conditions are not right now, we can only lay the foundation and nurture it; we can't start harvesting.

So, how should American leeks be cultivated?
Let them roam freely.

There's no need to meticulously cultivate them; it's unrealistic and unnecessary. It's better to keep them hanging on and wait for the big news to create a major impact, then finish them off in one fell swoop.

The NBA number one draft pick is within easy reach, so it's not exactly a good opportunity. Only with Dan's cooperation can there be a chance to create a booming situation and make a fortune in one fell swoop.

However, the prospect of entering the NBA is a perfect tool for reaping profits in Asia.

The draft is scheduled for June 27th, which is a month away. Instead of wasting time in the United States, why not take a trip around East Asia?

Domestically, he's reaping star power; in Japan and South Korea, he's raking in endorsement money—the last six-month short-term contract expired and wasn't renewed. This time, I've conquered the NBA, do you still dare to try and fob me off with 750 million?
This sudden, unexpected move was a stroke of genius, creating a climax on the very first day back home.

Fang Xinghe did not deliberately disclose flight information, keeping a very low profile.

However, upon landing, the presence of his dozen or so bodyguards and assistants, along with Wang Bin's documentary film crew and his conspicuously low-key appearance without sunglasses or a mask, immediately caused a stir at the airport.

After finally squeezing out of the airport, everything else proceeded smoothly.

Xinhua News Agency: "Today, Fang Xinghe, a famous Chinese sports and entertainment idol, concluded his visit to the United States and returned to China quietly, sparking enthusiastic support from his fans..."

The adjective was changed by only one word, transforming it from a cultural icon to a sports and entertainment icon, but its reach expanded many times over.

In the eyes of Generation Z, the NBA is nothing special, and Olympic champions are nothing special either. Out of dozens of champions in a single tournament, we only know one: Quan Hongchan.

That's the confidence that comes with development, and it doesn't need any external boost.

In 2001, it wasn't even necessary to win the first Chinese draft pick; simply producing the first Chinese point guard would have been enough to excite the nation.

This feeling of inferiority mixed with longing brings far more than just admiration.

As a result, the media throughout the capital went wild, waiting in front of the Wangfujing Hotel, just hoping to get a single photo.

The already bustling internet was flooded with his posts, with keywords like Jordan, Fang Xinghe, NBA, top draft pick, and Chinese pride strung together, further fueling curiosity.

Did he actually come back to China at this point, Fang Ge?!

(End of this chapter)