The first punch that shocked the basketball world

After finishing the meal, I said goodbye to Terry.

Lin Fei didn't go straight home.

He went to the baseball park and called street agent Marcus Tucker.

The call was answered quickly.

"Hey, Lin? How's it going?" Marcus's voice was tinged with anticipation.

"Signed, Defenders," Lin Fei said. "Where are you? Is it convenient for us to meet?"

"I'll be right there!"

Twenty minutes later, an old Ford pulled up at the park entrance.

Marcus jumped out of the car, looking excited.

"They really signed it?!"

Lin Fei handed him a copy of the contract.

Marcus took the contract, his hands trembling slightly, and looked at it over and over again several times.

"I knew you could do it!"

He hugged Lin Fei tightly, laughing heartily, "I knew I hadn't misjudged you!"

Lin Fei was a little dazed by his hug.

"Calm down, Marcus."

He patted the other person on the back: "It's just a development alliance contract."

"What's wrong with the Development League!" Marcus's eyes lit up. "My other two players were just cut last week. You're my only hope now!"

He released Lin Fei and rubbed his hands together.

"The commission isn't urgent. You can pay me whenever it's convenient for you. Installments are fine too."

It was agreed that if the trial was successful, Marcus would receive 10% of the contract amount as commission.

$4,500.

Lin Fei simply doesn't have that much cash on hand right now.

"I'll pay you weekly," Lin Fei said. "I'll give you one-tenth of my salary each week."

"no problem!"

Marcus readily agreed: "Anything is fine with me!"

He's now just hoping Lin Fei will make a name for himself.

If he really makes it to the NBA, his status as a self-employed agent will also rise accordingly.

Lin Fei remembered something.

"By the way, Marcus," he said, "do you know anyone who sells sneakers? I need a pair of authentic basketball shoes, preferably with a discount."

The shoes provided by the Development League are too ordinary; they're not good enough for high-intensity games.

Marcus patted his chest confidently.

"Leave it to me!" he said. "I know someone at a sporting goods store; I can give you employee discounts. What size do you wear?"

"Large 46".

"OK!"

"I'll get it sorted out for you tomorrow." Marcus slapped his thigh. "Guaranteed authentic, and 30% cheaper than in stores."

Lin Fei thanked him.

They chatted for a couple more minutes before parting ways.

Back at the restaurant, it was a little past three in the afternoon, not yet lunchtime.

Lin Xiuqin is preparing vegetables in the kitchen.

"You're back?"

She looked up and asked, "How was your first day at work? Tired?"

"good."

Lin Fei put his bag in the corner: "It's just picking up balls and cleaning up, it's not tiring."

He didn't mention that he had signed a player contract.

I'd have to explain for ages if I told her, and my aunt might not believe me, and I'd have to worry about it too.

It's not too late to talk about it after we've really made a name for ourselves and made it into the newspapers.

Lin Xiuqin didn't ask any further questions, assuming it was just a regular caddie job.

She was very satisfied that her nephew was willing to go out and work.

In the evening, Zhu Xiuli returned home from school.

He went straight to Lin Fei's room as soon as he entered.

"elder brother!"

She burst through the door, her face beaming with excitement: "You really signed with the Defenders?!"

Lin Fei was polishing his sneakers when he looked up at her.

How did you know?

"Mom was chatting with Grandma Wang this afternoon and they talked about it!" Zhu Xiuli leaned closer. "She said you're going to work at the basketball gym, I guess that means you signed a contract!"

Lin Fei smiled and tossed his backpack onto the bed.

Unzip the jacket to reveal the purple and gold jersey underneath.

See for yourself.

Zhu Xiuli's eyes widened immediately.

She rushed over, picked up the jersey, and examined it from all angles.

"Wow... number 9!"

She looked up, her eyes sparkling: "Brother, you've really become a professional player!"

Kids who grow up in Los Angeles, even if they don't watch basketball, know about the Lakers and the Defenders.

My brother can become a professional player, that's so cool!

"Of course."

Lin Fei leaned back in his chair, looking completely calm: "Don't you even know whose brother he is?"

Zhu Xiuli was holding the jersey when she suddenly remembered something.

"Wait a minute!" she exclaimed, tilting her chin up. "I gave you six hundred dollars in start-up capital! You'll have to pay me back tenfold when you make it!"

Lin Fei rubbed her head.

"Don't worry, you'll get your share."

Zhu Xiuli chuckled.

She circled Lin Fei twice, still finding it unbelievable.

"Bro, you were such a terrible basketball player in college, how come you're suddenly so good?"

Lin Fei shrugged.

"He's a late bloomer. His body hadn't fully developed yet."

Zhu Xiuli thought about it carefully and nodded.

"It seems so. You were shorter in college than you are now."

She believed it completely.

After a while, she grabbed Lin Fei's arm again, looking expectant.

"Brother, will you be able to see Kobe again?" Her eyes lit up. "Could you get me an autograph? A photo with him would be even better!"

Lin Fei rubbed his forehead.

"I signed with the Defenders, not the Lakers. It's not that easy to see Kobe."

Zhu Xiuli's face fell instantly.

"Oh...yes."

But she quickly rallied.

"It's okay! You'll definitely make it to the Lakers someday!" She raised her little fist. "You have to get me an autograph then!"

Lin Fei was amused by her.

"Okay," he said. "Once I join the Lakers, I'll arrange for you two to have dinner together."

"Really?!" Zhu Xiuli's eyes lit up immediately.

"Fake."

"elder brother!"

Zhu Xiuli punched him angrily, then pouted and ran away.

Lin Fei stared at her retreating figure and laughed out loud.

...

late at night.

Lin Fei lay in bed watching tactical videos.

My phone suddenly rang.

Caller ID: Sofia Green.

He answered the phone.

"Feed".

Hey, Lin.

Sofia's voice came through the receiver: "I hope I didn't disturb your rest by calling you so late?"

"I'm still awake," Lin Fei said. "What's up?"

"There's good news."

Sofia's tone was a little excited: "I got two front-row tickets to the Lakers' home game tomorrow night from a friend. Do you have time to go with me?"

Lin Fei was stunned for a moment.

Should I invite him to watch the game?

He wasn't surprised that Sofia got the ticket.

As a reporter for the Development Alliance, I'm considered an insider, so getting two tickets wouldn't be difficult.

He was surprised as to why the other party had invited him.

Is it...

Just as Lin Fei thought of this, Sophia on the other end of the phone seemed to realize something and quickly added.

"Don't overthink it!" she said, her words quickening slightly. "I just think that since you're new to professional gaming, going to watch an NBA game live would be beneficial; you could learn something. If it's inconvenient for you, then forget it."

Lin Fei smiled.

"It's convenient," he said. "How could it not be convenient? I couldn't be happier."

Being able to watch Lakers games live and observe NBA-level competition up close can only benefit him.

Maybe I can even get a shot of myself in the camera.

"Then it's settled."

Sofia visibly relaxed, her tone light: "See you tomorrow afternoon at the stadium entrance."

Okay. See you there!

I hung up the phone.

Lin Fei tossed his phone aside.

He didn't bother to find out whether Sophia was interested in him.

If it really develops to that point, it wouldn't be a bad thing.

At worst, I'll just take a nap.

All he can think about right now is tomorrow's game.

Lakers' F4.

Kobe, Howard, Nash, Gasol.

It would be interesting to watch these people compete in person.