NBA: The Dynasty Crasher

Chapter 11: The Agent

After getting off the plane, it was nearly 4:00 PM when Zhao Dong and the Knicks returned to their training facility. Once back in his dormitory, Zhao Dong barely had time to settle in before the phone started ringing.

"Hello, this is the Knicks training base. I'm Zhao Dong," he answered.

"Yo, Zhao Dong. This is Raymond Hades, an NBA agent..."

That call was just the beginning. His dorm phone kept ringing nonstop, with each call from a different agent. Zhao Dong had no idea how they all got his number. Despite the flood of calls, he stayed calm, politely telling each agent he needed time to think it over.

The phone rang again.

"Hello, this is Zhao Dong," he said.

"Yo, Zhao Dong. It's Bill Strickland, Alan Houston's agent. Has Alan talked to you yet?" a smooth, polished voice asked.

"Yeah, he talked to me," Zhao Dong replied.

Alan Houston had approached him on the plane, recommending his agent. Zhao Dong had agreed to meet Bill Strickland, just to hear him out.

Bill Strickland was already waiting outside the training facility. After they met, the two headed to a nearby coffee shop.

Strickland was in his mid-30s, full of energy, with sharp eyes that screamed intelligence and cunning—Zhao Dong's first impression of him.

Once they had their coffee, Zhao Dong didn't waste time, saying, "Mr. Strickland, why do you want to represent me?"

Strickland was a little caught off guard, clearly not expecting Zhao Dong to be so direct.

"Because I see your potential," he replied confidently.

"You really seem to hype up Alan Houston. Is he your biggest client?" Zhao Dong asked.

Strickland nodded, a hint of pride in his voice. "Yeah, I think Alan's gonna be a generational superstar."

He paused for a second, then added, "Zhao Dong, with Ewing getting older, Alan's the future of the Knicks. I also see big things for you. You've got the potential to be one of Alan's main teammates."

Zhao Dong smirked faintly. That one sentence told him everything he needed to know. Alan Houston was the Knicks' cornerstone, and Strickland was clearly focused on him. If Zhao Dong and Houston ever ended up competing for something, Strickland would probably choose Houston over him.

Zhao Dong would rather not have an agent at all than deal with someone who wasn't all in on him.

After some more polite conversation, Zhao Dong ended the meeting and went back to his dorm.

Not long after, his phone rang again.

"Zhao Dong, I heard you haven't found an agent yet," said a familiar voice—it was Charles Oakley.

"Yeah, that's right," Zhao Dong replied.

"How about meeting my agent, Ringo Wells? He's reliable as hell and knows everyone in the league. I can introduce you," Oakley offered.

"Thanks, Oak. I'd appreciate that," Zhao Dong said, feeling a little relief. Maybe this recommendation would turn out better.

"Alright, I'll set it up," Oakley said.

Oakley showed up soon after.

"Yo, Zhao Dong, I heard you got a quasi-champion-level contract with the Knicks. Honestly, I don't even think you need an agent, haha!" joked Ringo Wells, a white guy in his 40s with a friendly, enthusiastic vibe. He greeted Zhao Dong like they were already old pals.

After introductions, Wells said, "It's about dinner time. How about we grab a bite?"

"Sure," Zhao Dong agreed, and Oakley nodded.

The three of them headed to the training base's restaurant and chatted over dinner. By the time they were done, Zhao Dong had made up his mind—he was going with Wells as his agent.

Wells' easygoing personality fit Zhao Dong's well. Zhao Dong had a strong sense of independence, and Wells' laid-back style made it seem like they wouldn't clash.

Since Zhao Dong had already worked out the details of his Knicks contract, Wells agreed to take a modest 2% commission, with 10% for commercial sponsorships. Plus, Zhao Dong kept all commercial rights in Asia, so he could negotiate deals in his home country without any interference.

"Zhao Dong, I'll do what I can to get the fourth-year team option changed to a player option. How does that sound?" Wells asked after they signed the papers.

"That'd be awesome. Thanks," Zhao Dong said, feeling good about his choice.

"It's possible, but I don't wanna miss tomorrow night's game against Philly. We've gotta act fast. Also, I'm not really against the team option. Honestly, I think after three seasons, the Knicks will be begging to extend my contract with a max deal," Zhao Dong said with a confident grin.

Wells paused, then laughed.

"You've got some balls. Let's see if you can back it up," Oakley said, pretending to scold him.

That night, Wells contacted Grant, set up a meeting, and started negotiations. Meanwhile, Zhao Dong ignored rest and dove into intense shooting drills.

The training hall echoed with the sound of bouncing basketballs as Zhao Dong practiced alone, sweat dripping as he moved from the paint to the three-point line, hitting shots from every angle with laser precision.

"Even without some fancy system, I know I can make it. I'm just as good as anyone else," he muttered to himself.

By morning, the gossip spread around the training base: "Someone was still training at 1 AM."

In the afternoon, Zhao Dong and Wells headed to Grant's office to finalize his rookie deal. Despite Wells pushing hard, he couldn't get a player option for the fourth year. Zhao Dong's current status, along with Grant's firm stance, made it impossible.

Later, the Knicks held a press conference to announce the signing. A no-name, undrafted player landing a quasi-champion-level deal shocked the New York media, sparking a frenzy. Even CCTV caught wind of it, and soon Zhang Lili and Sun Zhenping were there.

"Mr. Grant, you serious?" one skeptical reporter asked.

"Absolutely," Grant replied. "The contract's signed and legally binding."

"Do you really think an undrafted player deserves a deal like Iverson's?" another reporter pressed.

Grant smiled and clarified, "Actually, it's $3 million less than Iverson's $13 million rookie deal, and the fourth year is a team option, not a player option like his. But yeah, I still think this is a smart investment. Zhao Dong's got potential."

The questions quickly turned to Zhao Dong.

"In the future, the Knicks will be proud of this signing," Zhao Dong said confidently, surprising the reporters with his boldness.

"Zhao Dong, congrats!" Sun Zhenping said when it was his turn.

"Thanks, Teacher Sun," Zhao Dong replied warmly.

"What's your goal with the Knicks?" Sun Zhenping asked.

"The Knicks are all about chasing championships. I'm here to do whatever it takes to help get us there," Zhao Dong said.

As the press conference wrapped up, Grant excused himself to take a call from the team's owner. He stepped into a quiet corner, answering with a mix of excitement and nervousness.

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