The NBA's Absolute Dominance

Chapter 31: Adam Silver's NBA Career Ends
Over the next few days, Tang Bei continued to communicate one-on-one with the other teams until the end of the joint rookie tryouts.

In the past few days, many media outlets have also reassessed the draft prospects of the rookies based on their performances at the rookie tryouts.

Although Shaquille O'Neal suffered some setbacks when facing off against Tang Bei and only participated in two days of rookie camp, it didn't have a significant impact. Almost all mainstream media outlets predicted that he would become this year's number one draft pick.

With his top-notch balanced performance on both offense and defense, most mainstream media outlets believe that Alonzo Mourning will be selected second overall in the first round.

Christine Laettner's performance and popularity during her NCAA season, which surpassed that of Shaquille O'Neal, led some mainstream media outlets to predict that she would be selected third overall.

However, some mainstream media outlets believe that Jim Jackson will be selected third overall, and even a few mainstream media outlets believe that Ellis and Gugliotta also have a chance to be selected third overall.

Tang Bei's best predicted draft position is seventh, according to ESPN's assessment.

ESPN believes that although he performed well in the rookie camp, he lacks NCAA experience and basic skills and techniques. Although his talent is obvious, his future is uncertain.

ESPN believes the most likely scenario is that Tang Bei is a larger version of Shawn Kemp. Kemp was the 17th pick in the first round, so a pick between the 7th and 10th in the first round best matches Tang Bei's value.

Eric Fleischer had been keeping an eye on the media, and when he saw the ESPN news, he wasn't disappointed; in fact, he was relieved.

"Tang, ESPN thinks your most likely draft position is between seventh and tenth, which isn't low, because we still have a chance to raise your rating, so don't be disappointed."

"Next, you'll begin your real tryouts; this is your chance."

"I think with your talent, you deserve to be the first pick."

"I believe that through the next few tryouts, I can definitely push your draft prospects up a few places."

"Keep striving, young man. No one can truly suppress you. Use your talent to conquer those demanding general managers."

Based on the draw, Eric Fleischer also determined the final eight teams for tryouts.

The Magic and Hornets had the first and second picks, the Timberwolves had the third pick, the Mavericks had the fourth pick, the Nuggets had the fifth pick, the Washington Bullets had the sixth pick, and the Rockets and Heat.

Of these eight teams, the first six all had high draft picks and are from small to medium-sized markets, while the Rockets and Heat had the 11th and 12th picks respectively and are from large markets.

He deliberately avoided the four teams ranked seventh to tenth because he genuinely believed that Tang Bei could improve his draft prospects through tryouts, and that these four teams would have drafted him even without tryouts if they really wanted him.

New York, NBA headquarters.

"Adam, tell me about your work achievements."

"Yes, Mr. President."

Adam Silver stood in front of David Stern's desk, feeling very pleased.

Through his maneuvering, leveraging the influence and resources of the NBA, many mainstream media outlets reduced their coverage of Tang Bei.

At the same time, the rookie camp also reduced Tang Bei's playing time and no longer arranged for Tang Bei to match up against the popular rookies like O'Neal.

Tang Bei's popularity and public attention have plummeted, and there are no more negative news reports. He believes his actions have been effective.

"..."

David Stern was speechless for a moment after hearing the report from his special assistant, Adam Silver.

"What is it, Mr. Stern?"

Adam Silver sensed something was wrong and asked in a daze.

"God, what the hell is he doing?"

David Stern gave a wry smile, adjusted his glasses with his right hand, and rubbed his temples, clearly disappointed with his newly hired special assistant. Fortunately, Adam Silver's actions didn't have a significant impact; China's Tang still garnered media recognition, with the best-predicted draft pick reaching seventh in the first round.

There will be team trials next. If China Tang really has the talent and strength, it is not impossible to reverse the negative impact caused by Adam Silver.

"Mr. Xiao Hua, you may leave now."

He waved for Adam Silver to leave.

The first task assigned to Adam Silver was botched, and it almost affected the NBA's development strategy in China, which greatly disappointed him.

Five minutes later, Adam Silver received a notification from the CEO's office.

He lost his position as the president's special assistant and was transferred to the president's office to become an ordinary office clerk.

At the same time, his salary and benefits also dropped significantly, to only one-third of what it used to be, and he no longer received the high allowances and benefits that executives used to receive.

"why?"

He couldn't understand what he had done wrong.

He applied for the position of special assistant to the president, not this damn ordinary clerk.

He studied law, and a single law book cost several hundred dollars. He had hundreds of thousands of dollars in student loans, and his salary as an ordinary clerk was simply not enough to pay off his student loans. He had to work three clerk jobs just to barely make ends meet and pay off the ever-increasing interest.

Left with no other choice, he had to return to the legal profession, submit his resignation, and abruptly end his NBA career.

On the 17th, Liu Yumin took the information she had collected about Tangbei to the office of her leader, Yang Boyong.

"A native of Tianjing, who has practiced martial arts since childhood, not a professional basketball player? Yumin, is the news true?" Yang Boyong looked at Liu Yumin with doubt.

"It's true. The Tianjing Sports Commission sent people down to investigate and went to his home."

"Oh."

"Boss, he went to the US on March 18th this year to teach martial arts at a Chinese martial arts school in New York. But because the school owner died, he lost his job. Luckily, an NBA agent took a liking to him. He played in a CBA league in the US for half a month and then wired $3 back home."

"Ten thousand dollars?"

Yang Boyong sighed. The entire Second Division of the Competition Department only had an annual budget of 80,000, less than 15,000 US dollars.

He continued, "That's really good luck."

Liu Yumin continued, "He's not from a sports school. He stopped going to school after graduating from junior high and has been practicing martial arts in the countryside ever since. I guess his basketball skills are very poor, but his physical condition is probably good."

"Then you can continue to keep an eye on it," Yang Boyong said.

Liu Yumin suggested, "Boss, Zhang Heli is in the United States. I heard he's selling beer in Los Angeles. Why don't we send him to check it out? Tang Bei's family said he's in New York now."

Yang Boyong immediately shook his head and said, "A trip from Los Angeles to New York must cost a lot of money. How will you solve the funding problem?"

"this?"

Liu Yumin felt a headache coming on as soon as he heard the word "funding".

Yang Boyong thought for a moment and said, "How about this, the news about Tang Bei was provided by Xinhua News Agency. I will ask the Sports Commission to contact Xinhua News Agency to see if we can send one of their correspondents in the United States to help us gather information about Tang Bei."

“That’s good,” Liu Yumin said.

(End of this chapter)