The NBA's Absolute Dominance

Chapter 45 Debut
On the evening of the 5th, with the NBA regular season about to begin, Tang Bei, who usually sleeps very well, had some difficulty falling asleep due to excitement and anticipation.

一个月以来，55的投篮提升到了58，72的运球提升到73，45的勾手提升到48，42的抛投提升到45。

Regarding advanced skills, the level 92 post-up game, which has been the focus of training, has not improved. Top-tier skills require real-game practice to improve; training alone is no longer very effective.

Another skill is that although his shooting level is only 58, he has focused on training a specific position, namely the free throw.

Free throws are mid-range two-point spot-up shots, and his free throw shooting is now much better than his mid-range shooting from other positions.

For other positions, I usually make 4 out of 10 two-pointers, which is still at the training level. In a game, I can't use that against the defense. However, I can make 6 out of 10 free throws in training, and I can make 7 out of 10 when I perform exceptionally well.

Judging from his free throws, he is fully capable of developing a mid-range shot, and he will definitely be able to develop an excellent mid-range shot.

1992年11月6号，NBA联盟92/93赛季揭开帷幕。

There were eleven opening games that day, including the Hornets hosting the Washington Bullets.

Evening, Charlotte Stadium.

This is a museum that was built and opened in 1988. In just four years, it can accommodate 24,000 people, and it is already full.

Charlotte truly lives up to its reputation as a city with a fantastic basketball culture. Even though it's dominated by the NCAA, the Hornets' attendance was incredibly high. This opening game was not only sold out, but they also sold many extra seats, bringing the attendance rate to 108%.

Of course, such a high attendance rate is due to Larry Johnson's influence in the NCAA.

The stands were filled with fans wearing Larry Johnson jerseys, demonstrating his influence and commercial value, which is why the Hornets were willing to offer the first-ever $100 million contract in NBA history.

At 7:30, both sides announced their starting lineups.

Team Bullets: Pervis Ellison, Tom Gugliotta, Harvey Grant, Rex Chapman, Michael Adams
Starting lineup: Tang Bei, Larry Johnson, David Wingate, Kendall Gill, Muggsy Bogues
As one of the opening games, this match was broadcast live across the United States by ESPN, with commentators Michael Brin and Tom Tolbert.

Michael Breen said, "Last season, the Bullets were second to last in the Eastern Conference, and the Hornets were third to last. They had a 2-2 head-to-head record in the regular season, so they were evenly matched."

Tom Tolbert continued, "They selected power forward Tom Gugliotta with the sixth pick and Don with the second pick, and both of these rookies started in this game."

Michael Brin said, "Gugliotta has been through the NCAA, while Don hasn't; Don has only just started playing professional basketball."

Therefore, although Tang received a higher draft pick, most media outlets actually considered the Hornets' draft a failure, and Tang a bust.

Tom Tolbert nodded and said, "So the key to this game is whether the Hornets, who have acquired Don, are stronger, or the Bullets, who have acquired Gugliotta."

Michael Breen said, "Tang was the first Chinese player and the first Asian player to join the NBA. He needs to prove himself now and deserves a second overall pick."

Tom Tolbert laughed, "The league has replaced all the rims with more robust ones, and the construction between the rim and the rim has also been changed."

Michael Brin nodded and said, "The rim is no longer directly fixed to the backboard, but to the basket frame. A cushioning spring has been added, so even if the rim is pulled off, the backboard will not break."

Tom Tolbert laughed, "This change happened because China's Tang smashed the backboard and pulled down the basket during the joint tryouts."

"Ha ha……"

Michael Brin laughed a few times and then said, "It's true, he pushed for the NBA's backboard reform, haha!"

Tom Tolbert added, "Also, in tonight's opening game, the Magic will host the Heat, and Shaquille O'Neal, the chosen one, will face a test."

Michael Breen said, "From the Combine to the preseason, Tang and O'Neal faced off twice. O'Neal's overall performance was better, but Tang also showed his strengths when facing O'Neal."

Tom Tolbert nodded and said, "For example, in terms of physical strength, O'Neal fell to Don's feet twice during the tryouts."

“Yes, but O’Neal also put up a strong offensive performance against Tang,” Michael Breen said.

Tom Tolbert said, "The Hornets' third game is against the Magic on the road, and I'm really looking forward to seeing how they perform in that game."

"Dear viewers, welcome to the NBA 92/93 regular season..."

"Our basketball player Tang Bei is about to enter the game..."

In a live broadcast room at CCTV headquarters, Xu Jicheng and Sun Zhenping began CCTV's first live NBA broadcast.

The regular season games will be broadcast on one channel only, and there are no plans to broadcast them on other channels.

It had been promoted many times before, but no one knew how many viewers it would actually get.

Outside the live broadcast studio, sports director Zhao Yongzheng and several key members of the department were discussing the topic of viewership ratings.

When the broadcasting agreement was signed, a viewership rating of 1.5% was required to qualify for payment.

A 1.5% viewership rating means that out of 100 television households, 1.5 households are watching the game.

For sports broadcasts, achieving this level of viewership is enough to attract sufficient advertisers.

However, the current domestic statistics on viewership ratings are very rudimentary, relying entirely on manual methods. Therefore, CCTV is responsible for compiling these statistics, and the final interpretation rights belong to CCTV. At Tang Bei's house, villagers and relatives crowded the entire room, even standing in the yard, leaving no room for the Tang family to sit.

Tang Bei is now famous throughout the surrounding area, and his nickname "Tang the Big Rice Bucket" has long since become "Tang the Great Abilities."

The TV is on, but the voltage is a bit low, the picture is flickering and blurry, the color has turned into black and white, and the sound is sometimes loud and sometimes soft.

"Heh heh, when my brother scores a goal later, you guys have to clap, you know?"

"Fourth brother of the Tang family, even if we clap, your eldest brother won't hear us."

"I don't care, I have to clap. I can't just watch our TV for nothing."

While the rest of the Tang family were entertaining the villagers, Tang Ning, dressed in new clothes and shoes, strolled around the crowd with her chin held high, her mouth never stopping.

In the players' tunnel, the Bullets were in front, and the Hornets were behind.

In the NBA, the order of appearance varies among teams. Many teams have their core players and leaders appear first or last to emphasize their importance.

However, the Hornets do not yet have their own core and leader players, so they field players by position, starting with the point guard and ending with the center.

Tang Bei stood at the back, more than ten meters away, looking at the stadium outside the tunnel. It was very bright, with dazzling lights and a bustling atmosphere.

I was very excited because there were more than 25,000 fans outside.

With so many fans, the feeling of playing here is incomparable to that of the CBA.

Then, the extremely scantily clad cheerleaders also opened his eyes. There are none of these in the CBA, let alone in China. The NBA is indeed "high-class".

The away team then played first, followed by the home team.

The entrance was accompanied by energetic DJ music and an enthusiastic welcome speech from the Hornets' home crowd host, Holmes Tom.

Everyone else received applause, with Larry Johnson and Kendall Gill being the most popular. However, Tang Bei did not receive any applause when he appeared.

As a high-draft pick who had never played in Charlotte and never proven himself with the Hornets, and as a Chinese player, he was met with skeptical stares and discussions from fans.

"Can this Chinese guy really do it?"

"Can Chinese players really play basketball? Are we going to waste a valuable second pick?"

"Who knows?"

"Has the management lost their minds? Why choose a Chinese person when there are so many outstanding tall people to choose from?"

"Yes, I think Alonzo Mourning is better."

"Look, my older brother is out."

When Tang Ning saw Tang Bei, she jumped and cheered.

The rest of the Tang family members were also gathered in front of the television, staring blankly at Tang Bei.

"The eldest son has become even stronger," Tang Zhongchu said with satisfaction.

"No, I think you've lost a little weight. You must not be eating well outside. Home-cooked meals are the only way to nourish a person," Lin Lan said, her eyes red.

"Yes, yes," Tang Zhongchu quickly agreed.

Tang Bei was mentally prepared for this unpopularity. Eric had told him long ago that in the world of professional sports, the strong are respected, and it is normal to be questioned before proving oneself.

Even Shaquille O'Neal, the famous "Big Shaq" in the NCAA, was questioned by Nike, who believed that he would be eliminated from the NBA in a very short time, let alone him, a Chinese man.
"Tang Bei".

Suddenly, a woman's voice speaking Mandarin shouted loudly.

Tang Bei glanced towards the media section behind the baseline and saw Lin Xiaoyan standing next to Zhang Heli. He greeted her excitedly, "Sister Lin, when did you arrive?"

Lin Xiaoyan raised her camera and snapped a couple of photos before smiling and saying, "Charlotte isn't far from Chicago, so I came all the way here to cover your first NBA game."

"Keep it up, my fellow villager!"

After saying that, she forcefully raised her fist.

"Go for it!" Zhang Heli shouted as well.

"it is good."

Tang Bei nodded heavily and raised his fist.

(End of this chapter)