Basketball Terminal

Chapter 40 Stubbornness
Nelson chatted with Li Wei for a while on the phone, talking about his connection with China, how he signed Wang Zhizhi for the Dallas Mavericks, and his good relationship with Yao Ming and other well-known Chinese basketball players and coaches.

"Oh, sorry, you must have grown up in America?"

"No, I lived in China for a long time before coming to the United States in elementary school."

"That's fantastic! No wonder I noticed you so early on. I watched your game footage; it was excellent. But I still have a few questions about your university..."

Li Wei explained that he did not receive proper guidance during his university years, but after graduation, through arduous training and study, he gradually got on the right track.

Donnie Nelson didn't dwell on the issue. After rambling on for a while, he finally got straight to the point, asking Levi if he would be willing to sign a short-term contract with the Dallas Mavericks if given the opportunity.

The surprise came too quickly, making Li Wei somewhat worried—was there some kind of trap behind it? He knew Donnie Nelson; Chinese fans all knew him. It was indeed he who brought Wang Zhizhi to the NBA, giving the first Chinese player an official NBA debut. He had many connections with Chinese players, and his international player background was also very strong.

He had previously worked as an assistant coach in Lithuania and had a long career in international scouting, making significant contributions to the recruitment of international players into the NBA; Dirk Nowitzki is a prime example. A Chinese-American player like Li Wei, who had lived in China, could at least be considered an international player, making Donnie Nelson seem like a suitable collaborator. But intuition told Li Wei to remain calm.

Li Wei thought about it. According to the rules of the Development League, the parent team has the priority signing right, but other teams can sign any player without a special contract if they want. Li Wei certainly wanted to stay in New York to play; he lived in New York, which made work and training convenient.

If I go to Dallas, I'll have to start all over again. When it comes to Dallas, all that comes to mind for Levi is cowboys, grasslands, cow dung, white supremacy, and wildly imaginative ideas—it's a really unpleasant experience.

Moreover, this is a special period. If he signs with Dallas and the Mavericks have no intention of renewing his contract after the 10-day contract expires, he will not be able to return to the Disney bubble to play for a short period of time, and his time will be wasted.

Li Wei is confident in his abilities, but having ability doesn't guarantee a contract extension. You need opportunities to showcase your skills, and player contract extensions involve many aspects; it's not as simple as just getting a contract because you can play. Li Wei has already done a lot of work with the Nets, but the Mavericks suddenly appeared. Only Donnie Nelson contacted him, which, while high-profile, also means everything depends on Donnie Nelson alone.

After thinking for a moment, Li Wei said, "Of course I'm interested, but I need a guaranteed contract, not a short-term ten-day deal. You know, these are special times right now, and once I leave the bubble, I won't be able to return for a while. Without a guaranteed contract, I'll be at risk of not having any teams to play for."

Donnie Nelson was surprised that a G League player was so calm, demanding a guaranteed contract over the phone.

He paused for a moment on the other end of the phone, then said, “What you said makes a lot of sense. You need to think about your career. However, according to the rules, we can only offer you a short-term contract of 10 days at the moment. I cannot guarantee a contract, but if you are confident in yourself, you might as well give it a try. I have high hopes for your performance.”

Knowing that Nelson's words meant there was no guarantee for him in the short term, Li Wei decided to observe and wait to see what moves or news the Brooklyn Nets would make. He tactfully asked Nelson for some time to consider, and Nelson agreed to give him ample time to make a decision. The two then ended the call.

After hanging up the phone, Li Wei breathed a sigh of relief and reviewed the call. It was, in fact, a negotiation. In his previous life as a professional player, Li Wei had negotiated with many team managers. Back then, he didn't have an agent and negotiated everything himself. Therefore, Li Wei was very experienced; he could tell from the other party's attitude whether they genuinely wanted to sign, were testing the waters, or were simply playing games.

Nelson certainly wouldn't play games with someone; he's just a nobody, there's no need for that. But judging from his tone, he didn't seem very determined, more like he was testing the waters. But is a 10-day short-term contract, at most a base salary, worth testing like this?
Li Wei thought it wasn't worth it, but he didn't know the situation with the Mavericks. And why wasn't a scout contacting him, but instead had the general manager handle it directly?
Li Wei speculated that this might be related to some internal struggles within the Mavericks' management, a judgment based on his experience. When he was a professional player, he knew that no team's management was without internal conflicts; it's human nature, and it happens in any ordinary company.

Li Wei isn't afraid of internal strife within the team, but he fears becoming a pawn in that strife and subsequently being dragged into it as a victim—there are far too many examples of this.

So, Li Wei called Luo Ping again, first asking about the situation in New York, how his younger brother Li Yue was doing, and whether the two had been in contact. Luo Ping said everything was fine; he and Li Yue had recently started a sneaker business and were preparing to hold a warehouse auction.

"You still have the mind to hold a warehouse auction? Let me tell you, other teams have already contacted me and want to sign me."

"Really? Which team? You didn't agree, did you?"

"I can't tell you, it's a team in the West, their general manager called me directly."

"Shit! You can't go to the West, you should stay in New York, stay in Brooklyn! Shit, why haven't the Nets made a move yet? What are they waiting for? I watched your game, you're absolutely fine, you can play in the NBA!"

If Levi goes to another team, especially in the Western Conference, his relationship with Luo Ping will most likely be severed. Luo Ping is unlikely to leave New York anytime soon; his social connections are all there, and he needs Levi as a lifeline to turn his life around.

“I’m going to talk to McCallien and ask him to give the management some advice so that you won’t be snatched away by other teams.”

When it came to his own vital interests, Luo Ping acted very quickly. He immediately called McCalion to inform him of the situation.

McCallian was working overtime in his office processing player data, and he was reviewing the Long Island Nets vs. Magic game. Levi's advanced stats, combined with video clips of his on-court performance, proved that he was indeed a very good defensive player.

After receiving Luo Ping's call, he asked, "Really? Who told you? Which team?"

"I can't tell you, but I just know it's a team from the West!"

"The West? Could it be the Warriors...?"

"Forget about being a warrior or a coward, we should hurry up. You know, opportunities are fleeting."

McCallen wasn't swayed by Luo Ping, but rather impressed by Li Wei's consistently excellent performances in two consecutive games; he truly fits the Nets' current situation. Robertson's performance after signing with the Nets has fallen short of expectations, making his release predictable.

The Nets are currently rife with a culture of personal connections and reunions, from Durant to Nash. Everyone is acting on emotion, and very few people are genuinely assessing a player's true ability and whether he is a good fit for the team.

McCallian didn't think he could change the atmosphere; the boss allowed it to happen, so what was a scout like him doing? But Levi's arrival made him realize that he had a real opportunity to do something meaningful: to discover a overlooked seed sprouting in a corner.

McCallian worked through the night, editing the video footage of Levi's three matches, completing all the data analysis, meticulously creating segments and comparison tables, and working until the early hours of the morning. During this time, he also called Brett to discuss Levi's situation.

On the phone, Brett said all the good things about Levi. He realized that a pond can't hold a big fish.

McCallen finished working on the data and wanted to rest for a while, but he fell asleep immediately; he was too exhausted. When he woke up the next day, he realized it was already late, cursed under his breath, and quickly got up to drive to the airport!

Today, the Nets are flying to California for a five-game road trip in the Western Conference. He needs to explain the situation to Coach Nash and his staff in person before the team leaves, otherwise Li Weizhen might be poached by another team.

Gary Saint-Jean and Eddie Oran are expected to scout players for 5-10 games before making a decision because their rosters are full and they can't sign anyone, but that's too slow.

The car sped along the highway. McCallian called equipment manager Joseph Cuomo to ask when they would be taking off. Cuomo said about an hour and a half; they had just arrived at the airport. McCallian floored the accelerator and sped to JFK International Airport.

He ran all the way with his laptop, finally meeting up with the coaching staff just before the players boarded the plane.

McCallian, panting, approached Steve Nash and said he wanted to see the stats and performance of a G League player who would be a perfect fit for the Nets.

Nash shook his head and said, "Sean, we've already sent a scouting team to Orlando, and they'll give feedback to the coaching staff. The same goes for Brett; I'll look into it. It's a procedure, everyone has to follow the rules, there's no exception. Also, you need to work out a bit; you're breathing pretty heavily."

McCallian hadn't expected this. Perhaps the team had been too focused on personal relationships over rules lately, making Nash particularly sensitive. He refused to ask McCallian about the players' situation and instead wanted to hear the report from the Disney scouting team.

McCallian couldn't say anything; the signing of Novan Pelle had temporarily cost him the coaching staff's trust. Pelle was clearly a decent player in every way; cutting him was to make room for Robertson. In reality, Robertson's performance was even worse; his only redeeming quality was his good working relationship with Durant on the Thunder. Just then, assistant coach Mike D'Antoni came over, pulled McCallian aside to sit down, and said, "Steve's been a bit irritable lately; he doesn't have time. There's still some time before boarding; you can briefly tell me, and I'll relay the situation to Steve later."

Mike D'Antoni is a seasoned and renowned coach, and this time he humbled himself to become an assistant coach for the Nets in order to help his star pupil. As head coach, D'Antoni was also a stubborn guy, so he can understand Nash. As an assistant coach, he needs to help the head coach smooth things over.

McCallian seized the opportunity, opened his laptop, showed D'Antoni the data tables and video clips, and explained the player's characteristics and strengths in defense and offense, and his fit with the Nets.

D'Antoni was initially just going through the motions, but as he watched and listened, he found it quite interesting.

He went from crossing his arms to resting his hands on the seat, then leaning closer to the screen. After a while, he said, "Wait a minute, I'll put on my reading glasses." He took his glasses case out of his pocket, put on his glasses, and seeing this, McCalion became even more enthusiastic.

He wasn't exaggerating. D'Antoni has seen it all; he can see through any false praise immediately. McCallian used video clips and slow-motion replays to explain Levi's strong anticipation and court vision on the defensive end, as well as his extremely calm ball-handling approach on both ends of the court. He played like a 20-year-old player.

"His weaknesses are that his physical attributes aren't strong enough, his stamina is an issue, and some of his techniques are a bit rough. But he's only 20 years old, and these are all areas that can be improved. His anticipation, defensive positioning, agility, shooting, and dribbling are all natural talents..."

"What we need more is immediate combat capability."

"At present, his combat effectiveness is still acceptable, and he is very cheap."

"Amy! Amy, come here for a second, come and take a look!"

D'Antoni decided to call in more players, including another assistant coach, Ime Udoka. Udoka is primarily responsible for defense on the team, and he was known for his defensive skills as a player; he has a deep understanding of defense.

"Mike, we're about to board. What are you guys doing? Watching a porn movie together?"

"Stop talking nonsense. Sean thinks this young man's defense is much better than when you were playing. Come and see for yourself."

"That's all bullshit. What young man? Let me see... Asian? You mean ping pong?"

"No, it's basketball. He's a player for the Long Island Nets. I found him on the street."

"You're making up a story, Sean. On the streets... there are only medicine gods and gun gods, not ball gods."

Despite saying that, after watching for five minutes, Amy Udoka started stroking her chin. She asked, "Which college did this guy graduate from?" McCallian answered truthfully, "Hentara Community College." Udoka: "Never heard of him, but he... is interesting. He defended that ball beautifully; it was like he anticipated his moves perfectly."

Defense is inherently at a disadvantage in basketball; even the best defense can only contain the offense, not prevent the opponent from scoring. One reason is that the defense is always on the defensive, while the offense holds the initiative. And once the defense gains the initiative, it can be devastating for the offense.

Li Wei always seemed to be in control, making his defense appear extremely dominant, with numerous interferences, steals, and anticipatory positioning. For a defensive expert like Udoka, watching Li Wei's defense was a pleasure; he could understand its intricacies.

"Shit, is this guy cheating? Does he have some kind of electronic chip in his brain?" Uduka, being a relatively young coach, was quick-witted and soon discovered the problem.

But D'Antoni and McCallum ignored him, while others urged him on, and some came over to watch the spectacle. What were they looking at so intently? As a result, more and more people gathered behind McCallum, pointing and commenting on the data and video clips.

Finally, Steve Nash couldn't hold back any longer and came over, saying, "Are you guys hiding something from me? What is it? We're boarding in five minutes, stop dawdling."

D'Antoni said, "He's a pretty good player, he might be a good fit for the team, you should take a look."

But Nash stubbornly insisted, "Get on the plane first. McCallie, pack the stuff and send it to my email. I'll look at it when I have time."
-
In Dallas, Texas, in the Dallas Mavericks' general manager's office at the American Airlines Arena, Donnie Nelson spent the entire night there. Gazing at the gradually brightening sky outside the window, he had spent another sleepless night.

For someone as energetic as him, staying up all night and then continuing to work the next day is a simple matter. He only needs to take a nap, eat something, and have a cup of coffee to replenish his energy.

This is one of the reasons why he has long enjoyed the trust of his boss, Mark Cuban; both of them are energetic individuals who can throw themselves into their work anytime, anywhere.

Donnie Nelson started working for the Dallas Mavericks in 1997. During that time, he experienced a series of ups and downs, including changes in ownership, missing out on Nash, the departure of his father as coach, the loss in the 06 NBA Finals, the upset in 07, the championship in 11, the dismantling of the roster, and the failure of the rebuild. He has remained a stalwart for 24 years, making him a true Mavericks legend.

But this season, Donnie Nelson has begun to feel an increasingly strong sense of crisis. He looked around his empty office; how long had it been since Mark Cuban had come to have a serious chat with him?

In recent years, Cuban has increasingly trusted his director of players, Walgarris, and chief of staff, Jason Lutin. As Cuban's confidants, they have been locked in a fierce battle with Donnie Nelson, a veteran and powerful figure.

Player rosters were scattered on the table, all printed out by him; he preferred paper copies to digital ones. Old-school managers always have their own stubbornness, and Donnie Nelson still refuses to trust data analysis, relying only on his intuition.

But intuition and experience are becoming less and less useful. The NBA has entered the data era, and it's no longer just about points, rebounds, and assists. Instead, it incorporates a lot of mathematical analysis. Donnie Nelson gets a headache just looking at those numbers, let alone understanding them.

In the 2020 NBA Draft, data analysts led by Walgarlis strongly recommended selecting Tyrese Haliburton, believing him to be the strongest player in this draft class.

However, Donnie Nelson's efforts to trade for a higher draft position were half-hearted, and the trade ultimately failed. The main reason was that the trade asset, Jalen Brunson, represented the fruits of Donnie Nelson's 18 draft, and he didn't want to exchange his own achievements for the fruits of another party's labor.

This action angered Mark Cuban, causing their relationship of over 20 years to deteriorate rapidly. Since the start of the season, the Mavericks' record has not improved; they suffered a six-game losing streak at the end of January, and Donnie Nelson is becoming increasingly isolated within the team, his power being undermined.

Nelson felt apprehensive. Many people didn't know that he had worked for the Mavericks for over 20 years without ever signing a contract; he maintained his power and status through personal relationships and connections. As he aged, he sought a 10-year, $7000 million formal contract to secure his future income and livelihood, but Cuban seemed unwilling to offer that deal.

Donnie Nelson picked up Levi's resume and looked at it again, recalling scenes of him playing. His intuition told him that this was an excellent player who might be able to help him once again execute his "tumbler doll" maneuver.

But he couldn't make up his mind. The 2020 NBA draft had already made him doubt his own abilities. Did his intuition still matter? And this kid didn't seem as simple as he thought. He could tell from just one phone call that this person was smart and calm, not a fool.

Nelson stuffed the resume back into the pile of papers, deciding to observe further. Currently, Li Wei was merely a secondary asset in his possession; against Cuban, he had a far more formidable trump card. Jason Lutin, and his nephew's ecstatic night in Chicago at the 2020 All-Star Game—all of this was within his knowledge and control.

This is a huge bomb, and Nelson's last desperate trump card.

But did things really have to come to this? Donnie Nelson gazed at the increasingly bright sky outside the window, the soft light of dawn on the horizon, and recalled the events of the past 20 years, falling into a brief moment of confusion.

He recalled the summer of 2004 when the Mavericks missed out on Steve Nash, leading to the rise of the Phoenix Suns. Those involved in that decision included Don Nelson, who was ousted from Dallas by Cuban mid-season.

In that upheaval, only Donnie Nelson himself not only escaped being fired but also became the general manager, ushering in the Mavericks' championship window until their 11 title win. Will such a miraculous turnaround occur again this time?

"Steve, I wonder how things are going with the Nets, how's coaching? And, has that guy caught your eye yet?"

(End of this chapter)