Chapter 9: Jordan's Trouble
Ernie studied Zhao Dong closely, noticing the lack of excitement that usually came with a contract offer. He knew what that meant immediately.
"Zhao, this deal is a step up from what John Wallace and McCarty got. It's basically on par with a late lottery pick. The Knicks are showing real faith in you," Ernie said, trying to reassure him.
Zhao Dong thought it over, then replied, "Mr. Ernie, I know this contract is solid. I haven't forgotten where I came from—undrafted and all. You brought me to the Knicks, gave me this shot, and I respect that. I really want to stay in New York."
Ernie gave him an approving nod.
Zhao Dong didn't hesitate. "But I got two ideas for you to consider."
Ernie raised an eyebrow. "Go ahead."
Zhao Dong locked eyes with him. "Either the Knicks bet big on me—give me a bigger contract and make me a key piece for the future—or they give me a one-year minimum deal, and I'll prove I'm worth way more. Either way, as long as the Knicks don't give up on me, I'm staying."
Ernie studied him. The kid was all-in, putting everything on himself. Was that a smart move?
"Zhao, I'll need some time to think it over," Ernie finally said.
"No problem," Zhao Dong replied with a confident grin. "Like I said, I want to stay."
Ernie clapped him on the shoulder and walked away.
Not long after, Oakley came over and sat down next to Zhao Dong. "Ernie just talked to you about a contract?" Oakley asked, curiosity in his voice.
Zhao Dong shrugged, holding up the contract. "Yeah, and I turned it down."
Oakley scanned the offer, giving Zhao Dong a look. "That's a solid deal, man—basically the same as a lottery pick. Why not take it?"
Zhao Dong smirked. "I know I can do better."
Oakley studied him for a moment, sensing the fire in his eyes. Ambition could be a blessing or a curse.
If Zhao Dong blew up, the Knicks would be even stronger. But Oakley also knew the risks. Zhao Dong was a ball-dominant player, and as his game grew, he'd want more touches. That could shake up the team's rhythm. And if Zhao Dong started pulling too much attention, things could get messy with Ewing. The big man was still the face of the franchise, but he wasn't getting any younger.
But Oakley figured it was a long shot. Zhao Dong was Chinese. A lot of people in the league didn't think someone from that background could match up physically with the Black players. In Oakley's mind, Zhao Dong's ceiling wasn't as high as the other guys.
What Oakley didn't realize was that in just one season, Ewing would get injured, and his career would start declining. Eventually, he'd be traded, leaving Allan Houston as the Knicks' new hope. Any beef wouldn't be between Zhao Dong and Ewing—it'd be with Houston, who had just arrived in New York.
"Well, do what you gotta do," Oakley said, standing up. "I ain't getting involved. I just wanna see who rises to the top. The strongest dude will get the respect, simple as that."
Family Call
After the team landed in Los Angeles, Zhao Dong crashed at the hotel, getting some much-needed sleep. But at ten in the morning, he picked up the phone.
He hadn't checked in with his family in a while. His parents were both civil servants in Beijing. His grandparents were still around, and he had an older brother, Zhao Dacheng. Since his rebirth, Zhao Dong had kept in touch with them, but hearing their voices always hit differently.
In his past life, he had died young, alone, without a family of his own. Now, though, things were different. His priorities had changed, and the worries of his old life seemed distant.
"Hello? Who's this?" His mother, Li Meizhu, answered with a familiar tone.
"Mom, it's me. Zhao Dong," he said, smiling.
"Dongdong? Oh my god, I just saw you on TV! Sun Zhenping was talking about you, saying you're tearing it up out there!"
Zhao Dong chuckled. "Yeah, I'm about to sign my official contract."
"When I've got the money, I'm buying Dad a Santana so he can drive you to work every day. No more squeezing on the bus."
"That's great! You're so thoughtful, Dongdong. Way better than your brother. He just talks big but does nothing," his mother teased.
"Mom, don't be saying that in front of me," Zhao Dacheng's voice came through, pretending to be offended. "Dongdong, you better buy me a car too. I'll find you a sister-in-law."
"What? Why should I buy you a car? You got no shame!" Zhao Dong's mom scolded him.
"Alright, alright," Zhao Dacheng laughed. "But think about it, a car isn't just a car—it's an investment in your future sister-in-law. The better the car, the better the sister-in-law."
Zhao Dong laughed. "Fine, I'll get you a three-wheeler. Now put Grandpa and Grandma on."
He hadn't been home in two years, so he spent the next half hour catching up with his family before reluctantly hanging up.
Meanwhile, in Chicago, Michael Jordan was dealing with a media firestorm.
"Michael, Zhao Dong said you lied. Is that true?" a reporter asked sharply.
"No," Jordan replied, irritation creeping into his voice. "That rookie's full of shit. He's making things up. There's no proof."
"So, just because there's no proof, are you saying it's true?" the reporter pressed.
Jordan's patience was wearing thin. "What the hell am I admitting to?" he snapped. He knew better than to let the media bait him, but they loved pushing his buttons.
"Michael, you've been accused before of pressuring teammates. Do you admit to influencing management to have Zhao Dong leave the Bulls?" another reporter asked.
"Show me the evidence," Jordan shot back, frustration in his tone.
Jordan had always been mentally tough, but the constant media scrutiny was getting on his nerves. His first retirement had been partly because of the relentless criticism, not to mention the tragedy of losing his father. Now, as the new season kicked off, he hadn't expected drama from a rookie.
But he knew how this worked. If this kept going, it could mess with his public image and his standing within the Bulls organization. His already rocky relationship with GM Jerry Krause made things even worse. If the media kept digging into this, Jordan worried it could cost him influence within the team.
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