Chapter 11: The Agent
By the time Zhao Dong and the Knicks landed back in New York, it was already pushing 4 PM. As soon as they got back to the training facility, Zhao Dong barely had time to breathe before his dorm phone started blowing up.
"Hello, this is the Knicks training base. I'm Zhao Dong," he answered.
"Yo, Zhao Dong. This is Raymond Hades, an NBA agent..."
And that was just the start. His phone wouldn't stop ringing, every call coming from a different agent. How the hell did all these dudes get my number? he wondered. But even with all the chaos, Zhao Dong kept his cool, politely telling each agent he needed time to think.
Then the phone rang again.
"Hello, this is Zhao Dong," he said.
"Yo, Zhao Dong. It's Bill Strickland, Allan Houston's agent. Has Allan talked to you yet?" A smooth, professional voice came through the line.
"Yeah, he did," Zhao Dong replied.
Allan Houston had pulled him aside on the plane, plugging his agent. Zhao Dong had agreed to hear the guy out, nothing more.
Turns out, Strickland was already outside the training facility, posted up and waiting. The two of them headed to a nearby coffee spot to talk.
Strickland was in his mid-30s, sharp-looking, full of energy, and had that slick agent vibe. Dude had hustler written all over him.
Once they had their coffee, Zhao Dong didn't waste time.
"Mr. Strickland, why do you want to represent me?" he asked straight up.
Strickland looked a little surprised, like he didn't expect Zhao Dong to come at him so direct.
"Because I see your potential," he said smoothly.
"You really push Allan Houston heavy. Is he your biggest client?" Zhao Dong asked.
Strickland nodded with a hint of pride. "Yeah, I think Allan's gonna be a generational superstar."
Then he added, "With Ewing getting older, Allan's the future of the Knicks. I also see big things for you. You got the potential to be one of Allan's main teammates."
Boom. Right there. That one sentence told Zhao Dong everything he needed to know.
Allan Houston was his priority. If push ever came to shove, Strickland wasn't gonna ride for him the same way.
Zhao Dong would rather have no agent at all than sign with someone who wasn't all-in on him.
After a little more small talk, Zhao Dong wrapped it up and headed back to his dorm.
---
Not long after, the phone rang again.
"Zhao Dong, I heard you haven't found an agent yet," a familiar voice said. It was Charles Oakley.
"Yeah, not yet," Zhao Dong replied.
"How about meeting my agent, Ringo Wells? Dude's solid, knows everyone in the league. I can set it up."
"Bet. I'd appreciate that, Oak," Zhao Dong said, feeling a little relieved. Maybe this recommendation would be the one.
"Cool. I'll line it up."
---
Oakley pulled up not long after with Ringo Wells—a white dude in his 40s, laid-back as hell with an easy smile and a vibe that made him feel like an old friend rather than some slick business guy.
"Yo, Zhao Dong, I heard you got a 1st daft pick contract with the Knicks. Honestly, I don't even think you need an agent, haha!" Wells joked, shaking his head with a grin.
Zhao Dong smirked. "I might not, but I'd rather have someone solid in my corner."
After some quick introductions, Wells clapped his hands together. "It's about dinner time. How about we grab a bite while we talk?"
"Sounds good," Zhao Dong agreed. Oakley nodded, and the three of them headed to the training facility's restaurant.
Over dinner, they chopped it up, talking contracts, endorsements, and future moves. By the time the plates were cleared, Zhao Dong had already made up his mind.
Wells was the guy.
Dude had an easygoing personality, but he also knew his stuff. He wasn't the type to try and micromanage Zhao Dong, which was exactly what he needed.
They settled on a 2% commission for his contract and 10% for sponsorships, but Zhao Dong kept full control over his commercial rights in Asia—a key move since he knew his brand back home could be huge.
"Zhao Dong, I'll push to get that fourth-year team option changed to a player option. How does that sound?" Wells asked, scribbling down some notes.
Zhao Dong grinned. "That'd be dope. Appreciate that."
Wells nodded but added, "It won't be easy. The Knicks have the leverage right now. But I'll put the pressure on."
Zhao Dong leaned back in his chair. "I ain't stressing. By the time my third season is up, the Knicks will be begging to lock me in with a max deal."
Oakley raised an eyebrow. "Man, you got some confidence."
"I back it up," Zhao Dong shot back with a smirk.
Wells laughed. "I like this kid."
---
That night, Wells got straight to work, hitting up Ernie Grunfeld to start negotiations. Meanwhile, Zhao Dong ignored rest and locked in at the practice gym.
Late into the night, the sound of basketballs echoed through the training hall.
Zhao Dong went through his entire arsenal, from post moves to fadeaways to deep mid-range shots. The grind never stopped.
"I don't need a fancy system. I know I can make it. I'm just as good as anyone else," he muttered under his breath between shots, sweat dripping from his face.
By the time he finally stopped, it was past 1 AM. The next morning, rumors spread across the facility.
"Someone was still in the gym at 1 AM last night."
"Had to be Zhao Dong."
"Man's built different."
---
By the afternoon, Zhao Dong and Wells walked into Grunfeld's office to finalize his rookie deal.
Despite Wells' best efforts, the team wouldn't budge on the fourth-year team option.
"It's just not happening," Grunfeld said.
Zhao Dong wasn't surprised. He knew his leverage was low right now, but that would change soon enough.
After signing the paperwork, the Knicks held a press conference to officially announce the deal.
The New York media went nuts.
An undrafted player landing a 1st daft pick contract? That was unheard of. Even CCTV caught wind of it, sending over Zhang Lili and Sun Zhenping for coverage.
One reporter looked skeptical. "Mr. Grunfeld, you serious about this deal?"
Grunfeld smiled. "Absolutely. The contract's signed and legally binding."
Another journalist jumped in. "Do you really think an undrafted player deserves a contract like Allen Iverson's?"
Grunfeld shrugged. "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."
Then they turned to Zhao Dong.
"Do you think the Knicks made the right call?"
Zhao Dong leaned forward, looked the reporters dead in the eye, and said, "In the future, the Knicks will be proud of this signing."
The media buzzed at his confidence.
Sun Zhenping grinned. "Zhao Dong, congrats!"
"Thanks, Teacher Sun."
"What's your goal with the Knicks?" he asked.
Zhao Dong didn't hesitate. "The Knicks are all about chasing championships. I'm here to do whatever it takes to help get us there."
---
As the press conference wrapped up, Grunfeld's phone buzzed. He stepped away from the cameras, answering in a quiet corner.
The team owner was on the line.
The deal was done. The Knicks had their guy.
And Zhao Dong was just getting started.
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