Chapter 33: The Dawn of the Flying Era?

Over the next half-month, as the NBA playoffs progressed, Tang Bei’s tour of pre-draft workouts continued. During these sessions, he demonstrated a formidable advantage in the paint while simultaneously exposing several of his shortcomings.

Teams and the media offered a mix of praise and criticism, with his draft stock projections varying wildly; some analysts placed him in the top five, while others felt he was worth nothing more than a late-lottery pick. In the words of Eric Fleisher, his agent, the words of these teams and media outlets were not to be trusted—many were intentional smokescreens—and nothing would be truly settled until the draft itself.

On May 28, the Trail Blazers defeated the Jazz with a 4-2 series victory to advance to the Finals. The following day, the Bulls defeated the Cavaliers by the same margin, setting the stage for a Finals showdown against Portland.

On June 2, Tang Bei concluded his workout tour and returned to New York. The Rockets and the Heat had both promised to select him with their 11th and 12th picks. For Tang Bei, these late-lottery selections served as a solid safety net.

On June 3, the Bulls began their title defense, routing the Trail Blazers 122-89 on their home court. Michael Jordan exploded for 39 points and 11 assists, shooting a staggering 59 percent from the field. Defensively, he and Scottie Pippen combined to stifle "Clyde the Glide" Drexler, who managed only 16 points on 5-of-14 shooting.

On the morning of the 4th, while Tang Bei was training at a private gym arranged by Fleisher, the agent suddenly strode in. "Tang," he announced loudly, "a sneaker brand is interested in you."

John Liu, standing nearby, froze. He looked at Tang Bei with envy and said, "Tang, you’re about to strike it rich! A sneaker brand wants you for an endorsement."

"Is that for real?" Tang Bei, who was busy practicing dribbling under defensive pressure, thought they were joking.

"Tang, don't get too excited. It's just a sponsorship deal from Nike," Fleisher immediately poured cold water on the idea.

"A sponsorship deal?" John Liu, a basketball fanatic, knew a thing or two about shoe contracts. He knew that a sponsorship deal was the lowest tier. He said to Tang Bei with a sheepish expression, "Tang, it’s just a sponsorship, meaning they give you free shoes and maybe a small stipend, but nothing substantial."

"How much money?" Tang Bei asked.

After Fleisher stated the amount, John Liu explained, "Tang, it's $100,000 per season. Mr. Fleisher says this is standard treatment for role players and rookies."

"One hundred thousand dollars?"

Tang Bei’s eyes lit up like 100-watt bulbs. Even after paying half in taxes, he would have $50,000 left. Converted into RMB, that was over 280,000—enough to build several two-story villas back home. He was truly about to strike it rich. If he piled that money up at his front door, no bastard would ever dare call him "Tang the Bottomless Pit" again for eating too many steamed meat buns.

Just as he was getting excited, Fleisher brought him back to earth: "I’ve already rejected it. Once you’re successfully drafted, even as a late-lottery pick, you can easily secure a deal like this."

"You rejected it?" Tang Bei felt a pang of regret, but upon reflection, he realized Eric was right. The draft was what mattered most; one shouldn't be short-sighted.

He returned to his routine: fundamentals, advanced techniques, physical conditioning, and time set aside for martial arts and practical combat skills. He slept little, dedicating three or four hours daily to learning English and studying the rules and basic tactics of the NBA. He was also learning to drive, as navigating the United States without a car was nearly impossible.

On June 14, in Game 6 of the Finals, Jordan tallied 33 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and 4 steals, leading his team to a victory over the Trail Blazers and a successful championship defense. Watching Michael Jordan on television as he celebrated, cheered on by thousands, Tang Bei felt a deep sense of envy. Compared to an NBA championship, the CBA title he had won seemed insignificant and had brought him little benefit.

"Michael Jordan, the true king of the league; a new era begins!" — The New York Times.
"The Age of the Flying Man has arrived!" — The Washington Post.
"Michael Jordan initiates a new Bulls dynasty!" — The Los Angeles Times.

Following the Finals, Jordan received widespread acclaim, solidified his status as the best player in the NBA, and saw his stature in American sports rise significantly. With the conclusion of the Finals, the 1991-92 season officially ended, bringing not only a new king to the league but also the offseason and the annual draft.

On the 21st, at the fervent invitation of the Magic, Shaquille O'Neal and his family boarded a private jet to Orlando. However, complications arose during the visit. O’Neal and his brother, Jamal, were dissatisfied with the meals provided by the Magic, leading to an incident where they threw dinner rolls at each other. Such poor table manners left the Magic management displeased. Furthermore, neither O’Neal, his family, nor his agent expressed a clear desire to play for the team, leaving the Orlando front office indecisive and torn. Suddenly, the Magic’s final decision became unclear.

At 4:00 PM on the 22nd, Xu Jicheng arrived in New York. He had obtained Tang Bei’s number from Xinhua News Agency and had already been in contact. Although Tang Bei hadn't received his driver’s license yet, he had passed the written exam. In the U.S., the written test was offered in multiple languages, including Chinese. Having practiced enough, he let the experienced driver John Liu take the passenger seat while he drove one of Fleisher’s pickup trucks to the airport to pick up his guest.

"Tang Bei, hello." As soon as Xu Jicheng pushed his luggage out, he spotted Tang Bei—he was hard to miss, standing a head taller than everyone else.

"Mr. Xu, hello," Tang Bei waved.

"Call me Old Xu. I’m only a cycle older than you," Xu Jicheng said with a smile.

"Then I’ll call you Teacher Xu," Tang Bei laughed.

"That works," Xu Jicheng replied.

After Tang Bei introduced John Liu, the three headed to the parking lot.

"Tang Bei, what about your... draft position?" Xu Jicheng asked, unable to contain his impatience.

Tang Bei shook his head. "It’s not certain, but I should be in the lottery."

"The lottery?" Xu Jicheng grew visibly excited. Years ago, Song Tao had been drafted in the third round; if Tang Bei were selected in the lottery, the significance would be entirely different.

Xu Jicheng didn't stay at a hotel; his accommodations were already arranged at the New York dormitory for Xinhua News Agency, free of charge.

*Screech!*

Tang Bei slammed on the brakes, pulling the car to a stop in front of the dorm. Xu Jicheng’s face had gone a bit pale. After stepping out, he couldn't help but say, "Tang Bei, your driving is decent, but that braking... it’s a bit abrupt."

John Liu, sitting in the passenger seat, nodded in agreement, while Tang Bei just chuckled.