The draft continues.
This year is known as the strongest draft year in the past decade, and everyone is paying close attention to this rookie class. Expect these young kids to take the NBA to greater heights.
Soon, the first round of the draft was over.
Su Feng is a little disappointed. He was not selected in the first round, which means that he may not get a fully guaranteed contract.
Since the last NBA lockout, the salary management system has become more reasonable and standardized.
First-round picks can get a standard contract, but second-round picks are relatively insecure.
However, the second-round pick may also complete a huge counterattack. Gilbert Arenas will soon get a super contract with an annual salary of more than 10 million. He is a second-round pick. He doesn't have the guaranteed four-year contract that first-round picks get. However, he can get a multi-million contract starting from the third year.
As long as you have the skills, a second-round pick can theoretically earn more than a first-round pick.
However, the probability of a second-round pick counterattacking is not high. The NBA's huge and professional scouting system rarely misses the mark.
Arenas is an exception.
The second round of the draft begins quickly.
The host also changed from David Stern to league vice president Granik.
Granik rattled off one name after another.
Soon after picking No. 37, Granik opened the envelope from the Chicago Bulls. He took a look and he was obviously surprised.
Then, he read an unfamiliar name to the national audience: "The player selected by the Chicago Bulls with the 37th overall pick in the second round of the 2003 NBA Draft is... the shooting guard from Syracuse University, Su Feng!"
As soon as the name came out.
Everyone was stunned.
Several commentators in the ABC live broadcast room were stunned.
They were just making fun of Carmelo Anthony for promoting his teammate Su Feng, and now Su Feng has been elected.
Before, they had firmly concluded that Su Feng could not be elected.
This result was a resounding slap in the face to their predictions.
"Why did the Chicago Bulls do this? Is there anything they can't figure out? Did Jay Williams' injury make them lose their mind and seek medical treatment in a hurry during the draft market?"
"I can't imagine the significance of them picking this Chinese guard. He doesn't have any NBA ability at all."
"The only possibility is that the Bulls want to open up the Asian market, so they specially selected a mascot. The success that Yao Ming brought to Houston has made many teams covetous."
"That's reasonable speculation."
"..."
After some questioning and incomprehension, these experts finally concluded that the Chicago Bulls were an expedient measure based on pleasing the Asian market.
Because, only this is reasonable.
At the same time, China on the other side of the ocean is a different scene.
On the newly emerging Internet and in professional basketball forums, there was a surge of public opinion.
Su Feng? Chinese students?
Another Chinese enters the NBA, and is he still a guard?
This creates history. Who is he? Which provincial sports bureau trained him?
NCAA? NCAA championship? oh! His background is not small.
Will he be Chicago's next Jordan?
Upstairs, are you crazy? Success is considered a success if you can get a formal contract in the NBA. This is a second-round pick, incomparable to Yao Ming.
The probability of becoming Jordan is zero. The NBA has been looking for Jordan for so many years and has yet to find him. Kobe Bryant, the closest player to Jordan in active service, is still a million miles away. At the age of 18, Kobe was able to play back and forth with the Chinese team's defenders, but Su Feng was still far behind.
In any case, this is the pride of Chinese basketball. We want to scream for him!
…
Su Feng and Jason Thomas hugged each other tightly in front of the TV, and they were relieved the moment their names were read out. At the same time, the heartache and pain of the past two months are pouring out at this moment.
Jason Thomas was in tears, he was extremely emotional. "We did it, Su! We did it! We finally don't have to call and drop off mailboxes, but no one cares. We finally entered the NBA, and we finally don't eat instant noodles!!"
Thomas showed his true feelings.
Su Feng smiled.
In the past two months, he had received a lot of cynicism, and even colder words came one after another.
However, he doesn't care, he knows that he can definitely become an NBA player, and he can definitely become the top player.
After all...I am blessed by an energy aura.
Entering the NBA is just the first step for Su Feng. He has to find fallen talented players, and he also has to get super acquired talents.
Jingle Bell! Jingle Bell!
At this time, Jason Thomas' cell phone rang.
He pressed the answer button.
It was Chicago Bulls general manager John Paxson calling. He exchanged a few words with Jason Thomas and handed the phone to Su Feng.
"Congratulations, Sue. You have become a member of our Chicago Bulls organization, and we have deep memories of your talent and skills. We have high expectations for you and hope that you will help the Bulls return to the pinnacle of glory!"
Although this is a kind word.
But he said it sincerely.
"We formally invite you to join our training camp in three days. Our boss Reinsdorf will conduct a final inspection on you."
John Paxson said, "Come on!"
After a brief greeting, he hung up the phone.
This is what a second-round pick gets.
For the general manager to call him personally was already breaking the rules.
After a while, Su Feng's cell phone rang again. It was Carmelo Anthony. He congratulated Su Feng on being elected. He was sincerely happy for Su Feng. He also told Su Feng that the Bulls were a great team and wished Su Feng the best. Feng had a great career in Chicago.
After talking to Anthony on the phone, many more calls came in one after another.
College teammates, coaches, former teachers...and many overseas phone calls from China.
Everyone was enthusiastic and polite.
This time, Su Feng felt like a carp jumping over a dragon's gate.
However, Su Feng was not crazy like Fan Jin who passed the exam in the textbook. He was very calm. For him, this was just a beginning, a stepping stone.
Moreover, this starting point is not high.
For a high-ranking rookie like Hinrich, the general manager called and directly discussed the contract details.
Su Feng still has to go through the final trial training.
According to John Paxson, this may be related to whether Su Feng can get a 2-year contract, a 1-year contract, or a non-guaranteed contract.
At the same time, Jason Thomas next to him kept answering the phone.
Most of the calls he received were from reporters. They were eager to interview this dark horse rookie who caught everyone off guard.
Who is he?
Why was he selected by the Bulls with the 37th overall pick when all experts predicted he would lose the draft?
Although this is a second-round pick, it is actually not low.
There were four to five hundred top players who signed up for the draft, and Su Feng was equivalent to being ranked 37th.
It is not an exaggeration to say that he is a basketball player.
