Just when Zhao Feiyang was representing the national team in the Asian Games, something unexpected happened in the NBA league across the ocean.
The broadcast contract that should have been signed two years ago has been postponed due to some butterfly effects. After the end of this season, the NBA will officially sign this extended broadcast contract.
From the beginning of the 21st century to the past few seasons, the NBA's ratings and popularity have already made great progress. Especially in terms of opening up overseas markets, the NBA has done a very good job. Not to mention other things, the attention and profits gained from the Chinese market alone are considerable.
Because of this, problems between labor and management have also arisen.
As players, they naturally hope to take advantage of this surge in broadcast contract prices to get more money. As NBA team owners, of course, they do not want such fat to fall into the mouths of the players.
Therefore, the two sides began to discuss this issue.
After two rounds of negotiations yielded no results, the attitudes of both the players and the owners gradually became firmer.
One party does not want to lower the price, and even puts forward more demands on the basis of the previous one; the other party refuses to pay no matter what, and must eat this piece of fat.
As a result, the negotiations between the two parties immediately broke down.
Chris Paul, chairman of the players union, immediately stood up and issued a statement, calling on the players not to play for the team until the new labor contract is signed.
His words also received support from many big-name stars.
The first to speak out was LeBron James.
As a superstar, he is actually not on the same channel as everyone else, and his contract is also different from that of ordinary players. It can be said that it doesn't matter if he doesn't stand up and speak out. Anyway, it will not affect his income and his off-court endorsements. .
But LeBron James stood up immediately.
"I support Chris."
"I will never help the club play before the official new labor contract comes out! All our players should stand together. This is a challenge for us..."
After LeBron spoke out, Stephen Curry also stood up.
As the league's top defenders, although Stephen and LeBron have always had grievances in games, that is competition. Off the court, even if the two are not friends, they are definitely not enemies.
What's more, as players, they have a common goal to face at this time.
"I support Chris and LeBron as well."
"The players need more protection and at this point our interests are aligned."
Two of the league's top stars came forward, which also led to more players speaking out online.
However, what is intriguing is that most of the players who spoke out are stars or main players of various clubs. In other words, they are all players with fairly good annual salaries. As long as these players do not spend money arbitrarily, even if the NBA enters a lockout, it will be no problem for them for the time being.
Those who did not choose to speak out but chose to wait and see were basically marginal figures in the league or ordinary players on the team, and their annual salary was really not much.
It seems that some people have millions of dollars, but in fact only more than half of it is in their hands after tax is deducted. If this money is used for living or even some training expenses, it is indeed not enough for them.
So these players choose to remain silent for the time being.
Different from the bosses' statements that their interests are aligned, the players seem to have been divided into several factions from the beginning. Although many players are still silent at this time, it has to be said that no one knows how this situation will continue. What will happen!
The news of LeBron, Curry and others speaking out quickly spread to China. In response to these things happening in the NBA, fans also became a fan.
"Every lockout is a test. If we can't resume on time this time, I'm afraid there will be a lot of problems this season... The short schedule in previous seasons was too much for many players... ..”
"This proves the superiority of our local league. After all, the NBA still has a players union. The birds here don't need to support us... It doesn't matter who you are as a player or not. If you are asked to fight, you must fight. No. Even if I ask you to beat me, get out of here..."
"It's no wonder that other people's alliances can run so well. From this point of view, they are indeed more respectful... At least the appearance is not that ugly. They understand that everyone should work together to make the cake bigger, unlike a certain person. In this place, there has always been a group of rice bugs digging into the corners of the common people..."
Our eyes returned to the Asian Games group stage.
The first half of the match between the Chinese Men's Basketball Team and the Lebanese team has ended.
Under the strong attack of the Lebanese team, the Huaxia Men's Basketball Team was stretched to a double-digit point difference in the second quarter. Even so, head coach Su Mingtao still did not insist on replacing Zhao Feiyang, but continued to let the young players fight against the opponent's foreign players.
Fortunately, only Robinson played as the opponent's foreign aid, which made the situation of the Chinese men's basketball team not so ugly for the time being.
Break time.
In the locker room of the Huaxia Men's Basketball Team, the players were talking and laughing about the game. Zhao Feiyang was drinking water, and he didn't expect Xin Yong to come to him and talk to him.
"Brother Feiyang, have you read the news? NBA labor negotiations have broken down, and it is said that next season is very likely to be suspended..."
"Um?"
Zhao Feiyang was shocked when he heard this. He took Xin Yong's cell phone and quickly checked the messages.
After reading the news on the Internet, Zhao Feiyang was obviously in a bad mood. If the NBA really announces a suspension next season, it will definitely not be a good thing for the Timberwolves.
Stars like Dwight Howard who are entering their twilight years will play less and less each year. Once this season is delayed, Howard may retire in two seasons! In other words, there is a lack of competitiveness.
It will not be easy to find another center like Howard by then.
Moreover, once there is a lockout, next season's schedule will definitely be affected. When the games become intensive, the players' rest time will be greatly reduced, which will make it easier for the players to suffer various injuries.
Although the Timberwolves won the championship last season, the team's substitute lineup is too weak. In addition, Kevin Martin chose to retire. At this stage, the team's second lineup is short of players. How will they play if there are more games?
This series of problems made Zhao Feiyang very worried.
"well!"
"I still hope the shutdown problem will be resolved soon!"
Beep.
The second half of the game arrived.
After a break in the first two quarters, this time Zhao Feiyang insisted on playing. Head coach Su Mingtao did not stop it anymore, because the Lebanon team also sent their naturalized player defender Thomas.
Players from both sides appear again.
The third quarter begins.
Lebanon serves.
Thomas started running as soon as he came up, and Zhao Feiyang chose to take the initiative to mark him. After halftime, Lebanon's No. 1 Khatib stood at the top of the arc to organize the attack.
Thomas started chatting with Zhao Feiyang while trying to get rid of Zhao Feiyang's defense.
"Zhao, do you still remember me?"
Although everyone is an NBA player, Zhao Feiyang really has no impression of Thomas. Firstly, the opponent is not a star, and secondly, he is not the main player of each team. Even if there are only a few hundred players in the NBA, the liquidity of marginal players is too great.
"Uh...man, have we met?"
Zhao Feiyang was a little embarrassed.
Thomas didn't seem surprised, "I knew you wouldn't remember me! I tried out with the Heat and played there for two months. Unlike you, I was just the most peripheral player on the team. Not even on the official list..."
I see!
Zhao Feiyang breathed a sigh of relief!
If the other party is full of kindness towards you but you don't remember anything, the situation will indeed be a bit embarrassing.
"What about you now?"
"Next season I will be playing for the Detroit Pistons!"
Thomas replied, "Zhao, I know you are very powerful, but I am not weak either... Do you know the reason why I can stay in the NBA team? Next, I will let you see... ....”
After the words fell, Thomas rushed forward to catch the basketball with the help of his teammates' pick-and-roll.
After getting the ball, he did not move randomly, but took the opportunity to stand behind Khatib who passed the ball to him.
As soon as he stood still, Thomas raised the basketball and shot a three-pointer.
Uh-huh.
A crisp three-pointer fell firmly into the basket.
After the shot, Thomas smiled lightly at Zhao Feiyang.
There was a bit of bitterness and sadness in this smile. Although none of this was brought about by Zhao Feiyang, Thomas, as a marginalized figure, watched Zhao Feiyang grow into a star step by step.
I am a fringe figure, a person who can still play today but may be laid off tomorrow, and now he is finally able to gain a foothold.
It's the Chinese men's basketball team's turn to serve.
Zhao Feiyang signaled his teammates to give the ball to him, and when he got the ball, he quickly advanced with the ball. For an opponent like Thomas, Zhao Feiyang had no intention of provocation and just wanted to have a good fight with the opponent.
Having been a marginal player before, he knows what it feels like to not be taken seriously, so paying attention to his opponents is the only thing he can do.
After halftime, Zhao Feiyang dribbled the ball at the top of the arc. It seemed that he was giving a signal to his teammates to organize the offense, but in fact he was waiting for Thomas to step forward to mark him.
Thomas was indeed fooled, and the next second he rushed towards Zhao Feiyang, intending to steal it.
As a result, the two met each other, Zhao Feiyang changed direction and swayed away, and Thomas unexpectedly missed the target. After passing Thomas, Zhao Feiyang went all the way to the basket. His steps were agile and precise, flying past the defensive players like a gust of wind along the way.
When he reached the basket, the Lebanese players had not yet reacted.
Zhao Feiyang did not disappoint the fans' expectations. He threw the ball high amidst the exclamations, and the basketball hit the backboard and fell into the basket.
Uh-huh.
The ball went in.
Zhao Feiyang's wonderful breakthrough also made Thomas standing outside the three-point line feel emotional.
"This guy is really so strong!"
