He Xi Meng's trouble was clearly less than Da Zhi's.
However, thanks to the previous ordeal of Da Zhi's entry into the NBA, He Xi Meng had gotten to know some high-ranking officials in the Basketball Association. This time, with the team winning a silver medal at the Olympics, He Xi Meng had provided them with considerable achievements. Even if not for merit, there was at least credit for effort.
The first step in He Xi Meng's "Assist Yao Plan" was to exert pressure on the Shanghai team through familiar contacts within the Basketball Association. He proactively proposed to contribute 20% of his post-tax salary as a thank you for the Basketball Association's nurturing. Another 10% post-tax was to be returned to the Shanghai sports department as a token of gratitude for their cultivation. By appeasing the Basketball Association and the Shanghai sports department, he aimed to secure the Shanghai team's compromise and release.
The second step was to convert the Shanghai team's buyout fee into a salary proportion, with annual post-tax salary installments. 10% would be paid each season, with a total not exceeding 10 million US dollars.
According to historical records, Yao Ming played in the NBA for nine seasons and earned 93 million US dollars. Calculating this as 45 million post-tax, the Shanghai team would have received a total buyout fee of 4.5 million US dollars.
Of course, due to He Xi Meng's intervention, Yao Ming would likely play more than nine seasons and earn more than 93 million US dollars in total salary. Therefore, the Shanghai team would receive more than 4.5 million US dollars.
Through administrative pressure and installment payments, He Xi Meng estimated that he could help Yao Ming clear the biggest obstacle to his NBA debut.
In return, He Xi Meng did not ask for Yao Ming's hard-earned money. Of course, He Xi Meng also knew that the hard-earned money Yao Ming earned from his NBA contract was only a small portion of his total income. Through endorsement deals for sneakers, computers, insurance, and other products, Yao Ming's income far exceeded his playing salary.
He Xi Meng's request was simply a promise from Yao Ming. One day in the future, if He Xi Meng invited Yao Ming to join a certain team, and provided it did not harm Yao Ming's economic interests, he hoped Yao Ming would accept He Xi Meng's invitation as much as possible.
What kind of request was this? Yao Ming was still a long way from global fame. Furthermore, He Xi Meng's request was not unreasonable. Since Yao Ming had successfully entered the NBA with He Xi Meng's help, if He Xi Meng needed Yao Ming to switch teams to assist him, would Yao Ming switch? Most likely, he would.
Therefore, Yao Ming readily agreed to this gentleman's agreement. In addition, Yao Ming entrusted his overseas agent rights to He Xi Meng, asking him to help find a reliable agent or agent team. He Xi Meng did not hesitate to recommend John, who happened to be idle recently.
The Nasdaq index had fallen sharply since its peak in March, plummeting from a high of 5133 points to around 3300 points. John's "stock god dream" was shattered, and his 1 million US dollars of capital was wiped out due to excessive leverage, resulting in a complete loss. In contrast, most of He Xi Meng's funds, under Mickey's management, had made substantial profits through leveraged short selling, allowing him to successfully join the ranks of billionaires. This was in US dollars, not Chinese Yuan.
In order not to inherit his family's business and to continue maintaining his nightlife, John had to return to the workforce. Yao Ming's deal was the perfect opportunity for him to increase his income.
However, from the end of the Sydney Olympics to Yao Ming's successful completion of all procedures and official entry into the NBA, at least one season would pass. He Xi Meng estimated that it would be considered great progress by the Basketball Association leaders if Yao Ming could successfully participate in the 2001 NBA draft.
After the Sydney Olympics, He Xi Meng also helped smooth out Yao Ming's path to the NBA. In fact, besides Yao Ming, He Xi Meng had also inquired about the thoughts of Da Zhi, Liu Yu Dong, and Hu Wei Dong, asking if they were willing to challenge themselves in the NBA.
Liu Yu Dong seemed uninterested; he wanted to become the MVP of the domestic league first. But the problem was that in a few years, as Liu Yu Dong aged and his technical skills became fixed, his improvement would be limited, making it more difficult to establish himself in the NBA.
Hu Wei Dong, however, showed considerable interest and said he would consider it carefully after returning home.
Da Zhi frankly stated that teams had already contacted him and were handling the relevant procedures. If successful, he might enter the NBA within a season, and he hoped He Xi Meng and Da Zhi would look out for him then.
"Why are you being so formal? Anything we can do, we will do our utmost."
The Olympic Games concluded in early October, and the Spurs had already called their players for pre-season training. Young players needed to participate in the pre-season games. He Xi Meng did not need to play in the pre-season, but it was best for him to attend the training camp to gel with his new teammates and practice tactics.
Therefore, He Xi Meng decided not to return to China with the Chinese men's basketball team. He found a Chinese restaurant in Sydney and treated all the players and coaching staff to a lavish meal and drinks before bidding farewell.
While the Chinese men's basketball team returned home to receive honors and rewards, He Xi Meng and Da Zhi, carrying their respective silver medals from the Sydney Olympics men's basketball, took a connecting flight to the United States.
Like He Xi Meng, the Lakers' assembly time had also passed, and Da Zhi needed to rush back to rejoin the team and adapt to the new coaching staff.
Yes, Coach Harris had been fired! Due to the failure to contend for a championship this season and power struggles within the Lakers' management, Harris, a protégé of Jerry West, was the first to be sacrificed.
Phil Jackson, strongly recommended by Jeanie Buss, took over from Harris as the new head coach of the Lakers.
This was a prelude to the Buss family's plan to reclaim power from the logo man. Jerry West, who had led the Purple and Gold Lakers for over twenty years, was finally reaching a crossroads with the Buss family.
Without Harris's protection, Da Zhi was worried about his role and position on the team for the new season. Even the silver medal around his chest seemed less brilliant due to the sudden changes in the team.
He Xi Meng noticed Da Zhi's concern and advised, "Don't overthink it! Your performance with the Lakers last season was evident, and your performance in the Olympics this time was also outstanding. Phil Jackson has a broad perspective and wouldn't intentionally make things difficult for a non-core player like you. Moreover, Kobe and O'Neal are still with the Lakers, and their influence is still significant. They certainly won't stand by and watch you become a marginal player on the team. When I get to San Antonio, I'll call Kobe and O'Neal again, so don't worry."
With He Xi Meng's words of comfort, Da Zhi's restless heart found a measure of peace.