Chapter five hundred and thirty eight demigods

His outstanding performance in the All-Star Game made Kobe one of the top sports stars in the United States.

A player who can't even make the team's starting lineup has first-class commercial value in the NBA, which is unlikely to happen in any era.

However, such a thing really happened in 1998, and it happened to Kobe Bryant. It is really unprecedented, and no one has come since.

The Feiyue brand has also expanded rapidly and entered the major sporting goods stores in the United States.

The retail industry in the United States is developed. In addition to the chain stores and specialty stores of big brands, there is no shortage of specialized outdoor equipment stores and sporting goods stores in the United States.

In addition to mainstream sports brands such as Nike, Adidas, and Puma, many niche brands or miscellaneous brands can be found in sports retailers.

First-line big brands also often cooperate with retailers to launch some exclusive or co-branded products.

The advantage of the developed retail industry is that a new product can be distributed throughout the terminal sales channels in a very short period of time. In this regard, the United States at that time had an unparalleled advantage.

It is nothing new in the United States for a sports star to lead a sports brand. Back then, with Jordan's endorsement, Nike successfully came back to life and successfully stood on the throne of the world's No. 1 sports brand.

Today, Feiyue Sports seems to be replicating the path of Nike's rise.

...

Los Angeles, the Great Western Forum Arena, home to the Lakers.

Under the leadership of O'Neal, the Lakers successfully entered the playoffs. The first opponent they faced in the playoffs was the Blazers, which gathered young people.

Since Drexler's departure, the Blazers have entered a period of rebuilding, and in just a few short years, results have been achieved. By the 1997-98 season, the Blazers gathered several lottery rookies, as well as the best players of the year.

Little Flying Squirrel Stoudemire, who has just joined the Blazers, and Rasheed Wallace, who are getting better and better, form the internal and external partners of the Blazers, and they seem to have unlimited potential.

In the front row of the auditorium, James Bond introduced the situation of the Lakers to Li Weidong.

The facilities at the Great Western Forum are indeed a bit old, especially the damn air conditioner, which has never been better! I have to have a cold drink.

James Bond said,

Wiping the sweat from his head, he continued: But Los Angeles has already started to build a new arena. Construction started in March and it is estimated that it will be completed next year. This will be the largest arena in the United States!

According to internal sources, after the new arena is completed, the Lakers will also relocate their home court there, and the commercial value of the Lakers will also increase, which is also beneficial for Kobe.

Li Weidong nodded. What James Bond said was the Staples Arena, the home of the Lakers in the future.

On the field, Bryant just completed a mid-range shot, and his opponent was not to be outdone, and immediately returned fire in the next attack.

The guy who played against Kobe is called Isiah Ryder. He is the top scorer of the Trail Blazers. He is very good at breaking through and scoring, and his mid-range shooting ability is also very good. It's just that this guy is a troublemaker! James Bond said. introduced.

Isaiah Ryder was also considered a first-line star in the NBA at the time, averaging 20 points per game. In 1994, he used his crotch to switch hands to dunk and won the dunk king of the All-Star Game, which shows that his physical fitness is also very good.

Ryder's career was not long, mainly because he was full of bad things off the court, such as being late for training, absent for no reason, and missing the team's plane more than once or twice.

He also spat at fans, attacked them, and even stashed marijuana. This kind of unprofessional player, even with great talent and ability, will not stay in the NBA for long.

Today, Ryder is still the pillar of the Blazers, but troubles off the court made him quickly lose the trust of the Blazers management.

After the future Zen Master entered the Lakers, he once recruited Ryder to the team, hoping that he could integrate into the triangle offense system, but this guy suddenly disappeared in the playoffs. Fortunately, the OK combination is powerful enough, so it didn't stumble.

James Bond continued: Kobe's improvement is really obvious. Compared with last year's playoffs, he has matured a lot. He has completely adapted to the rhythm of the playoffs.

Now it seems that the prospects of the Lakers are also very good. O'Neal was originally the best center in the league. When Kobe grows up, the combination of the two will definitely be able to hit the championship!

Boss, I really admire your vision now. When you offered a high school defender a million-dollar endorsement and a person, plus exclusive sneakers, everyone thought you were crazy.

But now it seems that we have made a lot of money in this transaction. In just two years, Kobe, a young man, has a popularity that is not inferior to that of star players. This is definitely the most successful endorsement deal in NBA history.

Li Weidong smiled: You are exaggerating. The most successful endorsement contract is the endorsement of Nike and Jordan. In the NBA, Jordan's status is difficult to surpass. It would be very good for us to be second.

Li Weidong paused, then said, How is Tracy McGrady?

James Bond shook his head: Tracy McGrady's data last season was basically qualified, and he didn't bring a very amazing performance. But in terms of popularity, he is far from the Kobe of the period. At least I can't see him becoming a star yet. potential.

Among the four shooting guards, Tracy McGrady was the one who performed the most in his rookie season.

Also as a high school guard, after McGrady entered the NBA, it was inevitable to compare himself with Kobe.

In terms of technology, talent, etc., rookie Tracy McGrady may not be inferior to rookie Kobe Bryant, but in terms of luck, Tracy McGrady is far worse.

Kobe Bryant's starting point in the NBA is Los Angeles, which itself is the second largest city in the United States. At the same time, Los Angeles also has a huge entertainment industry. The spotlight of the media is always shining here, allowing Kobe to gain a lot of media attention.

Tracy McGrady started his career in Toronto, a cold Canadian city. Compared with Los Angeles, Toronto is simply a bitter cold place. Tracy McGrady naturally does not enjoy Kobe's kind of media exposure.

It's not a good feeling for a high school student to come to a foreign country alone, and it is for this reason that when his cousin Carter came to the Raptors, McGrady instantly turned into Carter's follower.

In his rookie season, Tracy McGrady took a long time to adapt to the NBA. This fit did not show that terrifying offensive talent. He was used more as a defensive spearhead.

Tracy McGrady in the mid-to-late career was regarded by fans as a defensive loophole and a leader in eye defense.

But in the Raptors and Magic era McGrady, the defense is definitely the best in the league.

Tracy McGrady has excellent physical fitness, excellent height and wingspan, and he does not suffer even in the low post. Moreover, his awareness of assisting defense is first-rate, and his ability to block shots is excellent. He can be called defensive hero.

Among the four shooting guards, only Tracy McGrady got his start on defense, while the other three started off offense.

Defensive players are liked by the team, but fans may not like them. At least in terms of popularity, they are far inferior to offensive players.

Therefore, many players with excellent defense can only rely on their hair to win the attention of fans. In the NBA, as long as the hairstyle is quirky and fancy, and the colors are colorful, it often means that the player's defensive ability is very good.

Another manifestation of McGrady's bad luck is that the 1998 All-Star Game shrunk.

Because of labor disputes, the 1998 All-Star Game did not hold a slam dunk contest. You must know that the slam dunk contest is an excellent venue for young athletes to show themselves. Kobe used the slam dunk contest to attract countless fans.

With McGrady's physical talent, if he can participate in the slam dunk contest, even if he can't win the championship, he can attract a wave of fans and increase his popularity.

After the NBA labor dispute was over, McGrady went to the slam dunk contest and met his cousin Carter. In front of the strongest slam dunk contest champion in history, anyone would become a foil.

Compared with Kobe, Tracy McGrady's rookie season is unknown, although the data is similar to Kobe, but the popularity is several grades worse.

As far as the current development of Tracy McGrady is concerned, the 10 million endorsement contract of Feiyue Sports is obviously a loss.

James Bond roughly explained the situation of Tracy McGrady. Although he did not say that the endorsement was a loss, he implied this meaning in his words.

Li Weidong smiled nonchalantly: I'm still very optimistic about Tracy McGrady, give him some time, I believe he can fulfill his talent.

James Bond nodded, signing such a young rookie was like a gamble in itself.

In the fiercely competitive NBA, it is not a high probability that a newcomer wants to get ahead, so this kind of gamble has a relatively high probability of losing.

At present, the two people signed by Feiyue Sports, Kobe has begun to reflect his commercial value, which is equivalent to winning the bet. Bet twice and once, this result is already a bloody profit.

James Bond went on to ask: Boss, are we going to continue the 'Million Boys' plan this year?

Of course we have to continue. Li Weidong nodded.

But this year's rookies don't seem to have a good high school guard. James Bond said.

Having signed high school guards as spokespersons for two consecutive years, James Bond instinctively thought that Li Weidong preferred high school guards.

Li Weidong replied: Then there should be good guards, right? Especially in the position of shooting guard.

It turns out that the boss is more inclined to shooting guards! James Bond nodded suddenly, and then replied: There must be shooting guards. Every year in the NBA draft, there is no shortage of excellent shooting guards.

How is the quality of this year's rookies? Li Weidong asked again.

The evaluation of this year's rookies in the media is relatively general. The quality of the rookies in 1995 and 1996 is very good, especially in 1996, which is the best rookie in the past ten years. So the quality of the rookies in the past two years should be Less. Bond replied.

Li Weidong recalled it carefully. He remembered that 1998 was also a big year for the draft. Although it was not as good as 1996, there were still many well-known players.

Forget about the others, the number one target is still on Carter. Thinking of this, Li Weidong said, There is a young man named Vince Carter, I am very optimistic about him, if you have time, you can go and get in touch with him. he!

Of the four shooting guards, Li Weidong has already signed two, and the next target is naturally Carter, a demigod.

Moreover, Carter's basketball shoes have always been relatively easy to sell. Even a few ugly and uncomfortable styles still have good sales.

...

At this time, Carter was already the top star in the NCAA.

Carter studied at the University of North Carolina, which is the top basketball school in the United States and the alma mater of Michael Jordan. Since Jordan was cultivated, North Carolina has been regarded as the first target by countless basketball talents.

And the players who can become the core in North Carolina are also NCAA stars, and they will be followed by countless scouts. It can be said that the future is limitless.

Before Carter, North Carolina's leading players were Stackhouse and Rasheed Wallace. After entering the NBA, both of them played well and are still the main players of their respective teams.

Today, it is Vince Carter and Antoine Jamison who have raised the banner of North Carolina, who were called North Carolina Double Stars at the time.

And Carter in college is also known as Jordan's successor.

In the 1990s, the American media blew out a lot of Jordan's successors. As long as he was a shooting guard with a height of about 6 feet 6 inches, with excellent strength, smart ball skills, and a good mid-range shooting ability, he would be said to be Jordan's successor.

In particular, players trained by Jordan's alma mater North Carolina are more likely to be dubbed Jordan's successor.

The last Jordan successor in North Carolina was Stackhouse, who was 6 feet 6 inches tall and was a shooting guard in North Carolina.

After Stackhouse entered the NBA, he did have a very good performance, but he was far from Jordan.

And this guy is a bit ignorant. He once rambled about his senior Jordan, but he was taught a lesson by Jordan on the court. Since then, no one has mentioned that he is Jordan's heir.

Vince Carter is also 6 feet 6 inches tall, plays the position of smash guard, and is produced by North Carolina. Of course, he is also called Jordan's heir.

After all, Carter is a college player. Unlike high school players, he has accumulated a lot of fame in the NCAA, so not only Li Weidong is staring at Carter, other sports brands are also very interested in Carter.

This includes big brands such as Nike, Adidas, and Reebok in the American market, as well as Puma, which is eager to get a share of the basketball shoe market.