Because the cameras frequently turned to this young Chinese, Yang Jian, a famous CCTV commentator in China who was responsible for commentating on this NBA draft, obviously also paid attention to his figure.
Before the broadcast started, Yang Jian turned his head and asked with a question: "Teacher Zhang, are there any other Chinese or Chinese players participating in this year's NBA draft?"
"Others? No, just Yao Ming of the Shanghai team!" Zhang Weiping put down the manuscript he was sorting and raised his head and asked.
"Then who is he?"
Following the direction of Yang Jian's finger, Zhang Weiping was stunned when he saw Liu Dong's face on the monitor!
This face is so young and also so unfamiliar.
Liu Dong, who was sitting in the crowd, had no idea that his participation in the draft out of curiosity had caused confusion to his domestic basketball colleagues. At this moment, he was looking at the home arena of the Knicks with great interest! And
The famous 'Green Room' in the distance!
It is an honor for those players to be invited and enter the green room to wait for news on NBA draft night, because it means that these players have been widely recognized by everyone in previous trials and scout evaluations.
The top players among the rookies of that year are likely to be selected by NBA teams within the top ten picks in the draft.
Liu Dong hopes that his team can get satisfactory results!
As time went by, the nearly 20,000 seats in the entire venue were gradually filled with the owners, managers and coaches of the 29 NBA teams, as well as people who were interested, and the time gradually came for the start of the draft!
At 8:30, an old white man, who was not taller than the basketball players, walked onto the podium with a smile on his face!
Liu Dong knew that this old man was NBA President David Stern, who was privately known as the ‘Czar’!
It was his iron fist, yet tactful means, and use of the media that successfully promoted NBA basketball, which was originally limited to the United States, to the world, and made it comparable to the European Football League.
Global competition!
Therefore, Liu Dong still deeply admires this person's ability. At least if it were him, Liu Dong would definitely not be as good as others.
However, when he paid attention to the nearly sixty-year-old basketball czar, he actually saw him smiling at him. The meaningful look in his eyes made Liu Dong frown.
"Welcome everyone to gather again at Madison Square Garden in New York on this beautiful evening! Today we will once again witness the annual league draft ushering in more new blood. I believe that with their joining, the NBA will become
More diverse and international…!”
After a series of stylized speeches, when David Stern announced that the 2002 NBA Draft was about to begin, tonight's party finally entered its first part.
The first one to take the stage was the Houston Rockets, who won the No. 1 pick this year. They watched Carroll Dawson, who became the general manager of the Rockets and is known as the godfather in red, step onto the stage!
Representatives of all the teams in the audience, as well as Chinese basketball fans in the Eastern Hemisphere, all became nervous involuntarily.
What 29 teams are concerned about is whether the Rockets will draft away the player they like, while Chinese basketball fans are worried about whether Yao Ming can be selected in the first round and be elected No. 1 overall as predicted!
If he is not selected, according to the regulations of the Chinese Basketball Association, he can only continue to play in China and cannot join the NBA!
Perhaps he sensed the tense atmosphere off the court. Carroll Dawson raised his head and smiled, glanced at everyone, slowly unfolded the document in his hand, and then shouted into the microphone: "We choose Yao Ming from China!
"
"Wow...!"
As soon as Dawson finished speaking, the sound of surprise in the entire venue started to boil violently like boiling water in a pot.
Although many media had predicted before the draft began that Yao Ming from China was likely to become the No. 1 pick in the NBA in 2002 because of his outstanding height and solid basketball foundation. But when the results were actually announced, when the opponent actually became
When the first foreign No. 1 pick in NBA history was selected, there were still bursts of exclamations at the scene!
Moreover, at this moment, almost all domestic basketball fans clenched their fists and cheered loudly. In their opinion, Yao Ming can be recognized in the world's top basketball events and also earn honors for Chinese basketball!
After all, this is the first pick, the ‘number one pick’, and not everyone can get it!
Compared with the joy of their compatriots, Liu Dong and Larry Brown looked at each other and saw a trace of haze that had not yet passed away in each other's eyes.
"Coach Brown, do you think if we spend money, can we buy Yao Ming from the other party?" Liu Dong said.
After learning about this compatriot, he really liked this big man who was the same age as himself!
"It's difficult! The 'big dream' Olajuwon who brought the Rockets glory just retired last year. Therefore, both the owners of the Rockets and the fans need someone who can inherit the power left vacant after 'Olajuwon' left.
Center. And Yao is the most suitable candidate, and his skills are as comprehensive as 'Big Dream'. Therefore, if I were the Rockets coach, I would never consider a talent who can become a top center in the future as great.
Players are given up, especially in this era when center talents are scarce!" Larry Brown said with a sigh in his tone.
In fact, he really hopes to sign Yao Ming to the Knicks, because this Chinese big man has all the conditions that can make him a top center, whether it is height or skills! What's more important is that the opponent is from China.
His temper is definitely much more humble and polite than that of Americans!
This is simply the best choice for Larry Brown, who is not good at controlling players' psychology!
It's a pity that the Knicks didn't get the No. 1 pick this year!
After listening to Larry Brown's words, Liu Dong also understood that the possibility of getting this compatriot was really slim, but Liu Dong was still willing to give it a try!
Because Yao Ming was at the branch venue in Beijing, China, and not at the draft in New York, Liu Dong couldn't see this tall compatriot who had just been selected as the No. 1 overall pick!
However, looking at Yao Ming far away in the capital from the big screen, wearing a hat representing the Rockets on his head, with a face full of joy, Liu Dong still felt a little melancholy!
After experiencing the previous discussion, David Stern came to the front desk again, "Congratulations to Yao Ming from Shanghai, China, for becoming the 'No. 1 pick' of the NBA in 2002. I believe this selection will allow the league to win more games overseas."
Pay attention and enhance the NBA's international influence! But what I want to tell you is that Yao is not the only Chinese in the NBA league!"
Just when everyone thought he was talking about Wang Zhizhi, who is still playing for the Los Angeles Clippers, Liu Dong felt a little uneasy in his heart!
Sure enough, David Stern looked at him at the next moment, and then said in a high-pitched voice: "Let us welcome Liu, who is also from China, with applause. Congratulations to him for becoming the owner of the New York Knicks last year.
!”
When David Stern finished speaking, the camera accurately found Liu Dong sitting in the front row, because among a group of white and black NBA bosses and coaches, he was so easy to identify as a yellow man sitting there!
When Liu Dong's profile picture appeared on the big screen of the rostrum, all the eyes around him turned towards him, full of curiosity and inquiry.
People are curious, what does a Chinese owner who controls the New York Knicks look like?
Liu Dong, who is quite reluctant to put it on the shelves, although he is not very willing, can not help but think too much at this moment. The composure he has developed after experiencing many big scenes in the past few years allows Liu Dong to be calm in such sudden situations.
response!
After taking a deep breath, Liu Dong adjusted his suit, stood up and waved to the people around him with a smile!
His decent etiquette and humble smile immediately won the favor of many people!
"Liu, please come to the stage!"
Seeing David Stern waving, although Liu Dong didn't want to be in the limelight, he couldn't help it at this time. Under the watchful eyes of hundreds of media around the world, he couldn't embarrass China or his compatriots.
.
Looking at Liu Dong walking slowly on stage, everyone, including the CCTV camera crew at the scene, Yang Jian and Zhang Weiping who were in charge of explaining the draft in Beijing, and even Yao Ming, who had just been elected as the number one pick, looked at such a young man with great curiosity, as if he had just been
Liu Dong, who is over 20 years old.
They never imagined that among the 29 teams in the NBA, there would be an owner from China, and he was so young!
"Hello Mr. Stern!"
Liu Dong, who walked onto the stage, first extended his right hand!
"Liu, welcome to join the NBA!"
After the two shook hands, Liu Dong took the microphone handed over by the staff next to him.
"Liu, the people here and the audience in front of the TV are relatively unfamiliar with you. Can you introduce yourself to everyone here?" Stern said.
"Of course no problem! ... hello, everyone! I am Liu Dong from China. I am a crazy basketball fan. I like NBA games very much. I especially like the New York Knicks, which is a team with a glorious history.
.And my idol is Patrick Ewing. At the same time, I am honored to have the opportunity to buy this great team that I loved last year. Here, taking this opportunity today, I would like to express my gratitude to all the New York Knicks fans.
Fans guarantee that in the next new season, we will invite more outstanding players to join the Knicks, and then launch an impact on the playoffs and championships! Thank you!"
Liu Dong knew very well that at least half of what he just said was not sincere! But there was nothing he could do about it, this is communication! (To be continued.)
ps: Thank you to the book friend "Soul Fight [Luo] Fighting Soul" for your monthly ticket support, and the book friend "Long Sheng Feng Xiang" for your support! Thank you very much!