When Li Zhen arrived in Los Angeles, the time had already come to April 18. When he and Bill Duffy signed a formal contract at the Hilton Hotel, Bill Duffy held a press conference with great fanfare.

This made Li Zhen even worry that he might lose money if he did this, after all, it was only a basic salary of less than 200,000 a year.

When Li Zhen appeared at the press conference, he realized that the reporters in front of him had changed people. The reporters who interviewed him were no longer NCAA news media, but NBA news reporters of all colors, and yellow-skinned reporters even accounted for nearly a quarter.

This shows how much China is paying attention to itself now.

Bill Duffy told Li Zhen in private: "Now the whole country is taking you as pride." The news of your NCAA Final Four MOP making headlines in China, and no Chinese guard has ever proven himself in the NCAA. Next, I will arrange some official media interviews for you, as well as the shooting of public service announcements, to further enhance and consolidate your popularity. ”

Li Zhen raised his eyebrows, it was an incomparably glorious thing to be able to let the people of his country know and be proud of himself.

And, who wouldn't want to go home with a great reputation?

Most of the reporters at the press conference were asking about some commonplace topics.

For example, which NBA team you like the most, which NBA team you would most like to join, predict your draft order, and what it's like to work with Bill Duffy...... Li Zhen also replied one by one: "I like the bulls of the 90s the most." I don't have a preconceived position to join a team, I just want to play. It's not something I can control about the draft rankings, and no matter where I'm drafted, I'm going to give it my all. It was a pleasure to work with Bill Duffy, we are people with the same aura and common ideas......"

These questions are of little substance, and the answers are mere formalities.

After the grand press conference, Li Zhen went to accept an exclusive interview with CCTV. In the interview, he talked about his study experience, as well as the hard work behind MOP, and the change of mentality after becoming famous overnight. He kept his truth true in the face of these questions, and he made himself known to the audience in front of the television as much as possible.

For example, when he is answering about learning.

"I'm actually really working hard in my studies, I'm not a genius. The reason why I went to university at the age of 16 was because I felt that the learning atmosphere in my family was too strong, and I wanted to go to university to relieve the pressure. ”

Regarding the MOP trophy, he smiled and said: "It has become my pressure. And I checked the Internet two days ago, and found that only Carmelo Anthony seems to have become a superstar in the NBA among the people who have won the MOP in the last ten years. This result stresses me out, even though I'm not a fatalist.

Li Zhen can always inadvertently say some strange, funny but appropriate words. For example, the pressure is high.

He didn't know how he said it, but the reporter clearly liked it.

"Overnight success meant more and more scrutiny and criticism for me, and there was a time when I turned on the TV and a bunch of people were judging me. Some of them are right and some are not, but I can't change them. I can only keep working hard and keep running in my direction. As for what the future holds, leave it to time. ”

At the end of the interview, Li Zhen said that he would return to China in the summer.

"Although I go back to China every summer to stay for a long time, this year is a little different, my mother started a business in China. I have to go back and see my factory. ”

Li Zhen said with a smile.

Then, CCTV gave him an excellent advertising window, and the reporter asked: "Oh? Is it? What kind of industry is she engaged in? ”

She bought a sneaker OEM in China. In the future, I will produce my personal brand sneakers... Oh, and the team of sneaker designers has set up a studio in New York. Now the sneaker logo has been decided. Li Zhen stroked into the camera: "It consists of my Chinese pinyin initials, an L, a Z, and then overlapping diagonally... Just like this, composing a pattern of lightning bolts... Very cool......"

Li Zhen wasn't sure if the audience could make up this pattern when they saw his description.

But he is indeed the first person to openly brand the advertisement like this in the prime time of CCTV Channel 1, and it has not been cut yet.

CCTV reporters and leaders all like Li Zhen, a 19-year-old boy who grew up in the United States but is completely no different from Chinese children. In fact, the government has also emphasized the need to promote this kind of juvenile role models who are overseas but whose hearts are at home...... After all, everyone has sharpened their heads and squeezed abroad, but this one is giving up his American citizenship and going back to China.

After the interview, Li Zhen shot 3 public service advertisements in front of the camera in a row. It's about water conservation, garbage sorting and civilized travel.

This is also a way to increase visibility and expand influence.

As these advertisements are broadcast on CCTV, those who don't care about basketball will gradually know who Li Zhen is.

Nationalism is often shown in the details.

After finishing the advertising shooting, Bill Duffy comforted Li Zhen about the recent drop in Bruce's ranking in the major draft predictions: "The players who participated in the draft this year do not have superstars with outstanding personal ability or potential far beyond others, but there are a group of players with close strength and potential to popularity, so it is normal for the draft order to fluctuate, it does not mean the final ranking." From my inside scoop, there are a lot of teams that have shown a lot of interest in you. Also, clubs are already sending tryout invitations to my inbox. ”

But in fact, Li Zhen was not worried about this.

After the NCAA Finals are over and the MOP is won. Suddenly there was a lot of unfavorable remarks in the media, and many players began to target themselves inexplicably.

Lagalondo, from Kentucky, even claimed that this year's MOP selection was an act of charity.

Many people are not convinced by this, thinking that Li Zhen is not qualified to get this highest honor.

Moreover, those voices about 'Bruce Lee is not worthy of the name and are not suitable for the NBA at all' have also come and gone.

"They just want to use your fame to hype up and elevate themselves by belittling you." Richmond said this to Li Zhen a week ago.

Li Zhen knows this, but what he is worried about now is... Since the NCAA Finals, although he has been actively training every day, he has still not opened the talent space.

Although strength and weight have increased, but... The fact that his strength has not risen still worries him.

He now feels like a person with an empty wallet who suddenly wants to go into a fancy restaurant.

"The Los Angeles Lakers want to give you a tryout tomorrow afternoon. Although their draft pick is not high, they are full of sincerity. And the Lakers have always been the focus of media attention. If you can get praise in this tryout, then... Your prediction rankings that are now slipping will skyrocket. ”

Bill Duffy said seriously.

Li Zhen nodded.

……