On the 24th, the owners of the remaining dozen teams, as well as more than two dozen stars, also arrived in Los Angeles.

Ballmer provided a large special plane that could seat more than 300 people, and it will leave tomorrow.

On the 25th, before leaving, the NBA team held a press conference at the hotel where they stayed, and in front of the media around the world, Stern said very earnestly:

"On this trip, we have only one purpose, to invite the king of the NBA, Iron Fist King Zhou Quan, to return to the NBA league. In this regard, we have the greatest sincerity. ”

Two hours later, a special plane carrying 29 NBA bosses, more than 20 presidents, executives, referees, and dozens of NBA stars took off from Los Angeles and flew to the Chinese capital.

On this trip, the alliance dispatched more than twenty of the fifty superstars alone.

And NBC sent a television camera team to follow up the interview, and used satellite channels to broadcast live to the United States.

At the same time, more than 100 US media reporters flew to China with the special plane.

Under the vigorous publicity of NBC, the news of the NBA's visit to Zhou Quan spread all over the world.

"It's been a long time since the NBA has had this heat. Sincerity touches God, and I hope that this time I will achieve my goal. The overwhelming news made Stern very emotional.

Such a big movement, before the plane took off, alarmed the country, the embassy specially contacted the competent department, and the competent department conducted a small research and discussion for this purpose.

"Shall we arrange a reception?"

"Not suitable, right? People came to visit Zhou Quan personally, and the official appearance was not equal. ”

"I think it's okay for the vocational basketball team and relevant competent units to come forward and participate in the reception."

"I think it's okay, and the basketball management center will come forward to receive it, and it just so happens that Comrade Liu Yumin, director of the management center, is also the chairman of the Basketball Association and the chairman of the CBA."

"I don't think the official identity is suitable, and the director of the basketball management center is also at the department level, I think she should come forward as the chairman of the basketball association and the chairman of the CBA, both identities are civil identities, which is more suitable."

"Agreed."

……

Zhou Quan and Zeng Li had already come to the capital, he didn't want to receive these people in Changsha, the conditions in the capital were still much better.

At 11 a.m. on the 26th, Beijing time, the special plane arrived at the international airport, and Zhou Quan went to pick up the airport.

In addition to Zhou Quan and Liu Yumin, there are dozens of airport security personnel and more than 100 reporters, both domestic and foreign.

In addition, there are Stern's special assistant Chris Baikees and other pioneers, who arrived in the capital the day before yesterday and also came to pick up the plane today.

When Stern's group of more than 200 people came out, Zhou Quan greeted him and stretched out his right hand, and said with a smile: "Mr. Stern, everyone, welcome to China. ”

"Zhou, it is our honor to come to beautiful China again and meet you here." Holding Zhou Quan's right hand tightly, David Stern said with a smile on his face.

"Mr. Stern, this is Liu Yumin, chairman of the CBA and chairman of the Basketball Association, and she is also the person in charge of China's basketball affairs."

Then Zhou Quan introduced Liu Yumin's identity.

"Mr. Stern, welcome to China."

"Chairman Liu, it's a pleasure to meet you, and I hope to receive you in the United States one day."

David Stern knew Liu Yumin, when Liu Yumin went to Detroit to find Zhou Quan, he alarmed him, and he also invited Liu Yumin to visit the NBA headquarters, but he was refused, and now it is also a surprise for him to see Liu Yumin.

Then Liu Yumin and Stern chatted, and Zhou Quan went to greet Ballmer and the others.

"Click, click, click......"

More than 200 reporters accounted for a large area, the shutter kept ringing, and the flashing lights kept coming and going.

"Hey, Erwin, welcome to China."

When he saw Magic Johnson, Zhou Quan took the lead in reaching out his hand.

"Iron Fist King, I'm honored." Magic Johnson's face was full of smiles, and he held Zhou Quan's right hand with both hands.

No matter what aspect he is, his social status and influence, the current Zhou Quan is far higher than him, and he has no ideas and qualifications to put on a score.

"Hey, Larry, meet again, Reggie said you did a good job at the Pacers." Zhou Quan said to Larry Bird next to him.

"He's right, I'm doing a good job." Larry Bird said with a smile on his face.

"Hey, Reggie. Hey, Isaiah, welcome, oh, what are you doing? ”

Zhou Quan and Reggie Miller hugged each other, and were about to hug Isaiah Thomas next to him, but at this time, the assassin made a move that no one expected, he actually bent his right knee and knelt down in front of Zhou Quan.

"Great Iron Fist King, come back quickly, save the NBA, we need you." The assassin grinned and hugged Zhou Quan's thigh, shouting with an extremely exaggerated expression.

"Click, click, click......"

At this moment, the shutter sound and flash lights of the media suddenly became more dense.

"Haha......"

Zhou Quan reacted, laughed and pulled the assassin up from the ground, leaned over to help him pat the dust on his right knee, and said, "You guy, scared me." ”

Stern is too satisfied with the smiling assassin, the leader of this bad boy army is too sensible now, and he will be cultivated in the future and pulled into the upper echelons of the alliance?

"Iron Fist, save the NBA!"

But as soon as Zhou Quan pulled up the assassin, Rodman and Reggie Miller, who reacted, also began to be funny, and they also knelt down on one knee.

Zhou Quan was dumbfounded, pulled this, and that knelt down again.

Magic Johnson sat down a little, sighed secretly, everything for the alliance, he also knelt down on one knee, and shouted in his mouth: "Iron Fist King, come back quickly, the alliance is about to go bankrupt, if you don't come back, we will all be unemployed." ”

"Damn it!"

Larry Bird cursed the Magic in his heart with a grin, and had to bend on one knee, "Iron Fist, the NBA is where you started, I know you don't want to see it go bankrupt, come back!" ”

"Click, click, click......"

The magic birds all knelt down, and the reporters at the scene frantically pressed the shutter.

"Damn, is this roasting me on the fire?"

Zhou Quan scolded secretly, hurriedly came over and stretched out his hands, pulled the two demon birds up, and scolded with a smile: "Okay, guys, the joke has passed, now come with me, I will take you to the capital." ”

A few minutes later, the news that the NBA stars knelt down at the airport to ask Zhou Quan to come back spread to the world.

The next day, the photo of the kneeling made headlines in the media around the world.

In the next two days, at the invitation of Zhou Quan, the NBA team visited the President's Memorial Hall, and visited the old officials, the Military Museum, the Great Wall, the Temple of Heaven and other places, and also visited the CBA headquarters.

David Stern promised Liu Yumin that he would increase exchanges between the NBA and the CBA, invite the men's basketball team to participate in the NBA preseason, and invite Liu Yumin to visit the NBA headquarters.

At one o'clock at noon on the 28th, Zhou Quan and the NBA held a press conference to announce their return to the NBA.

"The sincerity of the league makes it hard for me to say no again, and I am very touched that I will return to the NBA league and contribute my strength to the NBA league."

Through NBC's global live broadcast, Zhou Quan's words at the press conference quickly spread around the world and across the United States, and countless media outlets carried his words on the front page.

"Great!"

New York, NBC TV headquarters, chairman's office, John Green was very excited.

The news of Zhou Quan's comeback, not to mention other aspects, had an immediate and great impact on the NBA.

Because his contract with the SuperSonics was coming to an end, the general managers of all teams across the league contacted Roger Philip.

But what they do is useless, how can Zhou Quan leave the supersound?

Without playing for two seasons, Ballmer paid him tens of millions of dollars in wages, and that alone was unlikely to leave.

Whithitter also came and initially negotiated a new contract with Zhou Quan, and SuperSonics guaranteed to give the first contract in the league.

The new season executes a new TV broadcast contract, and the league's operating income has plummeted in the past two seasons, and the new salary cap is only $24.5 million, which is not as good as before Zhou Quan retires, and the salary cap in the 96/97 season reached 26.5 million.

The new collective bargaining agreement, the league introduced a maximum salary contract, and in order to limit the big teams and protect the small teams, even the luxury tax was introduced.

If the supersonic offer a sky-high contract, then the luxury tax they bear will be very high, which is unfair to the supersonics, because it is the whole league that wants Zhou Quan to return to the league now.

In order to let Zhou Quan return to the NBA, the league is also desperate to allow the SuperSonics to make up for the lack of Zhou Quan's contract in another way. And the alliance will also compensate for the cost of hypersound in some form.

It was a decision made by all the team owners, including Stern, and it had been discussed before they went to China to visit Zhou Quan.

Zhou Quan chose to sign a three-year contract because his last contract had just ended, and he still met the Larry Bird clause with a maximum salary + 10.5% annual increase instead of 8%.

But the size of the specific contract will have to wait for the squad to be determined before signing, and at that time, his veteran contract will be more meaningful.

After consulting with the supersonic management, Ballmer gave Zhou Quan a series of privileges in the supersonic.

For example, for each game, in addition to the special position fixed by Zhou Quan, three front rows are also given, and 50 other tickets, which add up to 54 tickets.

At the supersonic headquarters and the new center gymnasium, three dedicated parking spaces were set up for Zhou Quan, as well as an office for each.

At the same time, Zhou Quan was equipped with two of the most professional security personnel, but this was rejected by Zhou Quan, and he had his own security personnel.

Family members can take the team's special plane, and the team is responsible for providing food and accommodation.

There are many privileges like this, the most important of which is that Ballmer promised to sell at least 30 percent of SuperSonics after Zhou Quan retires, making him a shareholder in the team. If Baller intends to transfer the team, Zhou has the right of first refusal and the league cannot stop it.

In the history of the league, until now, only the Magic has owned 5% of the Lakers' shares, and it is very difficult for players to convert to team owners, and this promise is also supported by Stern and all owners.

Zhou Quan is also very happy, not because of money, he is not short of money, but his attitude.

……

Houston, who is already a veteran's big dream, heard the news of Zhou Quan's comeback, and immediately despaired of the championship.

In Salt Lake City, Carl Malone, a postman who was cutting horses, also went numb when he heard the news.

The two seasons when the Iron Fist King was absent were his best chance to win the championship, but unfortunately he lost to Jordan in the Finals last season, and lost to the Spurs in the Western Conference finals last season.

"Or do I go to the supersonic?"

His contract has ended, and now he is a free agent, and the Jazz have been asking him to renew his contract, and they have been dragging it out, leaving without any obstacles.

Within half an hour, Jazz called him on the phone and gave him a contract extension, 66.5 million for 4 years, and asked him if he signed or not.

"I'll sign it."

What else is there to consider about this, how can the championship have more than 60 million dollars of incense? As you get older, of course, money is more important, and for the sake of money, you can't be cold.

He only had a total salary of $37.95 million in the previous 13 seasons, and the highest annual salary was only 6.14 million.

……

On the 29th, Zhou Quan saw him off at the airport, and Stern and others left China.

Stern is also rushing back to New York to preside over the draft on the 30th of US time.

On July 1, Liu Yumin took Zhou Quan to the training ground of the national team to meet the members of the men's basketball team of the national team.

"The year before last, Zhang Bing was the head coach of the men's basketball team, and he was planted in the Asian Championships, so I had to ask Jiang to guide him again." Liu Yumin said.

"Hello Director Jiang, after I watch the Atlanta Olympics, you shouldn't resign, otherwise how can you be planted in the hands of a group of sticks." Zhou Quan said.

His words were a little unpolite, which made everyone present feel a little hot, including Liu Yumin.

But no one can say anything, Atalanta's silver medalist, only one week away, lost to South Korea in the Asian Championships, what else can be said?

Jiang Xinquan shook hands with Zhou Quan with a smile on his face and said, "My fault, my fault, when Ningliao Province was looking for me, I really couldn't push it away." Zhou Quan, I can point to you next year, let's work together again! ”

"Iron Fist, you're majestic now."

"Brother Zhou."

"Zhou Quan, losing to the South Korean team, it is true that we didn't play well."

"Lao Hu, Dazhi, Big Bus, Lao Liu, Lao Zhang......"

Hu Weidong and the others swarmed up, and Zhou Quan hurriedly greeted them.

"Da Yao, come here."

Liu Yumin called in a tall and very thin guy standing on the periphery, and introduced: "Zhou Quan, this young man has just joined the national team, his name is Yao Ming, the big shark team, he turned 19 years old in September, and now he is 218 cm. His technique was okay, with 20.9 points and 12.9 rebounds last season. ”

"Brother Zhou is good." Da Yao was a little shy.

Zhou Quan looked up, good guy, definitely a little more risky than O'Neill, it's just too bad.

"How's the quality and technology?" He asked.

What the men's basketball team lacks is a high-quality interior line, especially a center, and he hopes that a very good center can appear in China.

The current main center is 22 years old, full of aura, and his skills are also very comprehensive, he is the leading center in China, and his performance in international competitions is okay, but he lacks the ability to fight, against those guys in the NBA, and even against those centers in Europe, he is a little weak.

Jiang Xinquan introduced: "Flexibility, coordination is not bad, strength is poor, speed is average, but the stride is large, the overall speed is not slow, that is, the start is slower, the traverse speed is average, the bounce is average, but the pace under the basket is good, the shooting feel is very good, there are three points and mid-range shots." ”

"The arm span is a little bit worse, and the hand is not big enough." Zhou Quan looked at it for a while and said.

He pinched the muscles on Da Yao's body again, shook his head and said, "I haven't kept up with the strength training, and I lack the ability to fight." ”

"We're a big step behind the U.S. in terms of strength training. It's not just basketball for us, it's for other sports as well. Liu Yumin smiled bitterly.

Da Yao scratched the back of his head from time to time, looking a little nervous.

Zhou Quan thought about it for a while and said, "In this way, arrange some strength trainers and basketball training from the United States." ”

"Really?"

"That's great!"

Liu Yumin and others were pleasantly surprised.

Zhou Quan said: "After the trainers come, they must arrange for people to follow them and learn their training methods, after all, they can't stay forever." ”

"Of course." Liu Yumin nodded hurriedly.

……

(End of chapter)