The Future Is Yours

With the quality of the shoes now up to standard, both parties proceeded to negotiate the contract. Anta presented two contracts: a sneaker contract and an additional sub-brand profit-sharing agreement. Lian Dao saw no reason to refuse such a deal.

The contracts were signed at the hotel, capturing this historic moment with photos to commemorate the occasion. Lian Dao couldn't help but wonder why Anta had such high hopes for him. Even without the profit-sharing agreement, the average annual amount of the contract surpassed the offer Nike made to James. It was, by far, the largest initial sneaker contract in the NBA.

"Why are you so optimistic about me? Is it because of my father?" Lian Dao speculated, considering the influence of his father, Lian Guochang.

"No, no, no, we signed you, and we even sought your father's advice," explained the representatives from Anta. "We believe in your potential—not just your talent but also your courage and performance on the court. We have followed you since you made it to the top 16 of the NCAA. Even when others doubted you, you pressed on, successfully turning the impossible into the possible. This aligns with our brand's ethos. We're confident in your future."

Anta's explanation reassured Lian Dao, dispelling his doubts.

...

"Lian Dao signed a contract with Anta for 70 million yuan over five years." The completion of this deal was announced by both Anta and Lian Dao, and the media quickly picked up on the story, sparking heated discussions online.

At the time, domestic sneaker endorsements were rare, if not nonexistent. Lian Dao became the first NBA player to sign with a domestic sneaker brand, leading many to question the quality of Chinese-made sneakers. Critics doubted their quality, suggesting that domestic sneakers were not up to par.

However, some pointed out that Anta's acquisition of Fila would likely lead to technological improvements. Anta also boasted its own sports science laboratory, and skeptics noted that Lian Dao wouldn't risk his occupational health on subpar footwear. It was clear that Anta Shoes had to incorporate advanced technology, or Lian Dao wouldn't have agreed to the contract.

Many observers displayed remarkable insight, even roughly estimating the progress of Anta's new product development. In response, Anta announced its latest technologies and patents. While this PR effort alleviated some concerns among fans, skepticism persisted.

"Even if the technology is improved, it's still a test product and hasn't been proven on the market. Lian Dao is too reckless!" Some critics argued. Others claimed, "For the sake of a big contract, he's risking his health, ha ha!" Skeptics doubted Anta's global reach, questioning, "What can Anta do to enhance Lian Dao's influence in the NBA? He should have signed with Nike, Adidas, or Reebok!"

Finally, detractors targeted Lian Dao's agent, suggesting, "Lian Dao's agent is unprofessional, prioritizing money over his client's well-being! Lian Dao shouldn't have chosen an outside agent; so many reputable agents would have signed with a rookie fresh out of college."

...

Not only was the domestic media buzzing, but the foreign media were also baffled by the news. They had never heard of the brand Anta before. After some online digging, they discovered that Anta had recently acquired Fila. Prior to this, there was little to no information available about the brand internationally.

Regardless, Lian Dao's signing with Anta brought the brand to the attention of foreign fans. Offering a 70 million yuan signing fee for five years to a rookie took a lot of courage, and it certainly made waves.

The members of the 2009 superstar group looked on with envy at Lian Dao's massive contract. They all congratulated him; their excitement was evident. Klay Thompson, the star of Washington State University, even found himself admiring the Anta logo on his computer screen, remarking, "Hey, don't say it; the more you look, the better."

At this point, Lian Dao wasn't paying much attention to the media buzz. After attending Anta's fan meeting, he returned to his hometown in Kyoto. He spent a couple of days with his grandfather, who couldn't stay idle and often took Lian Dao to the chess club at the nursing home. His grandfather proudly introduced him to everyone, saying, "This is my grandson; he just won the Asian basketball championship!"

The old man's constant boasting left Lian Dao feeling a bit embarrassed, and he could only smile at everyone he met. Soon, the old men and ladies in the club were eager to introduce him to their granddaughters and nieces. Lian Dao quickly told them that he already had a girlfriend.

This revelation excited his grandfather, who insisted that Lian Dao bring his girlfriend home. Lian Dao had initially thought of using his senior sister as a shield, but she had hurriedly flown to the United States for a business collaboration after the event in Jinmen. With no other option, Lian Dao promised his grandfather that he would bring her next time, explaining that he had other commitments during this visit.

After spending two days at home, Lian Dao boarded a plane back to the United States. The Asian Championships had taken up a lot of time, with training and competition lasting nearly a month and a half. There wasn't much time left for Lian Dao to focus on his training.

During Lian Dao's time in China for the Asian Championships, several noteworthy events occurred in the NBA.

The Lakers made significant moves by letting go of Trevor Ariza and signing Ron Artest. This change bolstered their small forward position and reinforced their perimeter defense. With the combination of Kobe Bryant and Artest, the Lakers' defense became nearly impregnable, solidifying their status as the favorites for the 2009-2010 season..

In another surprising development, the Lakers decided to release Sun Yue, leaving Yao Ming, Lian Dao, and Yi Jianlian as the only Chinese players in the NBA.

On July 9, a major trade involving four teams broke out. The Dallas Mavericks traded Devin George and Antoine Wright to the Toronto Raptors. Additionally, the Mavericks sent cash to the Orlando Magic and traded Jerry Stackhouse and cash to the Memphis Grizzlies.

The Grizzlies, in return, sent Greg Buckner to the Mavericks. The Orlando Magic traded Hedo Turkoglu to the Raptors, while the Raptors sent Chris Humphries, Nathan Jawai, and Shawn Marion to the Mavericks, along with a 2016 second-round pick to the Grizzlies and cash to the Magic.

These trades were part of the Mavericks' strategy to improve their roster and establish themselves as strong championship contenders.

Meanwhile, the Cavaliers made a move to strengthen their interior game by acquiring Shaquille O'Neal from the Suns. The Cavaliers had struggled against the Magic's interior during the previous Eastern Conference Finals, and the addition of O'Neal was aimed at countering Dwight Howard's impact.

LeBron James, after reaching the finals in 2007, faced disappointment when the Cavaliers were swept by the Spurs. Tim Duncan, leading the Spurs, offered words of encouragement to James, saying, "Young man, don't be discouraged; the future is yours."

While Duncan's words were meant to uplift, he privately thought, "Now, it belongs to my brother." Despite Duncan's stern exterior, his encouragement left James with a glimmer of hope, and he respected Duncan's honesty.