Chương 103: Number 1 Draft Pick

Stern's routine, the deliberate pause, and then the moment when all eyes in the room fixated on him.

Especially the New York Knicks fans, who waited patiently with bated breath.

The Knicks had finally secured the No. 1 pick this season, reigniting hopes for the franchise's revival.

Knowing Stern's personality, if the Knicks didn't capitalize on this opportunity, it seemed unlikely they'd have another shot at the No. 1 pick anytime soon.

"Lian Dao, also known as 'Sickle,' a 2.04-meter-tall small forward from the University of Southern California."

The Knicks made their choice: Lian Dao!

The Knicks had been very clear about their target: Lian Dao. Both the head coach and general manager were in agreement.

It's not that no other teams had offered substantial trade packages. The Warriors even proposed trading Monta Ellis and Stephen Jackson for the No. 1 pick.

But in the end, all offers were rejected by Knicks GM Donnie Walsh.

This decision made Warriors GM Chris Mullin furious. He flipped the table in frustration and repeatedly called Walsh a liar.

In fact, not only the Warriors but also the Suns and Pacers had offered very enticing deals. The Suns went so far as to propose trading Amare Stoudemire for the No. 1 pick, while the Pacers offered their star small forward, Danny Granger.

Amare Stoudemire was an All-Star, after all.

To be honest, Walsh was tempted, especially after Lian Dao's "scandal."

Walsh wasn't a fool—sitting as the general manager, he knew he had to evaluate Lian Dao's true value carefully.

Could Lian Dao truly be worth such a steep price?

Or had they underestimated his potential?

Potential? Potential!

The word flooded Walsh's mind all of a sudden.

From receiving unfavorable high school coach comments to leading USC to an NCAA championship.

From draft predictions placing him late in the second round to being the No. 1 pick.

From running a subpar 40-yard dash to clocking a stunning 3.05 seconds at the United Center.

This was a leap in improvement!

This was limitless potential. Isn't the draft all about finding players with untapped potential?

Walsh finally realized something crucial.

He almost became the next Bob Bass!

Once he came to his senses, Walsh closed all trade discussions and refused any further negotiations

When the New York Knicks announced their refusal to negotiate, all the teams were shocked, but there was nothing they could do. Without an agreement, the Knicks held the right to decide on the No. 1 pick.

As soon as Stern exited the stage, Donnie Walsh and Mike D'Antoni exchanged a satisfied smile.

...

When Stern announced the result, Knicks fans had mixed reactions. On one hand, they erupted in cheers, anticipating Lian Dao's return to the Knicks. On the other hand, some boos were heard, as a few fans were skeptical of selecting a player they perceived to have a poor "attitude during tryouts."

However, the boos were a minority. Many informed fans had begun questioning previous reports about Lian Dao, especially after a piece by Harland highlighted his rigorous training regimen and college performances. The article argued that the scandal was a result of malicious smearing by certain individuals. Once published, it was widely shared online.

Meanwhile, Blake Griffin, upon hearing he wasn't the No. 1 pick, looked visibly disappointed.

"Congratulations to Lian Dao! He is the second Chinese player to enter the NBA as the No. 1 pick after Yao Ming," exclaimed Yang Yi with excitement. This was a monumental moment for China, a country of 1.3 billion people, which had only seen one previous No. 1 NBA draft pick: Yao Ming. Now, they had another in Lian Dao.

At that moment, Lian Dao was overwhelmed with excitement upon hearing his name called as the top pick. He impulsively hugged Guo Yuwei beside him. Despite having an inkling he might be selected, the reality of being the No. 1 pick was exhilarating and uncontrollable.

In moments of high emotion, people often act boldly. Lian Dao did just that, showing his true feelings. After embracing Guo Yuwei, who looked a bit surprised, he hugged his mother tightly. He then took a deep breath, turned around, and fist-bumped DeMar and James Harden.

Taking a Knicks hat from the staff, he walked to the stage. As he approached, he extended his hand to Stern with confidence.

"Congratulations, I wish you the best of luck together!" Stern said, offering his warmest regards.

After shaking hands, Lian Dao posed for a group photo.

The suit Lian Dao wore was meticulously tailored, featuring dragon embroidery on the sleeves, cloud patterns, and a golden "China" embroidered on the chest, showcasing his Chinese heritage.

While the live audience mainly noticed how sharp he looked, fans watching the draft broadcast in China picked up on these intricate details. To them, it represented a uniquely Chinese expression of pride and elegance.

...

After taking the photo, Lian Dao moved to the stage to be interviewed by reporters.

The questions were the usual ones about his thoughts and expectations for the Knicks.

"The Knicks are a very good team with a glorious history. The golden generation in the 1970s won two championships, and in 1994 and 1999, the Knicks also reached the finals. I know they have good players like Chris Duhon, Wilson Chandler, Al Harrington, David Lee, and Danilo Gallinari, and a great coach like D'Antoni. I look forward to joining them!"

This was a test of EQ: a high EQ response would be, "I look forward to joining," while a low EQ response might be, "I will lead the team to the playoffs!"

Lian Dao's NCAA experience taught him how to handle media interviews effectively.

While being interviewed, he occasionally glanced around to see if any staff were approaching. He wasn't entirely sure if the Knicks would trade him, given how tempting the offers from other teams had been.

As the No. 1 pick, Lian Dao was the first to face the reporters' questions.

He made his way to the media interview room.

Being the top pick comes with a lot of attention.

Aside from anything else, the title of No. 1 pick alone is incredibly attractive.

Lian Dao was busy fielding questions in the media room.

After finally dealing with the American media, he was interviewed by Yang Yi from China.

Yang Yi's questions focused on Lian Dao's future plans, such as how he planned to integrate into the team and his goals for his rookie season.

Once the interviews concluded, he noticed a call from Downey.

After a brief conversation, both parties ended the call on a positive note.

From Downey, he learned that he was not on the Knicks' trading block.

While Lian Dao just smiled at this, knowing that even superstars can be traded in a business league, it was still reassuring to hear. For the Knicks to make this kind of promise showed how much they valued him, even if he didn't take it to heart entirely. In this league, as long as the price is right, nothing is off-limits for trade.