Zhang Yang looked at Tellem, took the business card, glanced at it, and said, "Hello, what do you want? Don’t joke with me by saying you think I can play in the NBA."
His tone was very unfriendly, his attitude extremely hostile.
He was still two months shy of 17, let’s just say he was 17, what could an agent possibly want with a 17-year-old high school student?
Most 17-year-olds lack maturity, some even lack basic discernment skills.
Approaching him without the presence of parents or mentors, and seeking him out alone, indicated that this was not a respectable agent’s behavior.
He could have even directly called the police.
Tellem laughed and said, "Jack, you don’t have to be so resistant, I just want to talk to you... okay, I do indeed want you to enter this year’s draft, it’s the last time that high school students can participate."
Zhang Yang knew about this; in January, the NBA had renewed the collective bargaining agreement with the players’ union, reaching a consensus with the players’ union and the NCAA. From 2006 onward, they would no longer accept high school students registering for the draft.
Zhang Yang’s expression was mocking: "You think a team would actually pick me if I entered the draft?"
Tellem: "Yes, definitely."
Zhang Yang gave him the look one reserves for an idiot—had the guy gone mad after being fired by Kobe?
Although he had not known previously that Tellem was Kobe’s agent in ’96, he knew Kobe’s current agent was not Tellem. Pelinka had just secured Kobe a 7-year, $136 million contract last summer—the biggest in history—and also managed to get Boozer a rich deal from the Jazz team that screwed over the Knight.
Zhang Yang’s reaction was far from what Tellem had expected, almost diametrically opposed.
He needed to change his strategies, Tellem said, "Jack, I started watching your games in February, and in my opinion, anyone who has watched your games would know how good your talent is, and certainly there would be teams that wouldn’t want to miss out on you."
Zhang Yang remained unmoved: "I’m not even 17 yet, I’m 10 months younger than Kobe Bryant was when he entered the draft. If it weren’t for my wanting to skip a grade to go to college, I should still be in my senior year next year. Even if they think I have talent now, there’s no guarantee that I will be just as talented after graduating high school and going to college. These things need to be tested over time."
Tellem: "Yes, that’s true. About how they view your talent, it is just like you said, but the key point is, do you think you have the potential to play in the NBA?"
He made a questioning face, not because there was something wrong with him, but because he thought there was something wrong with Tellem, was he really insane after being sacked by Kobe.
Tellem: "Don’t you think those colleges are too enthusiastic about you? They haven’t been as keen on Josh McRoberts, Monta Ellis, or Martell Webster as they have been on you. All the universities across the country are competing for you—haven’t you ever wondered why?"
That was something Zhang Yang really hadn’t considered... Who thinks about that stuff? He wanted to go to college, so many colleges were recruiting him; he just needed to pick one. Why bother with the reasons?
But when a question is related to oneself, it provokes thought.
Indeed, from the news he’d seen, even for the top high school student McRoberts, second-place Ellis, and third-place Webster, the college enthusiasm had not been as passionate, even verging on crazy.
He quickly had an answer and responded, "Commercial value."
Surprise flickered in Tellem’s eyes. Was this really a high school junior?
Although Zhang Yang was extremely rude to him, even more so than that guy when they first got in touch, he was smarter than that guy.
Tellem: "That’s right. Yao brought commercial value to the Rockets and the NBA, which is extremely rare in NBA history, only Michael Jordan is comparable. Next year, Yao’s rookie contract expires, and the whole league wants him. China is such an expansive and vibrant market; all the teams want a piece of it. So, as long as you’re willing, there will be a team that will bet on your talent."
Zhang Yang stood firm: "Fine, even if I am selected by an NBA team, what can I do for them? Sit by the water cooler? Hand out towels?"
Tellem retorted, "Do you want to play four years in NCAA before entering the NBA? If that’s the case, my visit today is indeed presumptuous.
But if you only play one or two years, then I think there’s no difference for you between the NBA and NCAA. Both the NBA and NCAA are leagues for adults, different from high school, and in one or two years, you would just be getting past the adjustment period in college. I don’t think that will help your draft stock. Over the years, I’ve seen too many talented high school students go to college and come out after a year or two with even lower draft expectations.
No, I misspoke, there is a difference. If you stay in the NCAA for one or two years, you are paying tuition to the NCAA and helping them earn advertising revenue. They don’t even allow you to make money. But if you go to the NBA, they’ll pay you a hefty salary; sponsors would give you directly what they’d give the NCAA. They’d also provide you with the most professional training conditions, and even acting as a sparring partner for NBA players, I believe, is better than NCAA play.
What’s your purpose for going to the NCAA? Do you really want to play for a certain college? Pursue college honors? If you see the NCAA merely as a bridge to the NBA, then you might consider my suggestion."
There was silence for a few seconds, then Zhang Yang said, "All this talk is useless with me being a 16-year-old who can’t even sign a contract on his own."