One Year Left to Play-Chapter 118 - 38: Da Zhi Comes to America

"I think he might lose a lot of weight, I don’t know what kind of setback he encountered, maybe some girl rejected him, and he actually wants to lose weight... I don’t know if you have talent for being a drama actor, but with your looks and body, even if you don’t have talent, you could be the face of the show!" Zhang Hao said as he looked up and down at the tennis beauty in front of him.

"You’re the face," Aprile Clark rolled her eyes at Zhang Hao and laughed, "If Paul hears you talking like this, he’ll probably fight you. I’ve introduced many pretty girls to him, but he doesn’t seem interested in them..."

"You should directly tell him they’re girlfriend material. With his intelligence, he wouldn’t catch on that you were introducing friends with dating potential."

"Maybe so..." Aprile Clark glanced at Zhang Hao... Suddenly realized and laughed, "If Paul heard you talking like this about him, he’d definitely fight you!"

...

After breakfast and a short rest, Xu Jicheng came to pick both of them up.

Zhang Hao had rented a business car yesterday; Wang Zhizhi came to the United States as a regular student, and the country wouldn’t give him much preferential treatment, or couldn’t, to be precise. They’d already done a lot by letting this soldier player study abroad and having the military pay for tuition and basic living expenses. In the U.S., Wang Zhizhi can only rely on himself.

At the airport, the three found a visibly labeled coffee shop to chat while waiting.

While waiting, Aprile Clark’s phone rang.

Returning after the call, Aprile Clark said to Zhang Hao, "Aix, another agent wants to interview, named Charles Banks. When should I schedule him? He’s in Los Angeles and can come anytime..."

After Aprile Clark’s vacation started, Zhang Hao hired her for some simple tasks, not involving her too much in business. When things got serious, she wouldn’t be able to handle them anyway. Originally, Mrs. Pierce helped with phone calls and appointments...

Mrs. Pierce is busy managing the apartment. By August, international high school students had arrived in Los Angeles, so business at the apartments associated with Inglewood High School, ranked among the top U.S. high schools, was always good.

"Charles Banks, Garnett’s agent?" Zhang Hao recalled the man who teamed up with Duncan’s wife to put a single-color cap on Duncan...

"Yes, that’s how he introduces himself, hoping you two high schoolers can be in the same agency." 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

"Help me reject him, just say... Banks are frauds."

Zhang Hao remembered the agent named Banks; he saw this big shot on a legal program. This genius deceived both 21-number power forwards and ended up serving time.

Deceiving is one thing, but that first-pick 21 was miserable. Banks took a $3 million US Dollar bribe from the poker-faced wife and falsified accounts for her playboy... The guy lost over $30 million US Dollars, being cheated and conned with a cap on his head.

Garnett didn’t lose his wife but lost even more money.

Others certainly don’t know about this incident, yet Aprile Clark found Zhang Hao’s reason for rejecting the agent... amazing and impressive!

Aprile Clark wouldn’t make decisions for Zhang Hao. Although Zhang Hao’s reason seemed strong, it was strong beyond reason.

Rejecting a meeting just because of a name?

Following Zhang Hao’s suggestion, she called back to refuse Charles Banks.

Xu Jicheng oddly asked, "Aix, you haven’t signed with an agent yet?"

"No, I already signed the contract earlier. Now if I sign an agent, he won’t earn commission from my salary, so those capable agents don’t want to do free work, unsure whether I’d sign another contract after three years..." Zhang Hao explained.

Xu Jicheng nodded and understood.

Forget these American agents, even Chinese journalists don’t know the strength of the China market yet.

Zhang Hao wasn’t in a hurry about this; given the current situation, he didn’t have any endorsements to sign.

Brands like Adidas and McDonald’s, who have his contact info, haven’t reached out to him. Let alone others.

This class of rookies is sandwiched between years of high-draft caliber picks; mediocre, lacking the star power compared to 92-94’s draft years. Upcoming years’ drafts might see talents like Iverson, Duncan, and Olajuwon join in the same or separate years... They can’t compare to this class.

This class of 58 rookies, only Starkhouse signed a 3-year $4.5 million US Dollar endorsement with Nike and Garnett had a 3-year $12 million US Dollar deal. No one else did.

Agents aren’t anxious because signing someone random may be worse than none at all.

But Zhang Hao wasn’t without plans. He considered hiring a lawyer to review contracts in case any emerged needing signing.

Lawyers are useful, although costly, but don’t charge if idle.

At 9:30, Wang Zhizhi’s flight landed in Los Angeles. Zhang Hao and Aprile Clark joined a group of reporters at the arrival gate to meet Wang Zhizhi.

Cameras were set up, and Xu Jicheng reminded Zhang Hao to keep his appearance neat.

For Zhang Hao and Wang Zhizhi, it was just a new friendship. But for journalists, it was different. Just in case, even if just in case, if Zhang Hao and Wang Zhizhi’s frontcourt duo shines in World Basketball someday, this would be invaluable footage.