Joining the National Team (Part Two)

On the way back, Li Chen was clearly deep in thought, not expecting other teams to poach his players so quickly.

However, this situation is normal. After all, the Clippers' ability to win a game in the NBA Finals without him proves his strength.

Just then, Li Chen's phone rang. He parked his Land Rover Range Rover on the side of the road, picked up the phone, and saw that the caller was Odom.

Upon seeing this, Li Chen's heart skipped a beat, wondering if this guy had also been poached.

After a short while, Li Chen pressed the answer button with a heavy heart.

After the call was answered, Li Chen remained silent, as did Odom on the other end.

After a long pause, Odom finally said, "I..."

Hearing Odom stammering and unable to utter a single word for a long time, he knew what was going on. With mixed feelings, he sighed softly and asked, "Are you leaving too?"

After a moment's hesitation, he made up his mind and said, "Chen, just say the word, and I'll stay."

Li Chen was slightly taken aback, then smiled and said, "You're a true friend, kid."

However, he had just sensed Odom's hesitation, and he knew the opposing team might offer a high price.

Thinking of this, Li Chen felt that he couldn't let his brother's path to wealth be delayed for the sake of winning the championship or for his own selfish desires.

So he asked, "Which team wants to poach you, and how much annual salary are they offering?"

Hearing Li Chen's question, Odom sighed, "Chen, you know my rookie season just ended this year, and then, Miami Heat coach and general manager Riley approached my agent. At the time, I didn't want to leave the Clippers..."

Li Chen rolled his eyes. "And then..."

"Then... then I made an outrageous demand, saying I wouldn't leave the Clippers for less than $12 million. Fuck, I never expected that old bastard Riley would actually agree."

Li Chen was somewhat surprised to hear that the Miami Heat had offered Odom a $12 million annual salary, wondering how this guy could be so sought after.

However, Li Chen thought about it again. Odom averaged over 15 points per game in the Playoffs and was an all-around player on both offense and defense. It was not surprising that Riley would take notice of a player who could withstand the intensity of the Playoffs.

Lost in thought, Li Chen said irritably, "Forget it, you might as well get lost!"

Odom was slightly taken aback, feeling a little touched. He knew that Li Chen didn't want to delay his chance to make big money.

However, she still complained, "Fuck, what do you mean? Are you saying you don't like me?"

Li Chen nodded and said, "Yeah! It's not easy for you to meet a sucker like Riley! Do you understand what I mean?"

Odom "..."

"Fuck, you bastard, your mouth... really... fuck." Odom was momentarily speechless.

Ignoring Odom's incessant chatter, he asked to himself, "By the way, Lamar, what's your contract for?"

"Three years? What happened?"

"Tch, Lamar, you're so lame. Andrei got a six-year contract with an annual salary of ten million."

Hearing this, Odom was somewhat surprised, then asked in astonishment, "Andrei is leaving too?"

"Hmm!" Li Chen said in a low voice.

Seeing his teammates, with whom he had spent the entire season, about to leave, he felt genuinely sad.

That damn Donald Sterling is so stingy. If he were more generous, his teammates wouldn't have left one after another.

At this moment, the decision was made not to let the Clippers forever, and to let Alvin Gentry reclaim the championship title...

As Li Chen's thoughts wandered, another thing came to mind. "By the way, Lamar, you still honored your bet against the Spurs. Let me tell you, you're not getting away with it."

"No problem," Odom said confidently.

Now that he's making a lot of money, he doesn't hesitate to spend money on entertaining people.

Afterwards, Li Chen called all the Clippers players together, which served as a farewell ceremony.

Los Angeles is known worldwide for its vibrant and diverse nightlife.

This city not only boasts breathtaking natural scenery, but also has nurtured countless creative and diverse nightclubs, providing excellent destinations for elites and socialites.

As night falls and neon lights illuminate the city, Los Angeles nightclubs exude an unparalleled vibrant atmosphere in every corner.

From trendy bars to upscale dance halls, whether you're looking for a place to relax or unleash your energy, you'll always find the perfect nightclub for you.

As Li Chen entered the nightclub, he was enveloped by a wave of beautiful music that made his heart race.

An intoxicating aroma fills the air as bartenders skillfully and creatively blend one delightful cocktail after another.

People danced to a lively rhythm under the enchanting lights, exchanging and sharing joy with one another.

Los Angeles nightclubs are known for their diverse styles, catering to a wide range of musical tastes and aesthetic preferences.

Whether you prefer pop, electronic, or rock, you can find the perfect music venue here.

In addition, nightclubs host a variety of themed parties and special events, such as themed dances, performances by celebrity DJs, and fashion shows, further enhancing the allure of nightclub culture.

Los Angeles nightclubs are more than just entertainment venues; they are also important platforms for social interaction and cultural exchange.

Here, you can meet, connect, and build new friendships with people from all over the world.

These nightclubs attract people from all walks of life, including artists, musicians, creatives, and sophisticated socialites, creating a vibrant and creative social circle.

Li Chen frowned; it was his first time at a nightclub, and he was somewhat unaccustomed to the noisy atmosphere.

"Chen, how's it going? This place is great, isn't it! You'll fall in love with it once you've been here," Odom whispered in Li Chen's ear with a mischievous grin.

"It's too noisy here," Li Chen shouted back to Odom.

Odom "..."

He didn't know what to say about Li Chen. What kind of nightclub wouldn't be a nightclub if it wasn't noisy?

Later, the group of more than ten people found a spot to sit down and each ordered a cocktail.

A moment later, the teammates became impatient. "Chen, let's go to the dance floor! We might even run into a female celebrity!" Odom invited.

Li Chen waved his hand and said, "I can't dance, you guys play!"

Seeing that Li Chen wasn't dancing, his teammates didn't force him. Odom, Corey Maggette, Elton Brand, and others joined in on the dance floor. In the blink of an eye, only Li Chen and Wang Zhizhi remained in their seats.

"Brother Zhizhi, aren't you going to have some fun?" Li Chen turned around and shouted loudly at Wang Zhizhi.

Wang Zhizhi shook his head and said, "No, actually I can't dance either."

Li Chen picked up the cocktail in front of him, waved it at Wang Zhizhi, and then took a sip himself.

Wang Zhizhi also raised his wine glass, and the two drank together.

Li Chen asked, "Brother Zhizhi, have any teams tried to sign you?"

Wang Zhizhi thought for a moment and said, "The Miami Heat asked my agent if I had any plans to leave the Clippers, but I refused."

At this moment, Wang Zhizhi asked, "Li Chen, when are you going back to China?"

"Soon, Sketchers has a 10-day event, and then I need to go home and visit."

"And you, Brother Zhizhi?" Li Chen asked in return.

"I... I won't go back. I'm going to train hard this summer and try to get a starting position next season."

Li Chen thought for a moment, then was about to speak.

But Wang Zhizhi refused before he could speak, saying, "Li Chen, I want to rely on my own abilities. I appreciate your kindness."

Li Chen thought for a moment and then nodded. "Good luck."

Wang Zhizhi smiled and nodded.

Odom and the others didn't return until an hour later.

Shortly after, Li Chen roughly understood the Clippers' situation, namely, that Odom and Andre Miller had decided to leave.

Li Chen stood up, and the other players also stood up.

Li Chen and the other players raised their cocktails and said, "Wishing Lamar and Andre a safe journey."

Then... everyone toasted together.

On July 5th, Li Chen returned to China. He first went to Shenzhen, then Shanghai, and finally to the capital.

Just as Li Chen returned to his hotel, a blonde beauty walked in. Her name was Lena, and she was the personal secretary assigned to Li Chen by Sketchers.

At this moment, Lena walked in and said, "Mr. Li Chen, your country's Chinese Basketball Association is here to see you. What do you think...?" Lena asked in fluent Mandarin.

Li Chen's lips curled up. He had thought those arrogant old men looked down on him, a bad player.

So Li Chen said, "Wait for them to come in."

A moment later, Lena entered with a man in his early thirties wearing glasses and a middle-aged man in his forties or fifties.

After the two entered, Li Chen stood up at the opportune moment. Then, the middle-aged man wearing glasses adjusted his glasses and introduced himself, "My surname is Wang, you can call me Brother Wang."

Then, he introduced the person next to him again, "This is our newly appointed Vice Chairman of the Chinese Basketball Association, Comrade Li Yaguang."

Upon hearing the name, Li Chen was slightly taken aback and began to scrutinize the person.

At this moment, Li Yaguang laughed heartily, then said with pride, "Chen, our entire nation has witnessed your performance; you are the pride of our people!"

Li Chen smiled shyly, scratched his head, and then said in a serious tone, "It is my duty, Elder Li, to win glory for the country. It is all I should do."

"Of course, that's assuming you don't have any bad intentions," Li Chen silently added in his mind.

Upon hearing this, Li Yaguang's eyes lit up, his smile widened, and he became even more amiable.

"Good! Chen, well said. Now I have an opportunity for you to have your medical expenses reimbursed by the government. Are you willing?"

"Of course." Li Chen nodded solemnly.

Without Li Yaguang's instruction, the middle-aged man surnamed Wang immediately produced a contract—a contract to join the National Team.

"Chen, this is the contract for joining the National Team. Once you sign it, you'll be a member of the National Team, and in September, you can wear the National Team jersey again to fight for your country."

The middle-aged man with glasses spoke with great emotion and captivating charm.

Then they handed over the contract.

Li Chen nodded, feigning excitement, and took the contract from his hand.

Half an hour later...

After staying home for a few days, Li Chen continued training.

In August, the roster for the National Men's Basketball Team was announced, with Jiang Xingquan as the head coach.

Team roster: Li Chen, Yao Ming, Mengke Bateer, Cui Jian, Li Ke, Du Feng, Zhu Fangyu, Zhang Jinsong, Li Nan, Sun Jun, Fan Bin, Guo Shiqiang.

Then came a month-long tactical training session.

During this time, Li Chen's strength impressed these CBA players, who finally understood what it meant to be Jordan's successor.

Li Chen beat them like it was nothing, and at that moment they finally realized the gap between them and NBA players.

Upon witnessing Li Chen's prowess, head coach Jiang Xingquan intuitively grasped Alvin Gentry's tactical principle: give that damn basketball to Li Chen.

That afternoon, Li Chen continued his extra training, and Yao Ming didn't leave either.

An hour later, they were both lying on the floor.

Li Chen asked casually, "Brother Yao, did you leave the Rockets after your rookie season?"

Yao Ming frowned, then shook his head and said, "Li Chen, I have no intention of leaving the Rockets."

Li Chen nodded, thinking to himself, "As expected, Yao Ming will not leave the Rockets, just like in history."

But I'm the kind of guy who managed to fool Kobe so badly, surely I can fool a simple-minded Yao Ming?

So he feigned confusion and asked, "Why?"

Yao Ming's already embarrassed expression turned even more awkward. After a long pause, he finally said, "Since the Rockets chose me, I can't let them down."

"So you're not planning to leave the Rockets?"

Yes, and you?

Li Chen thought for a moment and said, "I'll leave the Clippers when I win a championship."

Yao Ming was somewhat puzzled by Li Chen's actions. "Li Chen, isn't the Clippers?"

Li Chen thought for a moment and said, "I'm staying with the Clippers entirely to repay Coach Alvin Gentry for putting me through the pressure. You know, in my situation, coaches usually wouldn't give me a chance, so I want to win him an O'Brien Cup."

After thinking for a moment, Li Chen added, "If possible, maybe two."

"As for the rest, you've probably heard about it. Donald Sterling is known as a miser in the industry, and I don't like the feeling of constantly changing key teammates."

Of course, this was under the premise of his own approval, he silently added in his mind.

Yao Ming smiled wryly. He did know about this. Bill Duffy had told him that the Clippers were one of the teams he couldn't join because the Clippers' owner was too stingy.

Just then, Li Chen suddenly changed the subject and asked, "Brother Yao, why did you go abroad to play basketball?"

Yao Ming was taken aback by the question, then subconsciously replied, "To win glory for the country, to prove yourself, isn't that what you did?"

Hearing this, Li Chen chuckled inwardly. He was now absolutely certain that Yao Ming could use crutches.

Instead of answering Yao Ming's question, he asked again, "Do you know how we can win glory for our country?"

Yao Ming thought for a moment and then asked, "To achieve good results and gain the recognition of American fans, just like you did."

Yao Ming also watched Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals, and he was moved to tears during the last three minutes. This was the proof he wanted.

"No, our proof is winning the championship, you understand? The championship is the best proof."

Yao Ming paused for a moment, then looked on with anticipation, and finally said, "With you here, our Rockets..."

However, before Yao Ming could finish speaking, Li Chen sharply interrupted him.

Thank you for the monthly pass, Xiaobao!