New York, NBA headquarters.
In the top-floor conference room of Olympic Tower, the long table was covered with statistical reports, ratings analyses, and financial projections.
League commissioner David Stern sat at the head of the table, his hands folded on its surface. His expression was calm, but there was something indefinable in his eyes—not anxiety, but the caution that preceded a major decision.
The folder in front of him held a report listing several figures—the average ratings for the first five games of the NBA Finals, social media discussion volume, jersey sales, sneaker sales, ticket revenue, and advertising revenue.
Every figure was setting a new record.
The conference room door was closed, the curtains drawn. Only the projector cast light onto the white screen.
"Gentlemen."
Stern spoke quietly, but his voice carried with exceptional clarity through the silent conference room. "Through the first five games of the NBA Finals, ratings are up 37% over last year. Social media discussion is up 200%. Jersey sales, sneaker sales, ticket revenue, advertising revenue—all have set new all-time records."
He opened the folder and glanced around at those present.
Vice presidents, the public relations director, the operations director, the chief financial officer—more than a dozen people filled both sides of the long table, each looking as though he were attending a major business negotiation.
"After Li Fei scored 77 points in Game 5, NBA stock gapped up at the opening bell the next morning, posting its biggest single-day gain in ten years," the chief financial officer interjected.
Stern nodded.
"The global live broadcast of Game 5 reached 215 countries and territories, with a total audience of over one billion. The Chinese market accounted for a third of that."
Operations director Russ Granik opened the data sheets in front of him.
"During the final five