David Stern's Plan to Cultivate the Celestial Empire Market!

David Stern had a massive headache lately.

The regular season had already tipped off, but discussions surrounding the NBA were ice cold.

Despite Pippen repeatedly declaring to the public, "Even without MJ, I will still lead the Chicago Bulls to a championship."

Pippen's scoring average had also climbed from 18 points last season to 23 points.

However, scoring and leading a team were two completely different things; the Bulls started the season with a dismal 1-3 record.

The buzz around the NBA remained sparse.

How to successfully navigate the days without Michael Jordan was the greatest challenge Stern had faced since taking office.

Danzi was a superstar he had personally cultivated, and Jordan's influence was no longer limited to the NBA; he was a figure who had transcended the ordinary, a man who drove the development of the entire league.

Now that Danzi had retired, and with no certainty of his return, the situation was dire.

Therefore, he had to promote a superstar that everyone could acknowledge.

But looking at the current list of NBA backcourt players...

If you want to inherit Jordan's mantle, you at least need to have the scoring average to back it up.

Dominique Wilkins, averaging 29 points, but he was already 34 years old—let him carry the torch?

Joe Dumars, averaging 24 points, a team player who plays within the system—how the hell is that supposed to go mainstream?

The Glide, Drexler, was old and declining, and his skills were mediocre.

Pippen?

Don't even get me started; not only was his ability to lead a team insufficient, but he couldn't even pad his stats.

And if he were successfully promoted, wouldn't that imply that Jordan's previous three-peat lacked substance?

Excluding Michael Jordan, seven of the top 10 scorers from last season were interior players.

In this era, the interior still reigned supreme!

"It seems that if I'm going to promote someone, it has to be a center."

David Stern frowned slightly: "I think it might be better to create an era where interior players compete for dominance!"

"The Four Great Centers, the Six Great Power Forwards, split between the East and the West."

The Four Great Centers were known to everyone.

But the concept of the Six Great Power Forwards had never been introduced.

In the West, there was Charles Barkley, Karl Malone, and Shawn Kemp.

In the East, there was Alonzo Mourning and Chris Webber...

It was a bit awkward to force a third power forward in the East; Stern initially thought of Rodman, but that guy was just a blue-collar worker, and he had just been traded to the San Antonio Spurs in the West.

But since the concept of the Six Great Power Forwards was to be introduced, he had to bite the bullet and pick someone.

As for this candidate, it would most likely be the stat-padder, Derrick Coleman.

Stern also had another idea: opening up the international market.

In fact, Stern had harbored this thought for a long time.

"I heard that Li Fei has already announced he will participate in next year's draft."

"Yes, Mr. Commissioner, Li Fei has confirmed he will enter this year's draft. If he is selected by the NBA, he will be the first Chinese person in NBA history."

Stern nodded.

"Li Fei could be a key—a key to unlocking the Chinese market."

It wasn't that the NBA hadn't worked with China before; as early as 1987, they had reached an agreement with CCTV for the rights to broadcast game footage, but until now, the cooperation had remained limited to the periodic airing of recorded NBA games.

Because there had never been a live broadcast, and there were no Chinese athletes playing in the NBA, the concept of the NBA had not yet taken root in China.

But China had a population of nearly one billion, and Stern believed that it would eventually become the largest red ocean market in the world.

If he could open up the Chinese market, the massive influx of viewership might truly compensate for the absence of Jordan.

"Li Fei entering the NBA draft will be an opportunity to open the Chinese market, but this matter requires careful planning and groundwork."

The mind of this little Jewish man, Stern, was racing.

"China currently doesn't know enough about the NBA. We need to use the year before Li Fei enters the league to further penetrate the market."

"Send people to contact some Chinese magazines and newspapers now to promote Li Fei; at the very least, let the Chinese people know that there is a Chinese player about to land in the NBA!"

"Yes!"

"Also, it's time to talk to the Chinese television stations about live broadcasts..."

China.

In 1993, the internet had only just begun to emerge in the United States, and in China, a single Lenovo 486 home computer cost a staggering 30,000 yuan.

Newspapers, magazines, and television stations were among the mainstream communication channels in China.

At this time in China, major newspapers and periodicals published Li Fei's college game statistics.

"Holy crap, 48 points, 25 rebounds, and 16 blocks? My eyes aren't playing tricks on me, right? Is this an NBA game?"

"It's not the NBA, it's the NCAA college league. What kind of league is that?"

"It's the cradle that cultivates NBA players. These stats from Li Fei are insane; even O'Neal couldn't put these up. Does that mean Li Fei has a chance to enter the NBA?"

"Whoa, look at this report. Li Fei's draft profile and projections put him in the top five at worst, and he might even challenge for the top three or even the number one overall pick!"

"Draft comparison: The Dream Olajuwon and Skyhook Jabbar. Damn, these comparisons are legit; they're both NBA superstars. That Jabbar even won an Olympic gold medal before he joined the NBA..."

"Draft report: Strengths include a height of 2.24 meters with agile movement, a massive wingspan, extensive defensive coverage, a tough playing style, and diverse offensive skills... Weaknesses are that his height makes him prone to injury..."

"..."

Basketball fans all across China held newspapers in their hands, beginning to pore over every single detail regarding Li Fei.

Because the NBA's penetration into China was not yet high at this time, these reports were very concise and direct.

Moreover, the Chinese people of this era were simple and down-to-earth.

Although they didn't fully grasp the extent of Li Fei's strength, they were stunned just by seeing the caliber of players Li Fei's stats were being compared to.

Newspapers and magazines featuring Li Fei were selling at an incredibly fast pace.

Sports publications featured Li Fei on their covers, earning him the front page.

After a period of buildup and promotion.

Li Fei's name had already begun to spread throughout the Chinese basketball circle.

And accompanied by the expectations of Chinese fans, Li Fei was given the green light on the NCAA court.

His opponents in the Pac-12 Conference could not bring any pressure to bear on Li Fei.

Li Fei's draft stock also gradually stabilized amidst his exceptional on-court performances.

Over the course of more than a month.

Li Fei's draft projections never once fell out of the top three!

In the eyes of some experts, he might even become the second number one overall pick in the NBA to come from the international market.

And at the same time, the very first number one overall pick from China!