Commercial Endorsement?

The day after signing with Carl Jones, Link received a message from this unknown manager.

When he first got the call, Link was still pretty excited. But when he learned the reason the manager had called, Link nearly spat blood. Because Carl Jones hadn't called to tell him he'd found an NBA contract.

"Commercial event?" When Link heard Carl Jones say that word over the phone, he couldn't believe his ears.

He was just a G League player—what kind of commercial event could he possibly have?

"That's right, a commercial event! One afternoon, enough to earn you five thousand dollars. Uh, I know that number is nothing compared to NBA-level commercial deals, but we have to take it step by step, don't we?" Carl Jones's voice sounded very excited, as if he'd just signed Link to a multi-million-dollar contract.

"Five thousand dollars!" Link rubbed his chin. That was way more than he made in a month playing in the G League!

Right now, even though he wanted an NBA ten-day contract more than a commercial endorsement, spending one afternoon to supplement his income didn't seem like a bad idea to Link.

He couldn't just keep mooching meals at Upshaw's place every other day, after all.

"What kind of commercial event?"

"An amusement park event. They've invited you to do a promotion this afternoon. What you need to do is simple: compete with visitors on the arcade basketball machines. Anyone who can beat you gets a prize from the amusement park. Easy, fun, and five thousand dollars goes right into your pocket. Oh, but five thousand dollars—specifically, you'll only get four thousand, because according to the contract, I take a 20% cut on commercial deals."

Hearing Carl Jones's last sentence, Link finally understood why Carl was so eager to find him commercial contracts. But Link could understand—after all, the guy couldn't work for free. This cut from the commercial deal could be considered his payment to Carl Jones.

Maybe if Jones made some money this time, he'd have enough motivation to help Link with NBA matters?

"Alright, but it has to wait until after today's noon training. I have one request, Carl: no commercial event can conflict with training. Training always comes first, okay?"

"No problem at all, Link. So it's settled. Today at four in the afternoon, I'll drive to the arena to pick you up. Trust me, you'll love the feeling of being a star."

Ending the call, Link let out a long sigh. Going to an amusement park to play arcade basketball with visitors? That sounded a bit like a summer job...

※※※

After training ended in the afternoon, Carl Jones showed up right on time at the training facility entrance. When it came to punctuality, Jones was doing pretty well. In two meetings, Jones hadn't been late either time.

"Hurry up, big star! I think there might be a huge crowd of fans waiting for you right now!"

Before Link even got in the car, Carl Jones stuck his head out the window and shouted at him.

"Carl, how are things going with the NBA?"

But Link's attention wasn't on this afternoon's event. As soon as he got in the car, he asked Carl about NBA matters.

"Uh... I'm still working on it, Link. You can't rush it. After all, you've only played one good game. If you can put up strong performances for several games in a row, I guarantee you'll catch an NBA team's eye. So don't rush, Link. Let's take it step by step. First, start with conquering Oklahoma's amusement park."

Along the way, Carl Jones seemed to be in a pretty good mood. Because he didn't have to do anything this afternoon and would still net a clean thousand dollars.

As they drove, Link and Jones passed Oklahoma's true home court, the Chesapeake Energy Arena, which belonged to the Thunder.

It happened to be game day. Even though it was only afternoon, a dense crowd of fans had already gathered outside the Chesapeake Energy Arena.

Outside the arena, huge posters of Thunder players were very eye-catching. On the posters, Link saw Westbrook, Durant, James Harden, and Serge Ibaka.

Thinking about the career trajectories of these four afterward, Link couldn't help but sigh. If they had never separated, who knew how far the Thunder could have gone.

But come to think of it, with an extra person like him suddenly appearing in this world, would history change? Link didn't know, but he was sure the historical path wouldn't follow the old one exactly.

Just as Link was thinking, Carl Jones had already driven to the entrance of an amusement park.

There weren't many people at the amusement park. When Link got out of the car, he didn't attract much attention. Even though he'd dropped a triple-double on Luke Babbitt yesterday, that was still a G League game. Link was still a ways off from the word "star."

"Come on, it's just up ahead. What you need to do is simple: play basketball with visitors, then take the money and go home."

"Hmm... this amusement park..."

"Are you Link!? Oh my god, it's really you! Your performance yesterday was amazing! That big win yesterday was the most thrilling game the Blue Team has played all season. Hey, buddy, can we take a photo with you!?"

Just as Link was about to complain that this amusement park was even smaller than he'd imagined, a middle-aged man dragging his wife and child suddenly popped up in front of Link.

Indeed, Link couldn't compare to real superstars. But yesterday's game had at least given him some local recognition.

"A photo? Sure, no problem." Link was a bit flattered and, a little dazed, took a photo with the family of three.

"Keep it up, Link. I believe you'll make it to the NBA someday." After the photo, the man waved and left.

Link felt a little gratified. In his past life, even in college, he'd been completely unknown. But now, he was something of a public figure.

"See, I told you you'd be popular. Come on, Link, everyone's waiting for you."

Carl Jones waved his hand. He felt like he'd already created a star.

Or rather, successfully latched onto a cash cow.

※※※

Two girls walked arm-in-arm along the amusement park path. One of them, with brown hair, was looking around, looking thoroughly bored.

"I thought this newly opened amusement park would be bigger." The girl shook her head in disappointment. Oklahoma, like her hometown of Ohio, was nowhere near as cosmopolitan as the Los Angeles area.

"Look, there seems to be a crowd gathered up ahead." Beside the brown-haired girl, the other girl pointed at a dense cluster of people.

The two exchanged smiles and walked over.

"Sir, what's going on here? Why are so many people gathered?" The young brown-haired girl stepped forward and asked boldly. It was clear she had a very outgoing personality—she wasn't shy about talking to strangers at all.

"I heard the amusement park hired a professional player to do an event. If you can beat him at the arcade basketball machine, you win a prize. Four people have tried so far, but no one's beaten him yet. Gotta say, that guy's aim is really on point."

The man who was watching answered with a smile.

"A professional player?" The previously listless brown-haired girl perked up instantly. As it happened, she was a die-hard basketball fan.

To be precise, she had once been a basketball player herself.

So the girl parted the crowd like she was swimming, squeezing her way to the front. Since this was Oklahoma, the guest should be a player from the Thunder.

Who could it be? Westbrook? Durant? Or maybe James Harden?

But when the girl saw the guy going head-to-head with a tourist in a shooting contest, she was deeply disappointed. Because the professional player in front of her—she had no idea who he was.

Sure, the man was tall, probably around two meters. And just like people said, his shooting accuracy was terrifying—almost perfect every time. His muscle lines were clearly defined, but his yellow skin wasn't something you saw often.

He might really be a professional player, but the girl could guarantee he wasn't any kind of well-known role player.

"Fifteen shots done, Link goes 15 for 14! Too bad, the challenger fails! But don't lose heart—you still get a photo op with a pro player!"

At that moment, the event host at the amusement park shouted into the microphone. And the brown-haired girl finally learned the name of this so-called professional player.

"Link?" She furrowed her brow. As a basketball fan, she had never heard that name before.

Could it be that the amusement park had hired a fake pro player to fool people?

"Now, there's one last chance to challenge Link. Anyone else want to try?"

Hearing the host say that, the girl confidently raised her long arm. She was the first woman to dare challenge since the event started today.

"That young lady—even from this far away, I can already feel your enthusiasm. Come on up, as the last challenger, and experience what it's like to compete with a professional player! Miss, may I have your name?"

"Rachel DeMita."

The girl took the basketball and smiled confidently. She was going to prove that the so-called guest the amusement park had invited wasn't a real professional player at all.