The NBA is More Complicated Than Imagined

The morning of his first day back in Oklahoma City from Indiana, Link rummaged through the closet in his rental apartment and discovered in despair that he didn't own a single suit.

He sat on the bed, staring at the messy pile of clothes around him, at a loss.

Today was the day Link was supposed to sign with the Rockets. Yet he couldn't meet the Rockets' management in formal wear. Sure, for a G League player, putting food on the table was already a struggle—where would he find spare cash for a suit?

Left with no choice, Link threw on a casual outfit, hoping it wouldn't leave a bad impression on the Rockets' front office.

But honestly, Link never expected to end up with the Houston Rockets. Everyone knew that during this era, the Houston Rockets were practically the home team for Chinese NBA fans. Even though Yao Ming was out for the season again, his influence lingered. Link himself had once been a Rockets fan.

If everything went smoothly this afternoon, he'd become a member of the Rockets!

In the 10-11 season, the Houston Rockets were in a slump. From what Link remembered, they wouldn't even make the playoffs that year.

The Rockets' forward depth wasn't impressive either. Battier was still holding the line, but age was catching up. Chase Budinger could fly and dunk, but his raw skill was average. In other words, Link believed he could earn his spot on the Rockets through ability.

If he could become a full-fledged Rockets player someday, stepping in to replace Yao Ming as the idol of basketball fans across China—that would be something worth dreaming about.

Just as Link was about to drool over the thought, his phone rang. It was Carl Jones, calling to say they should get ready for the signing.

※※※

Before the signing even began, news that Link was about to sign with the Houston Rockets had already exploded across the globe.

Now, on that vast Eastern continent, people learned that a Chinese-American named Link would soon don the Rockets' jersey and carry on Yao Ming's legacy.

Overnight, Link became a household name among Chinese basketball fans. And back in the US, he'd gained a certain level of recognition too.

Without a doubt, Carl Jones and the Rockets had handled the hype perfectly—they'd successfully used Link to grab attention. But the man at the center of it all had no clue about any of it.

So when Link arrived at the meeting spot and found a swarm of reporters waiting, he was genuinely stunned.

He never imagined that a nobody G League player signing a ten-day contract with the Rockets could stir up this much buzz.

The moment he stepped into the room where the signing would take place, Rockets general manager Daryl Morey—well-known to Chinese fans—walked up and gave Link a warm hug.

"Congratulations, Link. You're about to make your dream come true."

Morey was incredibly friendly, as if he and Link were old acquaintances.

As Morey hugged Link, camera flashes went off all around. Link felt dizzy, like everything around him wasn't quite real.

"Come on, let's get this signing done quickly so you can put on that Houston Rockets jersey. Over here, young man—your ten-day contract is waiting."

Morey walked over to a table where a contract lay. According to Carl Jones, he'd already reviewed it carefully; Link just needed to flip through it for show and then sign.

The moment Link sat down, every lens zeroed in on him. Beads of sweat clung to his forehead. After that last game in Indiana, facing just one reporter had made him incredibly nervous.

Now, staring into a sea of dark camera lenses, Link felt like he could barely breathe.

Under everyone's watchful eyes, Link mechanically flipped through the contract and scribbled his name.

"Smile at the camera, young man."

As soon as Link finished signing, Morey muttered quietly beside him.

Still dazed, Link did as he was told, and a picture-perfect signing photo was born.

Without really understanding how, Link had become an NBA player, a member of the Houston Rockets.

Fifty-seven thousand dollars in hand, the NBA's door kicked open. But Link couldn't shake a sense of unease—the people around him were just too enthusiastic.

"Congratulations, Link! I told you I'd make you an NBA player!" As soon as the signing ceremony ended, Carl Jones hugged Link excitedly, like he was clutching a sturdy money tree.

Morey, on the other hand, just gave Link a faint smile and hurried off, his earlier warmth vanishing in an instant.

It felt like... like he'd just been putting on an act for the cameras?

"Now that the signing's done, my plan can move forward. Truth is, before you signed, I'd already gotten a bunch of commercial contract offers, and I turned them all down. Know why? Because once you're famous, they'll have to pay several times more to land you! Cheer up, Link—we're about to get rich!"

Carl Jones was practically dancing with joy, but Link frowned.

"Commercial contracts? Shouldn't my first priority be reporting to Houston?"

"Of course, of course. I'll send you to Houston tomorrow. But don't worry—even in Houston, there are plenty of commercial deals waiting for your signature. Tomorrow, no, maybe this afternoon, news about you will go global. And your value will go up with it. You'll love how I work, Link. Together, we'll get tons of opportunities!"

As Carl Jones spoke, his phone rang. From his expression and tone, it was clearly a call about a commercial deal.

The way Carl Jones and Morey acted made Link uneasy. He just wanted to play basketball in peace and earn his spot in the NBA. But if the Rockets and Jones were only using him as a publicity stunt... Link clenched his fist. The NBA world wasn't just about basketball—it was far more complicated than he'd imagined.

※※※

"Inspirational! Chinese-American Youth Achieves Dream, Houston Gains Another Chinese Element!"

"Another Chinese Presence? 'China Lin' Joins the NBA Ranks!"

"Morey: Very Happy Link Is Joining the Rockets—His Arrival Is a Great Addition to the Team."

Just as Carl Jones had said, news of Link signing with the Rockets spread worldwide that afternoon. Articles about him and deep dives into his story were endless.

Link's parents even called to say reporters had swarmed their doorstep, most of them Chinese journalists.

Looking at all those headlines, Link felt only one thing—fake.

He suddenly felt like he wasn't going to Houston to play basketball, but to put on a show. Like a washed-up celebrity making a quick appearance for easy cash, then coasting on past glory until the next payday.

And the directors of this show were undoubtedly Carl Jones and Morey. One wanted bigger commercial deals; the other wanted to tap into the Chinese market while the Rockets were struggling.

Had these two signed him for basketball reasons? Link couldn't help but put a big question mark in his mind.

Shaking his head, Link stopped letting his mind wander. No matter what Morey's real motive was for signing him, as long as he performed well in training and games, he could tear off that "clown" mask.

"Link, what are you spacing out for!? Get in here, dinner's ready!"

Zeke Upshaw's shout snapped Link back to reality. He realized he'd already reached Upshaw's doorstep.

After learning Link had been signed by the Rockets, Upshaw had specifically suggested Link come over for dinner so they could celebrate together.

"What's wrong with you? Why the long face? You're going to the NBA, man, the NBA!"

Upshaw rushed out of the house and clapped Link on the shoulder. The NBA was Upshaw's lifelong dream. But at twenty-six, he still hadn't achieved it.

Still, seeing someone close to him realize that dream now, Upshaw was just as excited.

"No, I'm happy. Thanks for looking out for me and sticking with me, buddy." Link hugged Upshaw. It was the first time he'd embraced a man with such deep emotion.

Compared to Carl Jones and Morey's unreadable masks, the warmth Upshaw gave him was utterly real.

They fought side by side on the court and took care of each other in life. In some ways, Link almost wished he could keep playing in the G League with Upshaw.

"Alright, come inside. Mom made her specialty sausage pie. Tonight's your big night, brother."

Link smiled faintly and stepped through the door. Only in this moment did he truly feel the joy of becoming an NBA player.