Memphis was the largest city in Tennessee and the 17th-largest city in the United States. But what did Link see from the taxi taking him to FedExForum?
Run-down buildings, abandoned high-rises, and stretches of barren-looking land.
Only once they got close to downtown did the scenery outside the window gradually grow more lively.
Memphis had once been the world's largest cotton producer. But now, hit hard by both industrial relocation and the Great Depression, the city had become increasingly dilapidated.
Along with the steep economic decline, the crime rate had also surged.
The day before, at the hotel, Link had made a point of looking it up. It turned out that the story about people in Memphis getting free game tickets for turning in their guns was true, not something Jeff Austin had made up or exaggerated.
That was Memphis: a city that had once prospered, but was now in decline.
Sitting in the taxi, Link turned his gaze away from the streets outside. He'd been a basketball fan in his previous life, but the 2010–11 season was a long way from 2019. He was a little hazy on what the Grizzlies were actually like at the time.
He took out his phone and looked up the Grizzlies' roster. Then, putting it together with the state of Memphis, he couldn't help but smile bitterly.
A city's reputation often became a team's defining mark, and the Memphis Grizzlies were no exception.
The Grizzlies were a team people feared—not because they were unbeatable, but because star players wanted nothing to do with a city plagued by crime and economic decline.
That was why, when Pau Gasol learned he'd been traded to the Los Angeles Lakers, the Spaniard—who'd spent six and a half years in Memphis—hadn't felt sad or reluctant. His first reaction had been excitement.
And now, the Memphis Grizzlies' players and the team itself were practically another reflection of the city.
Almost every player on the Grizzlies had been discarded and looked down on.
Mike Conley? Just Oden's sidekick back in college.
Gasol Jr.? Just a second-round pick. The Lakers had once put him on the trading block alongside Chinese player Sun Yue, letting the Grizzlies choose between them.
Zach Randolph? A former mainstay of the Jail Blazers, then a man who'd spent years soaking in New York's glitzy cesspool. By the time he arrived in Memphis, almost everyone was convinced he was finished.
And what about Link? A four-year college player who'd gone undrafted. He'd nearly failed to make it in the G League, then been kicked out of the Rockets after making it to the NBA.
Their similar fates gave Link a sudden sense of kinship with the Grizzlies.
He was just like the rest of the team: someone the world had abandoned. They'd been left behind in this declining city, treated like garbage and left to fend for themselves.
But as someone who'd traveled through time, Link knew the others on the Grizzlies were just like him—they refused to give up!
"Link, after you sign today, you might not get to play in an official game right away."
With FedExForum only a short distance away, Jeff Austin began explaining what Link could expect after joining the Grizzlies.
"Huh? What do you mean? Are they going to send me back down to the G League first?" Link swallowed. If the Grizzlies still needed him to play in the G League, then all his excitement would have been for nothing.
"Not the G League. You scored 52 points there and broke your personal record. There isn't much left for you to prove. But the Grizzlies will probably have you play in some practice games first. If you're good enough, they'll let you make your official debut."
Link nodded when Austin finished. He knew perfectly well that an undrafted player wouldn't find it easy to establish himself in the NBA.
"Actually, this is a good thing, Link. The Grizzlies are desperate for a small forward, so they really do want you on the court. But that's exactly why they need to make sure you're ready. With the Rockets, you didn't even practice with the team. At the end of the day, you were never part of their plans. Memphis is different. They need you to play, so they're going to test you first. Seize your chance, then make a splash."
Austin's reasoning made sense, and Link accepted it.
After all, signing a guaranteed contract meant a deal worth at least a million dollars. The Grizzlies' owner wasn't a charity, and he wasn't going to spend several million dollars without good reason.
The money and the opportunity were right there. Want them? Come earn them!
A few minutes later, Link finally saw the luxurious modern building that stood in Memphis like the city's crown jewel: FedExForum.
FedExForum didn't fit in with the rest of Memphis at all. It was simply too luxurious. The arena was rectangular, with an exterior made almost entirely of glass. Its main entrance faced the road, and numerous basketball-shaped stone bollards separated the plaza from the street.
The Blue Team's home court couldn't compare to this arena. Even Toyota Center in Houston was no match for FedExForum.
"Isn't it beautiful? Don't underestimate FedExForum. It was the first arena in the NBA to use a transparent shot clock, so fans sitting behind the backboard wouldn't have their view blocked."
Jeff Austin knew FedExForum well. After all, his top client, Marc Gasol, was on the Grizzlies. He also knew Grizzlies general manager Chris Wallace. That was why Link had been able to get in touch with the team so quickly. And the Grizzlies took players recommended by Austin very seriously.
That was the difference between an agent with connections and a rookie agent. Otherwise, why would anyone earn several million dollars a year in commissions?
Link and Austin got out of the taxi and walked into the arena lobby. It was beautiful, decorated with plenty of eye-catching murals and graffiti. Along with Grizzlies players, the murals featured many of Memphis's most famous artists.
Link didn't know much about Memphis's culture, but he recognized "Elvis Presley" on one of the murals.
There was no denying it: the inside of the arena and the Memphis outside its doors were two different worlds.
"Austin, you're finally here. This must be Link, right? Welcome. I hope your time in Memphis has been pleasant so far."
They hadn't been in the lobby long when a muscular, bald Black man who looked somewhat elderly came over and warmly shook hands with Link and Jeff Austin.
"This is Elston Turner, an assistant coach for the Grizzlies. He's a former pro player with plenty of experience as an assistant. He coached with the Trail Blazers from '96 to '00, then the Sacramento Kings from '00 to '06. From '06 to '11, he was in Houston, where he got to know Yao Ming. Now he's in Memphis, helping this team move forward."
Jeff Austin gave Link a thorough introduction. Link was stunned. The unassuming-looking man in front of him had quite an impressive résumé. He'd been coaching since 1996, making him a seasoned veteran.
"Hahaha, all right, all right, Jeff. I know you're well-informed. Everyone in this business is an open book to you, so quit showing off that vast knowledge of basketball. Link, if you're ready, go change in the locker room. We'll get you warmed up around noon, then do some physical tests. In the afternoon, you might even get to practice with the team."
"Huh?" Link glanced at Austin, then Turner. "I'll practice with the team this afternoon? But we haven't even signed the contract yet."
"How long does it take to sign? You can do that in the general manager's office after practice. Training comes first. You want to get on the court as soon as you can, don't you? I've watched you in the G League and in Houston. If you're willing to work hard, I believe there's a place for you in Memphis."
"Oh... okay..." Link nodded. Memphis really was different from Houston.
With the Rockets, they'd brought in a bunch of reporters for his signing ceremony, and Morey had put on a fake smile for the cameras. But behind all that show, Link hadn't even been allowed to practice with the team.
In Memphis, he'd be practicing with the team right away, and the contract signing would be simple and straightforward. Everything was unpretentious.
Link had now experienced firsthand the difference between a team that wanted to use you for publicity and one that sincerely wanted you to play.
The signing wasn't going to be some grand affair, but Link actually felt he'd come to the right place this time. Still, the thought of taking part in a competitive practice that afternoon made him a little nervous. He might now have Grant Hill's abilities from the 2009–10 season, but competing at the NBA level was nothing like beating Jon Brockman.
"Oh, one more thing. What number do you want on your jersey? Will you stick with 5, or do you want to change it? Any number that isn't taken is yours. After all... hahaha, the Grizzlies haven't retired any numbers yet. Tell me what you want, and I'll have the team get it ready."
At Elston Turner's question, Link answered without hesitation.
"Number 0. I want to wear 0. If that's possible, thank you."
"Really?" Turner smiled. He knew about the story between Link and Upshaw. At that moment, he found himself liking the Chinese-American forward more and more.
Link looked around. If everything went well, this would be the place he fought for from now on.
Then he'd start from zero and keep moving forward!
The fight would begin with practice that afternoon.
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