Mamba Sports' Wealth of Talent

"Yo, you're here too, kid?" Zhang Weiping led a group of Dragon TV reporters into the Lakers' training facility locker room.

Because of the Wang Zhizhi affair last year, Zhang Weiping had fallen out with China Central Television and the basketball association. On top of that, the founding of Mamba Academy had received neither support nor recognition in Beijing, so Zhang Weiping had simply headed straight for Shanghai!

Shanghai, the Oriental Pearl—a modern, youthful place full of vitality and promise. And free of all that corruption, too.

This place would become one of China's undisputed future centers.

Whether in business, manufacturing, sports, or media, its future potential was immeasurable!

Zhang Weiping brought massive investments from Mamba Academy and Kobe's Mamba Sports, creating a large number of jobs. The local leadership was extremely pleased.

With a stroke of the pen, Mamba Academy was approved!

Zhang Weiping consequently became a prominent figure in Shanghai, serving as a bridge between Mamba Sports and all sorts of platforms. From government officials to professional sports teams, major television stations and media outlets, as well as sports universities, Coach Zhang moved with ease through every circle and built many connections.

First, he invested in several promising young prospects on various professional teams. For example, the Shanghai team's eighteen-year-old center Yao Ming, as well as his eighteen-year-old teammate Liu Wei—Zhang Weiping gave both of them plenty of special training!

That also helped the Shanghai team achieve an excellent fourth-place finish in the Chinese Basketball Association this year!

These were the young players Mamba Sports had first sponsored and developed in Shanghai, benefiting from its proximity.

Then there were Du Feng and Zhu Fangyu from the Guangdong Hongyuan Youth Team. Zhang Weiping also liked those two foul-mouthed youngsters very much.

That's the spirit! That was how basketball should