Basketball Terminal

Chapter 66 Endorsement
If we only consider salary, the average income per game for a base salary contract is actually less than that for a ten-day contract. A base salary contract averages over $1 per game, while a ten-day contract for three games would yield $6, averaging $2 per game.

Therefore, signing a short-term contract would be more profitable from an economic perspective. However, the significance of a guaranteed contract is incomparable to that of a short-term contract. Signing a guaranteed contract means that Li Wei becomes a formal NBA player, not a temporary worker. Regardless of his performance in subsequent games, or whether he suffers injuries, accidents, is cut, or is bought out, his $50 salary, after taxes, will be deposited into his account in full.

From this moment on, he will enjoy the NBA retirement plan; after playing for three years, he will be able to receive an NBA pension. Even with lofty ideals in his heart, Li Wei still remembers that he is just an ordinary person and wants to provide more security for his basketball career and life.

After signing the contract, Li Wei gave Luo Ping a $4000 cash check as his agent's commission. Luo Ping was delighted to receive the check; although he could have received $5, he seized the opportunity to become an agent and enter the NBA.

However, on the way back, Scott Mitchell, who had interviewed Li Wei at his home, seriously doubted Luo Ping's professionalism. Could this guy really be an agent? He didn't seem like one at all.

"Fuck your Ace, why are you staring at me like that, bird droppings?"

In the car, Luo Ping, who was in a good mood sitting in the passenger seat, was constantly met with Mitchell's suspicious gaze, and that sense of distrust made him feel like he had a thorn in his side.

"Oh, I was thinking, what role did you play in continuing to write Livy's story?"

“Oh! I’m the one who discovered Levi on the street, I’m his mentor! Our meeting was like Rodney Parker discovering Albert King, like Mike Tyson meeting D’Amato!”

"But in the story before, what... what was your name again?"

"Paris, Paris-Ropin!"

“Luo Ping, yes, I mentioned you once, and I included you in the entry. You introduced Victor to the Nets' scouts, giving Victor a chance to showcase himself.”

"That's right! What else?"

"Gone."

“What? Gone? Do you know…” Luo Ping almost revealed his identity as a supplier. He swallowed hard and continued, “Do you know that I’m Victor’s agent now? A behind-the-scenes assistant to a future star, just like Rich Paul to LeBron James.”

What is your educational background?

"..."

Luo Ping didn't want to talk to Scott Mitchell, and said to Levi, who was driving, "Where the hell did you find this guy to be your exclusive interviewer? Is he famous?"

Li Wei smiled and replied, "Are you very famous?"

Luo Ping fell silent. He had been in a good mood, but now he crossed his arms and didn't want to say anything more.

Li Wei patted Luo Ping on the shoulder and said, “We’re all nobodys, and that’s precisely why we’ve come together. We’re a team, and our goal is to make a name for ourselves. I’ll establish myself in the NBA, Paris will be the agent, and Mitchell will be the media mouthpiece. I’ll handle the games, Paris will handle the business, and Mitchell will handle the publicity—a perfect trio. That’s our division of labor and our expectations for the future. Am I right?”

Luo Ping's emotions surged again. He clenched his fist and shouted, "That's right! We are the Iron Triangle! We will definitely make a name for ourselves! Starting from when Victor signs his first NBA contract! Billionaires, business empires, media moguls! A bright future beckons to us!"

Scott Mitchell, sitting in the back seat, silently filmed their conversation. He didn't say anything, but wondered what his feelings would be when he watched this footage years later. The satisfaction of fulfilling all promises, or the bitter smile and shake of his head in the face of past pride? He didn't know.

However, he is very confident so far because Levi is indeed a very amazing player.
-
At Hong Le Laundry, Chen Lihua almost fainted in the kitchen after learning that Li Wei had officially signed a contract and would earn $50 in six months.

"Can a full-time employee earn this much?"

"That's already the minimum wage; the highest earners make tens of millions a year."

For ordinary people, tens or hundreds of millions seem too vast and distant, lacking any real impact. But the thought of their son signing a contract and earning $50 in six months is incredibly powerful.

Just like ordinary fans discussing star players' salaries, saying things like "1 million over 5 years is too little," or "2500 million a year is cheap," or "1000 million a year is a steal," are common reactions. But if you won 50 in the lottery, you'd be so happy you'd wake up laughing in your dreams, and you'd be happy to cut it in half.

After paying all the miscellaneous taxes and fees, the $50 was roughly halved, leaving a net income of over $20. This was still a decent income, enough to buy Hong Le Laundry, renovate it from the inside out, and sell the GMC parked in front of the store to buy a new one.

Scott Mitchell, carrying a camera, toured and filmed Levi's attic room. He initially thought the pile of shoeboxes belonged to Levi, but it turned out the figurines opposite were Levi's, and the shoes were all Leo's. In front of the camera, Leo's gaze was slightly vacant, occasionally sticking out his tongue, raising his head to glance aimlessly into the void, appearing intellectually challenged but still capable of taking care of himself.

Downstairs, Mitchell filmed the laundromat inside and out for editing. Chen Lihua happily prepared a sumptuous dinner and invited Mitchell and Luo Ping to stay. After dinner, Mitchell interviewed Chen Lihua and Li Manshun. Li Wei didn't embellish their backstories; there was no need. Every Chinese person in Flushing has a story behind them; you don't need to fabricate it, there are always stories of blood, tears, and moving moments. Chen Lihua was from Northeast China and went south to work, joining a textile factory in Jiaxing with fellow villagers. In those days, migrant workers were often mentored by their fellow villagers; textile, electronics, and construction sites were all filled with people from the same hometown.

"Later, I met Li Wei's father. He was a local from Jiaxing and wanted to stay in Jiaxing instead of going back to his hometown. But after Li Wei was born, his factory went bankrupt due to poor management, so he had to find another way to make a living. It was a fellow villager who introduced us, saying that we could make money abroad. We first went to South Korea and worked in a restaurant. In the winter, our hands would turn red from the cold while washing dishes and vegetables, and the pay was low. So we got tourist visas and went to the United States. He found odd jobs at the Flushing subway station, and I worked in a laundry shop. Our son was left in our hometown in Northeast China..."

Chen Lihua sat at the kitchen doorway, reminiscing about the past. Thinking of the hardships she had endured, her eyes reddened, and she wiped away tears. Li Wei came over and handed her a tissue. After wiping her eyes, Chen Lihua glanced at her tall son and said, "I don't really want him to play basketball. Even though he's so tall, he's really clumsy. It's enough that he can manage this laundromat; just don't let him fall into the washing machine and drown."

Chen Lihua spoke in Chinese, and Mitchell asked, "Victor, translate this!"

She said that luckily her son was a genius who saved the whole family with basketball.

"It can't be that short..."
-
Li Wei started considering moving out of Flushing, but finding a place would take some time. So on the morning of the 24th, he still had to get up early to make himself breakfast and prepare to go to the HSS training center. The tasks of walking the dog, packing clothes, and driving were all left to his younger brother, Li Yue.

On the way, Li Yue reported to his brother on the online public opinion situation. In the US, attention on Li Wei continued to rise, though not to the same degree as during the "Linsanity" frenzy. This was related to the changing US-China relations and the various rumors arising from the virus.

Li Wei doesn't mind at all. When popularity can't be converted into actual benefits, it often backfires in the end. This is the principle behind the saying "the hottest thing will inevitably die." Whether you're popular or not has nothing to do with whether you can win. Excessive attention only increases the psychological burden and makes you more vulnerable to attacks.

Li Wei's popularity is much higher in China. While there were some doubts after the first two games, his 21 points and 18 rebounds in the third game sent most Chinese fans into a frenzy. Although there will undoubtedly be some lurking critics waiting to jump in if Li Wei underperforms in the next game, their influence is now negligible.

"Bro, do you think any domestic sneaker brands will ask you to sign a contract as their spokesperson?"

"They will definitely come. Don't believe the private messages you receive; they will send someone to find me."

"So, are you going to sign or not?"

"I don't know, do you have any opinions?"

Li Wei wasn't very knowledgeable about sneaker endorsements. He knew there would be negotiations later, but compared to his basketball career plans, sneaker endorsements were something he could only take one step at a time. He'd simply sign with whoever offered the most money.

Li Yue, however, thought differently. He said, "If we're just looking to make quick money and leave, then we'll cooperate with whoever pays the most and pays the fastest. But if you have long-term plans, want to have your own brand, want to have influence for a long time to come, and want to be able to make a living from it for a lifetime, then I think you should be cautious and not sign contracts casually."

Despite his young age, Li Yue possesses a keen business sense and insight, and is remarkably composed. He noted that many sports stars and singers, in their early careers, lacked confidence in the future or sought quick profits by signing contracts that were essentially low-paying, long-term, and heavily restrictive.

Once they achieve fame and popularity, their commercial value multiplies, but they become bound by contracts, and the money they earn is taken by the manufacturers and brands. That's how angel investing works: cast a wide net early on, and then reap the excess profits once one of them succeeds.

"Brother, if you have confidence in yourself, we should be patient for now. Don't sign any random endorsements, or only sign them when you're sure of them. Don't sign any that have too many restrictions or too long a duration. We'll make a quick buck and leave. Wait until you truly become a star and show your market potential, then sign a brand contract that's lucrative enough."

Li Wei thought about it and felt that his younger brother's words made a lot of sense. He should sign an NBA contract quickly because all the contracts offer the same amount, and he could only get a minimum salary. He needed to get it quickly and become a member of the NBA so that he could play steadily and improve himself.

Commercial endorsements shouldn't be rushed, because it's far from the time to demonstrate your commercial value. Signing a contract at this stage is merely a form of servitude, which will become a constraint once you grow in the industry. Moreover, commercial contracts often lack guarantees; if you don't perform well, you might not even receive the money. Manufacturers aren't fools.

"My dear brother, it seems you're not stupid at all."

"I'm not stupid! You just insisted on calling me an idiot, which made me pretend to be an idiot all day yesterday. But to be honest, I found pretending to be an idiot quite relaxing. After clearing my mind, I felt much better."

"So tell me, if we're short of money, what kind of endorsement deals can we get to help us out?"

"Hmm... how about you become a spokesperson for our laundry shop first?"

"Are you stupid? I'll pay that endorsement fee myself!"

"How about that roast duck restaurant on the next street? The spicy hot pot is pretty good too! Just take a picture, give it a thumbs up, and print it on their signboard. You could easily make a few hundred or even a thousand yuan."

"That's one way..."

(End of this chapter)