Who will be the role players now that everyone's been reborn?

"Wake Forest University has been eliminated in the Final Four, and Chris Paul has announced that he will bring his 183cm talent to the NBA. Chen Dong, will you continue your college studies or participate in the 05 NBA draft?" At the press conference, after interrupting the topic of the post-game comeback, reporters asked Chen Dong, "Where does your future belong?"

"Phew, that's a tough question!" Chen Dong pondered for a moment before giving his final answer, "Basketball doesn't care about college degrees."

So, barring any unforeseen circumstances, I will skip the second half of my sophomore year and the remaining two years of my junior and senior years, a total of two and a half years of college, and bring my talent to the NBA!!!

Before the Final Four, your lottery picks were as high as 13th, similar to Kobe Bryant in 96. After losing your ticket to the Finals, barring any unforeseen circumstances, your lottery picks have dropped out of the lottery zone.

Chen Dong, with your talent and ability, at what draft pick do you think you'd be selected?

"23rd pick, I guess? Similar to Diaw, hard to predict, and probably impossible to guess. Let the NBA team managers have a headache!" Answering in a light tone, Chen Dong paused, then suddenly changed the subject, "No matter how you choose, I'll always be the most underrated one!"

"The top pick, and also the most underrated?"

"That's right, they dare to choose, and I dare to make them underestimate me!"

The reporters just laughed it off and didn't take Chen Dong's words to heart. They assumed that Chen Dong was just marketing the talent show, and that his method was clumsy because it didn't make sense!

"Do you have a team you dream of playing for? Or who would you prefer to team up with?"

Chen Dong nodded and said sincerely, "As an outside player, my idol is the highest mountain—Michael Jordan."

"I understand, you want to go to the Bulls?"

Chen Dong immediately shook his head.

"I see, you definitely want to join the Bobcats?"

"Why are you still shaking your head?" The reporters were puzzled and somewhat dissatisfied.

"Jordan, the manager, isn't my idol, so my idol has shifted to the one closest to Jordan—Kobe!"

"So, what you really want to do is go to the Lakers, to play basketball with your idol, Kobe!!!"

Chen Dong firmly shook his head in denial, saying, "As a player from China, my first choice will always be to play with Yao Ming."

"Going to the Rockets?"

Are you prepared to compete with McGrady for the same spot?

"Why compete? McGrady and I can coexist perfectly well," Chen Dong corrected the reporter's statement, then continued confidently, "Of course, I'm not afraid to compete with anyone!"

"Including McGrady!"

"..."

The reporters rolled their eyes and exclaimed in unison, "Holy crap!!!"

They felt that Chen Dong was a talented person, but he spoke too nicely. They thought he should stop talking like that in the future. This interview was going to be broadcast. Wasn't he afraid of being beaten to death by McGrady if he was so arrogant in the NBA?

This year's rookies are getting harder and harder to manage.

A guy who calls himself "White Duncan" also likes to spout nonsense, and his marketing methods can be summed up in one word: clumsy!

……

Three days later, in St. Louis, at the Olympic Center Stadium.

At this moment, the 2005 3 Madness finals were underway.

"Chen Dong, North Carolina or Illinois?" Chris Paul, who was watching the game with him, couldn't help but ask Chen Dong.

"It's a 50/50 chance, either way is possible!" Chen Dong's answer sounded insincere.

"Isn't it all just empty talk?" Paul said, drawing a circle in dissatisfaction.

Chen Dong smiled and turned the tables on him, asking, "Then let me ask you, who will win this year's NBA championship?"

Paul grinned, revealing his white teeth. "That's no problem for me!"

Shaq moved to Miami and will need time to gel in his first year. Wade hasn't fully matured yet, so the Pistons with their starting five should still be the team to reach the Eastern Conference Finals.

"With the Western Conference's OK duo dismantled and the Lakers no longer a contender for the championship, and the Timberwolves' Big Three running out of steam, the Spurs should also make it to the Finals."

"The Spurs and Pistons are evenly matched, either one is possible!" Paul concluded with his analysis.

"Analysis is correct!"

"But..." Chen Dong clapped his hands, then changed the subject seriously, "It's superfluous for you to steal my lines like that!"

"You think the Spurs and Pistons are evenly matched? Do you think you're Kakashi? I..."

Chen Dong was afraid of Paul's powerful punches, so instead of breaking through the defense and rushing in to throw a punch like Charlotte did, he followed Paul's words and made a mystical prediction: "If the Pistons and Spurs both make it to the Finals, then we should congratulate our senior Duncan. The championship will definitely belong to the Spurs."

The answer is that this year is an odd-numbered year!!!

"05 was indeed an odd year, but what does that have to do with who won the NBA championship?"

"I don't understand?" Paul looked bewildered and confused.

Chen Dong smiled slightly. Although she wasn't stunningly beautiful, she made Paul pale in comparison. Then, Paul heard Chen Dong's explanation: "Think about it!"

The Spurs won the championship in 99 and 03, so this year is 05. Isn't that obvious?

"That's utter nonsense!" Paul rolled his eyes, but upon reflection, it made perfect sense. "If the Spurs win the championship, it'll definitely be an odd-number superstition!"

That's highly unlikely, isn't it? It's so illogical!

The new Bad Boys Pistons also have the strength and potential to replicate their championship run from the 80s…

"Of course not!"

"As the team with the best regular season record in the league, if we have to predict the championship, the Suns, led by Nash, are the number one seed. If we have to give a winning percentage, it's 60/40, with the Suns having a 60/40 chance and the other teams only having a 40/40 chance!" Paul and Chen Dong's conversation was suddenly interrupted by a middle-aged white man with the confident demeanor of a successful person, very capable and composed.

"Hello, I'm Bill Duffy, an NBA agent. Steve Nash, as the best point guard in the NBA right now, is fortunate to be signed by my agency."

"Chris Paul, I have high hopes for you. After Nash, I believe you will be the best point guard in the NBA in the future."

Am I qualified to be your agent?

"If Chris Paul has to compete with Nash for the best point guard position in his first year in the league, Mr. Bill Duffy, would you side with Nash or Paul?"

"I don't have Nash or any so-called best point guard in the league, so I'll always be on your side, Chris Paul. I'm also an NBA agent, my name is Dan Fegan. Sign with me, and you'll always be my first choice!"

Oh wow, this is a script about two men fighting over one woman!

Chen Dong watched the scene with great interest, but he also knew that Paul, this rising star, was out of reach for the two of them, and even for the major talent agencies.

Like James, Paul also chose to have his brother manage his agency contract.

Sure enough, after a brief conversation with Bill Duffy and Dan Fagan, Paul was not persuaded and stuck to his original decision: no matter what, it's better to keep the good stuff in the family, and his older brother wouldn't betray his own brother, would he?

At this moment, Chen Dong's mind was not on the competition. Although the final battle went down to the wire, Chen Dong was also considering who he should sign his agent contract with, or whether he should sign with anyone.

Dan Fegan is incredibly capable, with a very promising future. He's so outstanding that he can even make his star players feel like they're doing nothing, such as the rising star Arenas and the handsome Patterson, both second-round picks.

The downside is that after signing a big contract, why do they still play basketball? For example, Arenas pointing a gun at his teammates, and Patterson, who is unable to play due to various injuries.

As for Bill Duffy, his abilities are relatively mediocre, but he excels at digging his own holes and filling them himself, paying attention to long-term development. Is he a Chinese friend? Or perhaps the personal agent of a protagonist from a web novel?

This is too difficult, I don't know how to choose!

With the University of North Carolina Tar Heels defeating the University of Illinois Battlers 75-70 to lift the 3rd Madness championship trophy, the 2004/05 National Championship season officially came to a close.

The next two months or so will be the time for the rookies to prepare for the 2005 NBA Draft!!!