Rebirth of the Industrial Tycoon - Vol 2 Chapter 538
Chapter 538 Half-Man and Half-God
Excellent performance in the All-Star Game, Kobe has become a top sports star in the United States.
A player who can’t even make the team’s start, but has the NBA’s first-class commercial value. This is unlikely to happen in any era.
However, this kind of thing really happened in 1998, and it happened to Kobe.
Feiyue’s brand has rapidly expanded and entered the major sporting goods stores in the United States.
The retail industry in the United States is developed. In addition to large-brand chain stores and specialty stores, the United States also does not lack specialized outdoor goods stores and sporting goods stores.
In addition to mainstream sports brands such as Nike, Adidas, and Puma, many niche brands or miscellaneous brands can be found in retailers of sporting goods.
The first-tier big brands often cooperate with retailers to launch some exclusive or co-branded products.
The advantage of the developed retail industry is that a new product can be spread across the entire terminal sales channel in a short period of time. At this point, the United States at that time had an unparalleled advantage.
A sports star brought up a sports brand. This is nothing new in the United States. Back then, Nike relied on Jordan’s endorsement to successfully come back to life and successfully stand on the throne of the world’s number one sports brand.
Nowadays, Feiyue Sports seems to be copying the road of Nike’s rise.
……
Los Angeles, Great Western Forum Arena. This is the home court of the Lakers.
Under the leadership of O’Neal, the Lakers successfully entered the playoffs. The first opponent they faced in the playoffs was the young trailblazers.
Since Drexler left, the Blazers have entered the reconstruction period, and within a few short years, they have achieved results. By the 97-98 season, the Trail Blazers gathered several rookies in the lottery zone, as well as the Titans of the year.
The “Little Flying Squirrel” Stoudemire who has just joined the Blazers, and Rasheed Wallace, who is getting better and better, form the “internal and external partners” of the Blazers, and they seem to have unlimited potential.
In the front row of the auditorium, James Bond introduced Li Weidong to the Lakers.
“The facilities in the Great Western Forum Arena are indeed a bit old, especially the **** air-conditioning, which has never been better! I need a cold drink.”
James Bond said, wiping the sweat from his head, and then said: “However, Los Angeles has already started building a new arena. Construction has started in March, and it is estimated that it will be completed next year. This will be the largest ball in the United States. Pavilion!
According to internal sources, after the new arena is completed, the Lakers will also move their home court there, and the commercial value of the Lakers will also increase, which is also good for Kobe. ”
Li Weidong nodded, what James Bond said is the future home of the Lakers Staples Arena.
On the field, Kobe has just completed a mid-range shot, and the players who are facing him are not to be outdone, and will immediately return in the next offense.
“The player against Kobe is called Isiah Ryder. He is the Trailblazers’ top scorer. He is very good at breaking through and has a good mid-range shooting ability. It’s just that this guy is a troublesome guy!” James Bond said. Introduced.
Isaiah Ryder was also considered a first-line star in the NBA at the time, averaging 20 points per game. In 1994, he used his crotch to change hands to dunk and take away the All-Star dunk king. This shows that his physical fitness is also very bursting.
Leder’s career is not long, mainly because he is full of misdeeds off the court, such as being late for training, absent without reason, and missing the team’s plane, which he did more than once or twice.
In addition, he spit on fans, attacked them, and even hid marijuana. This kind of non-professional player, even with outstanding talent and ability, will not stay long in the NBA.
Nowadays, Leder is still the backbone of the Trail Blazers, but the trouble off the court made him quickly lose the trust of the Trail Blazers management.
After the future Zen master entered the Lakers team, he once recruited Ryder to the team, hoping that he could integrate into the triangle offensive system, but this guy suddenly disappeared in the playoffs. Fortunately, the “OK combination” was powerful enough to prevent the horse from stumbling.
James Bond continued: “Kobe’s progress is really obvious. Compared with last year’s playoffs, he has matured a lot. He has fully adapted to the rhythm of the playoffs.
Now it seems that the prospects of the Lakers are also very good. O’Neal was originally the best center in the league. When Kobe grows up, the combination of these two people will surely hit the championship!
Boss, I really admire your vision now. When you gave a high school guard a tens of millions of dollars in endorsements and people, and there were exclusive sneakers, everyone thought you were crazy.
But now it seems that we have made a lot of money in this transaction. In just two years, Kobe, a young man, has a popularity that is not inferior to star players. This is definitely the most successful endorsement contract in the history of the NBA. ”
Li Weidong smiled: “You are a bit exaggerated. The most successful endorsement contract is the endorsement of Nike and Jordan. In the NBA, Jordan’s position is difficult to surpass. It is very good that we can be second.”
Li Weidong’s voice paused, and then said: “How is McGrady’s situation?”
James Bond shook his head: “The statistics of McGrady last season are basically qualified and did not bring a very amazing performance. But in terms of popularity, he is far from the Kobe Bryant of the period. At least he has not yet seen becoming a star. potential.”
Among the four major shooting guards, Tracy McGrady has the most impressive rookie season.
Also as a high school guard, McGrady will inevitably compare with Kobe after entering the NBA.
Rookie Tracy McGrady may not be inferior to rookie Kobe in terms of technology and talent, but in terms of luck, Tracy McGrady is far worse.
The starting point for Kobe in the NBA is Los Angeles, which itself is the second largest city in the United States. At the same time, Los Angeles also has a huge entertainment industry. The spotlight of the media is always shining here, allowing Kobe to get a lot of media attention.
And Tracy McGrady started his career in Toronto, which is a cold Canadian city. Compared with Los Angeles, Toronto is simply a bitter cold place where birds don’t shit. McGrady naturally can’t enjoy Kobe’s media exposure.
A high school student came to a foreign country alone. This is not a good feeling. For this reason, when his cousin Carter joined the Raptors, McGrady instantly turned into Carter’s follower.
In his rookie season, Tracy McGrady took a long time to adapt to the NBA. He didn’t show that terrifying offensive talent for this fit. He was more used as a defensive pioneer.
Middie in the middle and late stages of his career is regarded as a defensive loophole by the fans and is a leader in defensive eyesight.
But in the time of the Raptors and Magic, Tracy McGrady was definitely the top defense in the league.
Tracy McGrady has excellent physical fitness, excellent height and wingspan, even in the low position, he does not suffer, and his defense awareness is first-rate, and his ability to block shots is excellent.
Among the four major shooting guards, only McGrady started his career on defense, and the other three started offensively.
Defensive players, the team likes them very much, but fans may not like them. At least in terms of popularity, they are far inferior to offensive players.
So many defensive players can only rely on their hair to gain the attention of fans. In the NBA, if the hairstyle is weird and fancy, and the color is colorful, it often means that the player’s defensive ability is very good.
Another manifestation of Tracy McGrady’s bad luck was the shrinking of the 1998 All-Star Game.
Due to labor disputes, the 1998 All-Star Game did not hold a dunk contest. You must know that the slam dunk contest is an excellent venue for young athletes to show themselves. Back then, Kobe relied on the slam dunk contest to attract countless fans.
With McGrady’s physical talent, if he can participate in the dunk contest, even if he does not win the championship, he can absorb a wave of fans and increase his popularity.
After the NBA labor dispute is over, Tracy McGrady went to participate in the dunk contest, and met his cousin Carter. In front of the strongest slam dunk contest champion in history, anyone will become a foil.
Compared with Kobe, Tracy McGrady’s rookie season is unknown. Although the data is similar to Kobe, it is several grades worse in popularity.
As far as McGrady’s development is concerned, Feiyue Sports’s endorsement contract of 10 million is obviously at a loss.
James Bond roughly explained McGrady’s situation. Although he didn’t say that the endorsement sign was lost, the words implied that.
Li Weidong smiled disapprovingly: “I am still very optimistic about Tracy McGrady, give him some time, I believe he can fulfill his talent.”
James Bond nodded, signing this young rookie is like a bet.
In the highly competitive NBA, it is not a high probability that newcomers want to get ahead, so this kind of gamble has a relatively high probability of losing.
Currently, with the two people signed by Feiyue Sports, Kobe has begun to reflect his commercial value, which is tantamount to a bet win. Bet once in two times, this result is already considered a blood profit.
James Bond then asked: “Boss, are we going to continue the’Ten Thousand Boys’ plan this year?”
“Of course we must continue.” Li Weidong nodded.
“But this year’s rookie, it seems that there is no outstanding high school guard.” James Bond said.
Having signed a high school guard as a spokesperson for two consecutive years, James Bond instinctively thought that Li Weidong preferred high school guards.
Li Weidong replied: “There should be good guards, right? Especially in the position of shooting guard.”
“It turns out that the boss is more inclined to shooting guards!” James Bond nodded suddenly, and then replied: “There must be shooting guards. Every year in the NBA draft, there is no shortage of good shooting guards.”
“How is the quality of this year’s rookies?” Li Weidong asked again.
“The media’s evaluation of this year’s rookies is relatively general. The qualities of the rookies in 1995 and 1996 are very good, especially in 1996, which is the best rookie in the past ten years. So the quality of the rookies in the last two years should be Not much worse.” Bond replied.
Li Weidong recalled carefully. He remembered that 1998 was also a draft year. Although it was not as good as 1996, it still produced many well-known players.
“Regardless of the others, the number one goal is still on Carter.” Thinking of this, Li Weidong said: “There is a young man named Vince Carter. I am very optimistic about him. If you have time, you can contact him. he!”
Four shooting guards, Li Weidong has already signed two, and the next target is naturally Carter, the half-man and half-god.
Moreover, Carter’s basketball shoes have always been relatively easy to sell. Even a few ugly, uncomfortable styles still have good sales.
……
At this time, Carter is already the top star in the NCAA.
Carter studied at the University of North Carolina, which is the top basketball school in the United States and the alma mater of Michael Jordan. Since cultivating Jordan, North Carolina has been regarded as the number one goal by countless basketball geniuses.
The players who can become the core in North Carolina are also NCAA stars and will be paid attention to by countless scouts. It can be said that the future is limitless.
Before Carter, North Carolina’s head players were Stackhouse and Rasheed Wallace. After entering the NBA, they both performed well and are still the main players of their respective teams.
Now it is Vince Carter and Antoine Jamison who have raised the North Carolina flag. These two were called “North Carolina Double Stars” at the time.
And Carter, who was in college, is also known as Jordan’s successor.
In the 1990s, the American media reported many successors to Jordan. As long as it is a shooting guard with a height of about 6 feet 6 inches, with excellent strength, good playing skills, and a good mid-range shooting ability, they will be said to be Jordan’s successor.
Especially the players trained by Jordan’s alma mater, North Carolina, are more likely to be dubbed “Jordan successors”.
The last Jordan successor to North Carolina was Stackhouse. He was 6 feet 6 inches tall and he was also North Carolina’s shooting guard.
After entering the NBA, Stackhouse did have a very good performance, but it was still too far away from Jordan.
And this guy is a little ignorant. He once uttered a rant to senior Jordan, but he was taught a lesson on the court by Jordan. Since then, no one has mentioned that he is Jordan’s heir.
Vince Carter is also 6 feet 6 inches tall. He plays the position of shooting guard and is produced by North Carolina. Even if he doesn’t do anything, he will be given the title of successor to Jordan.
After all, Carter is a college player. Unlike high school players, he has accumulated a lot of fame in the NCAA, so there is not only Li Weidong staring at Carter. Other sports brands are also very interested in Carter.
This includes major brands in the US market such as Nike, Adidas, and Reebok, as well as Puma, which is eager to get a share of the basketball shoe market.
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(End of this chapter)