16: Commercial Endorsement?

The day after signing with Karl Jones, Link received a message from the unnamed manager.

Link was very excited when he first received the call. But when he learned the purpose of the manager's call, Link almost spat out a mouthful of blood. Because Karl Jones called, not because he found Link an NBA contract.

"Business?" Link couldn't believe his ears when he heard Carl Jones say the word on the phone.

Just a G League player, what kind of business activities does he have?

"Yeah, business! That's enough to make five thousand dollars in an afternoon. Well, I know that's not worth mentioning at all for NBA-level business, but we have to take it step by step, don't we?" Jones sounded excited, as if he had signed Link to a multi-million dollar contract.

"Five thousand dollars!" Link touched his chin, which is much higher than his salary for a month in the G League!

Although now he is more eager for a ten-day short contract in the NBA than a commercial endorsement. However, Link felt that it was not a bad idea to spend an afternoon subsidizing his family.

You can't just go to Upshaw's house every three days to eat and drink.

"What kind of business activity?"

"A playground event, they invite you to do a promotion this afternoon. What you have to do is simple, compete with tourists in front of the shooting machine and shoot. Anyone who can win you can get a prize from the playground. Take it easy, be happy, $5,000 is in your pocket. Oh, but $5,000, you can only get $4,000 to be exact, because according to the contract I have a 20% commercial contract draw. to make."

Hearing Carl Jones' last sentence, Link could understand why Carl Jones was so keen to find a business contract for himself. But Link can also understand, after all, people can't help themselves in vain. The commission for this business cooperation is regarded as the salary he paid to Carl Jones.

Maybe this time Jones makes money, and he has enough motivation to help himself run the NBA?

"Okay, but we have to wait until the end of training at noon today. I have one request, Carl, that any business activity must not conflict with training, and training will always come first, okay?"

"No problem at all, Link. Well then, I'll drive to the arena to pick you up at four o'clock this afternoon. Trust me, you'll love being a star."

Hanging up the phone, Link sighed deeply. Going to the playground to play the shooting machine with the tourists? How does this sound like a part-time summer job...

※※※

After the afternoon training, Carl Jones appeared at the entrance of the training hall on time. In terms of timing, Jones did a pretty good job. Meeting twice, Jones was not late both times.

"Come on, big star! I think there may be a lot of fans waiting for you now!"

Before getting in the car, Carl Jones stuck his head out and shouted at Link.

"Karl, how's the NBA going?"

However, Link's attention was not on this afternoon's event. As soon as he got in the car, he asked Karl about the NBA.

"Uh...I'm still working on it, Link. You can't rush, after all you've only played one good game. If you can play well in a few games in a row, I guarantee you'll get the NBA ball. Team's favor. So don't worry, Link. Let's take it one step at a time, starting with conquering Oklahoma's playground."

Along the way, Carl Jones seemed to be in a pretty good mood. Because he doesn't have to do anything this afternoon, he will have a net income of $1,000.

On the way, Link and Jones passed by Oklahoma City's real home, the Chesapeake Energy Arena, which is owned by the Thunder.

Today happened to be game day, and although it was only afternoon, a crowd of fans had already gathered outside the Chesapeake Energy Arena.

Outside the arena, the huge posters of the Thunder players are very conspicuous. On the poster, Link saw the figures of Westbrook, Durant, James Harden and Serge Ibaka.

Link can't help but sigh when he thinks of the career trajectory of these four. If the four of them are never separated, God knows how far the Thunder can go.

But then again, this world suddenly has a new self, will it change history? Link doesn't know, but what he is sure is that the historical trajectory will not follow the same path as before.

Just as Link was thinking, Carl Jones had already driven to the gate of a playground.

There were not many people at the playground, and Link didn't attract much attention after getting off the bus. Although he scored a triple-double in front of Luke Babbitt yesterday, it was a G League game after all, and there was still some distance between Link and the word "star".

"Let's go, it's not far ahead. You just do it, shoot the ball with the tourists and go home with the money."

"Well...this playground..."

"You're Link!? God, it's really you, you did a great job yesterday! That big win yesterday was the best game the Blues have played so far this season. Hey, man. , can you take a picture with us!?"

When Link was about to complain that the playground was smaller than he thought, a middle-aged man dragging his wife and children suddenly ran up to Link.

Indeed, Link can't compare to those true superstars. But yesterday's game, to some extent, made him so famous locally.

"Group photo? Of course, of course there is no problem." Link was a little flattered and took a photo with the family of three in a confused way.

"Come on, Link. I believe that you will appear in the NBA in the future." After the group photo, the man waved away.

Link was a little relieved. In his previous life, he was unknown even in the university. But now, he is also a public figure.

"Look, I said you'd be very popular. Let's go Link, everyone is waiting for you."

Carl Jones beckoned, he felt as if he had created a star.

In other words, a cash cow has been successfully cultivated.

※※※

The two girls were walking hand in hand on the footpath of the amusement park, and one of them, the brown-haired girl, was looking around, looking bored.

"I thought this newly opened amusement park would be bigger." The girl shook her head in disappointment. Oklahoma, like his hometown of Ohio, is far from the cosmopolitan metropolis in the Los Angeles area. .

"Look, there seem to be a lot of people gathered in front of you." Beside the brown-haired girl, another girl pointed to the dark crowd.

The two smiled at each other and leaned forward.

"Sir, what's wrong here? Why are so many people gathered?" The young brown-haired girl asked generously, and she could see that she was very cheerful, and she was not shy at all even when talking to strangers.

"I heard that the playground invited a professional player to come over and do activities. As long as you can beat him by playing the shooting machine, you will be rewarded. So far, four people have tried, but no one has been able to beat him. I have to say , that guy's crosshair is really straight."

The man onlookers replied with a smile.

"Professional player?" The lazy brunette girl came to her senses instantly. By coincidence, she was a die-hard basketball fan.

To be precise, she used to be a basketball player too.

So, the girl pushed aside the crowd with a swimming posture and squeezed to the front. Since it is in Oklahoma, then the Thunder players should be invited.

Who is the one? Westbrook? Durant? Or James Harden?

However, when the girl saw the guy who was trying to shoot with the tourists, she was extremely disappointed. Because of the professional player in front of her, she didn't know him at all.

Indeed, the man was very tall, and his height should be around 2 meters. And as people say, his shooting accuracy is terrifying, almost 100%. Men's muscle lines are obvious, but yellow skin is not common.

There's a good chance he's actually a professional player, but girls can assure you, he's by no means a well-known role player.

"After 15 shots, Link made 14 of 15 shots this time! Unfortunately, the tourist challenge failed! But don't be discouraged, you still get a chance to take a photo with a professional player!"

At this time, the host of the event organized by the playground shouted with a microphone. And the brown-haired girl finally knew the name of this so-called professional player.

"Link?" She frowned. As a basketball fan, she had never heard of this name.

Could it be that the playground found a fake professional player to deceive people?

"Now, there is one last chance to challenge Link, who else wants to try?"

Hearing what the host said, the girl raised her slender arms confidently. This is also the first woman who dares to challenge the event today.

"Miss, I can already feel your enthusiasm even from this distance. Come on, as the last challenger, come and experience what it's like to compete with professional players! This lady, can I know your name ?"

"Rachel Demita."

The boy took the basketball and smiled confidently. She will prove that the so-called guests invited by the amusement park are not professional players at all.