More importantly, Tang Long was one of the stars heavily promoted by the league. With such performance and the vast market behind him, how could Adidas and Nike remain indifferent?
Wu Rongzhao keenly felt that if they couldn't seize the initiative, once Nike and Adidas made their move, it would be impossible to sign Tang Long as a spokesperson.
"Xiao Feng, book me a flight to Cleveland."
Assistant Xiao Feng looked at his boss suspiciously.
There seemed to be no overseas trips in his recent schedule. Besides, it was almost time to get off work, and this was encroaching on his personal time.
Working overtime? Never. Absolutely never.
"Boss, it's already past work hours. You can book the ticket yourself."
Wu Rongzhao's eyes, already large, widened even further as he glared.
"I was just saying. Overtime makes me happy."
...
"Bill, are you in Cleveland? I happen to have a meeting there. We can have dinner together if you have time, and discuss cooperation."
CK's business manager was beaming. He had signed Tang Long as an underwear endorser against considerable pressure. The company's top management and some insiders had accused him of misjudgment and were waiting for him to make a fool of himself.
However, with the Cavaliers' winning streak and Tang Long's brilliant performance on the court, Tang Long's fame in the United States was now comparable to that of top-tier stars. If one considered the vast Chinese market, Tang Long was one of the most influential among these top-tier players.
This meant that signing Tang Long for 10 million for endorsement was not only a profitable deal but also a demonstration of strategic vision that had earned him recognition from the top brass.
CK's executives had already stated that if Tang Long signed a men's series endorsement deal, the business manager could become one of the company partners.
Therefore, how could he not be invested in this matter? Coming to Cleveland for a meeting was just an excuse.
"Tony, I know your intentions. We can have dinner, but if you want to discuss business, then we'll have to do it officially."
This was the benefit of having a professional agent.
Everything was geared towards maximizing the client's interests.
Of course, this would also line his own pockets.
The previous endorsement fee had already allowed him to start looking at luxury homes in New York. If he could secure CK's men's endorsement deal, the commission might be enough to buy the mansion he had been eyeing outright.
"Don't worry, it's just a private gathering."
Tony certainly wasn't just looking for a casual get-together, but this approach would be less overtly driven by a clear agenda, making it easier for him to proceed with his plans.
After ending the call with Bill Duffy, Tony also booked a flight to Cleveland.
In addition, many owners and presidents of sports brands were also heading to Cleveland. Their goal was now unified: to sign Tang Long to endorse their company's brand.
...
At this moment, Tang Long was unaware that he had become a coveted asset for sports brands, with many executives waving checks and rushing towards Cleveland. Tang Long's sole focus was on maintaining their lead in the fourth quarter and winning this game.
However, considering the stamina of his main players, Mike Brown only fielded the reserve lineup at the start of the fourth quarter.
The Hornets' reserves were characterized by their speed and agility, which negated the Cavaliers' height advantage and became a burden for the Cavaliers' bench.
Big Z on the inside was completely unable to contain the Hornets' quick and agile frontcourt combination.
After the reserves came on, the Hornets clearly spotted the Cavaliers' slow transitions and defensive gaps.
They immediately adopted a fast-paced offense, scoring within ten seconds and putting intense pressure on the frontcourt.
"If I'm not as tall as you and can't defend you in the paint, then I won't let you easily bring the ball past half-court."
As soon as Daniel received the pass from Big Z, a Hornets player immediately closed in to pressure him. Daniel had intended to pass the ball to Big Z, utilizing his physical advantage to secure possession before passing.
However, as Daniel's pass left his hands, a Hornets reserve player leaped towards the ball.
"Oh no."
Daniel knew the pass was going to be intercepted by the trajectory of the ball.
And indeed, it was.
The ball ended up in Jannero Pargo's hands.
Daniel Gibson rushed to defend, but Jannero Pargo had already passed the ball to Peja on the other side.
Peja shot without hesitation.
A three-pointer.
The score difference now stood at six points.
"Big Z, we can't let them dictate the pace. Slow it down," Mike Brown yelled anxiously from the sideline. "Daniel, don't be afraid of their pressure. Varejão, step forward, be an outlet, stay calm, stay calm."
Mike Brown's shouting had an effect.
Soon, the reserve lineup stabilized. With their height advantage, the Cavaliers' reserves played with ease under the Hornets' basket.
As the pace slowed down, the small and quick players' scoring ability clearly diminished. Without their speed, they were easily blocked by the Cavaliers.
After three minutes of play, the Cavaliers' reserves gradually gained control of the game, extending their lead to ten points.
Seeing this, the Hornets' head coach called for a timeout.
After a 20-second timeout, the Hornets brought in Chandler and West, intending to use West and Chandler to attack the Cavaliers' basket.
Mike Brown glanced at Byron Scott.
He had anticipated Byron Scott bringing in a tall player, but he hadn't expected him to bring in two.
It was a miscalculation. Mike Brown looked at Tang Long, hesitated, then turned his gaze back to the sideline.
If he brought the starters back in with three minutes left and their stamina waned in the final two or three minutes, there was a chance the opponent could still make a comeback.
He chose to trust Big Z and Varejão.
Big Z was already playing well, and when facing Chandler alone, he could maintain good positioning, preventing Chandler from easily driving for layups.
However, Varejão was not a strong defender and couldn't contain West at all.
After being exploited by the combination of West and Chandler, Big Z became agitated. Upon receiving the ball on offense again, he decided to go one-on-one against Chandler.
As soon as he jumped to shoot, he was blocked by Chandler.
The ball went to West, who easily scored two more points.
At this point, the Hornets were only trailing the Cavaliers by four points.
"Tang Long, LeBron, get ready to go in."
Mike Brown had initially intended to let the starters rest for another minute.
But with the Hornets closing the gap to just four points, Mike Brown couldn't sit still any longer.
They had to win this game.
A 30-game winning streak.
This was a milestone for the Cavaliers.
Seeing Tang Long and LeBron reappear on the sideline, Byron also replaced Paul and Morris Peterson.
"Paul, we're still missing an excellent point guard. Come to us, join us, and if you're willing, we can build our own dynasty!"