Chapter 31: The Fallout
The following morning, while Zhao Dong was still asleep in his hotel room, the Magic's General Manager, Pat Williams, was in his office unleashing his fury on Horace Grant.
"You idiot! You've turned the Magic into a laughingstock. A key player of our team, taking orders from a player on another team to target a rookie? Are you out of your mind? Who pays your salary? Is it Michael Jordan or the Bulls? If you're so loyal to Jordan, why are you even here? Get out! You're done here—you're getting traded immediately!"
Williams stormed out of his office, slamming the door as he barked orders at his staff. "Mike, set up a press conference right now!"
Grant left the office in humiliation, his face still wet with spittle from Williams' tirade. He knew his career with the Magic was over. No team would tolerate a player following orders from another team—it was a betrayal. He'd been played by Michael Jordan and had underestimated Zhao Dong's ability to turn the tables.
Within half an hour, the Magic officially listed Horace Grant for trade. Once considered a cornerstone of the Bulls' championship dynasty, his name was now up for grabs.
An hour later, dozens of reporters gathered at the Magic's headquarters. Pat Williams, still seething, addressed the media.
"This is an absolute disgrace," Williams began. "The Magic will be filing a formal complaint with the league regarding the Bulls and Michael Jordan. Their behavior was completely unacceptable! I also want to warn every team in the league: be cautious when trading with the Bulls. Players you acquire from them might still be working for Chicago!"
Meanwhile, in Chicago, the Bulls' management found themselves under intense scrutiny. Forced to respond to the controversy, they quickly organized a press conference.
"Michael and Grant are old friends," General Manager Jerry Krause stated. "They spoke on the phone, but that doesn't necessarily mean anything. As for how Zhao Dong became aware of this call, that's a mystery. Perhaps he has connections within the telecommunications company, but honestly, this whole matter has been blown out of proportion. Furthermore, the Bulls' legal team has already contacted the telecommunications company regarding a potential breach of customer privacy."
Krause deliberately shielded Jordan from attending the press conference, hoping to mitigate the fallout. However, the media refused to let the NBA legend off the hook. Jordan's phone—both mobile and landline—was bombarded with calls.
"Michael, can you confirm your conversation with Grant yesterday?"
"Michael, did you instruct Grant to 'teach Zhao Dong a lesson'? Magic management is reportedly furious. Do you have a response?"
Overwhelmed, Jordan resorted to smashing his mobile phone and unplugging his landline to escape the relentless questioning.
Seeking a solution, he turned to his agent, David Falk. "David, I need your help. I can't let the media run wild with this anymore."
Falk, who had just arrived at Jordan's home, paused before responding. "The telecommunications company has denied leaking any call records. I'm not sure how Zhao Dong got wind of your conversation with Grant, but it's clear he's not an ordinary rookie. He has connections we don't yet understand."
"Could someone in the Magic locker room have leaked it?" Jordan speculated.
"That's the most likely explanation," Falk agreed. "But the Magic will never admit it publicly."
Jordan shook his head in frustration. "The kid's barely in the league, and he already has players in the Magic locker room feeding him information? Damn it, what kind of rookie is this?"
Chapter 32: Turmoil and Lessons
Jordan nursed a splitting headache as David Falk continued, "The only way to end this media frenzy is to convince Zhao Dong to back off. If he stops targeting you, the pressure will naturally shift away."
"What do you expect me to do?" Jordan asked, his tone laced with frustration.
"Let me handle it," Falk replied confidently.
Jordan reluctantly nodded, but deep down, he felt uneasy. He knew Zhao Dong's fiery personality and unyielding approach to conflicts. This wasn't going to be easy.
Meanwhile, at the NBA headquarters in New York, Commissioner David Stern was in a bind. Jordan's return had been the league's biggest driver of growth, and Stern couldn't afford for him to be embroiled in controversy. At the same time, Stern saw great potential in Zhao Dong, especially for expanding the league's presence in the Chinese market. However, their head-to-head clash left him conflicted. Stern made his decision—Jordan was the league's foundation. If push came to shove, he would prioritize protecting Jordan.
Zhao Dong closely monitored the media storm he had ignited. His goal was simple: disrupt the Bulls, distract Jordan, and secure any advantage to complete his "dynasty sniper" mission. The chaos in Chicago confirmed his plan was working. The Bulls and Jordan were clearly feeling the heat, with Jordan notably avoiding media appearances.
The next day, the Knicks faced the Hornets in a highly anticipated matchup. Zhao Dong had no new tasks assigned, but his quest for five consecutive 20-point, 10-rebound games was still ongoing. He knew he had to give everything he had.
The Hornets employed their twin-tower tactic, with Vlade Divac leading the charge. The recently acquired center from the Lakers dominated the paint, putting up an impressive 23 points and 13 rebounds. On the other hand, Patrick Ewing struggled due to lingering injuries. Offensively and defensively, he was outmatched. His final stat line—4 of 11 shooting, 10 of 13 from the line, totaling 18 points and 9 rebounds—reflected his subpar performance.
The rest of the Knicks fared no better. Charles Oakley shot 2 of 8 for a meager 9 points from free throws, while other key players contributed little.
Zhao Dong found himself up against Matt Geiger, the Hornets' 7-foot center. Though not particularly strong, Geiger's height and defensive presence proved challenging. Early in the game, Zhao Dong attempted to drive to the basket, only to be met with a resounding block. Adjusting his strategy, he shifted to perimeter shooting.
However, his fatigue began to take its toll, affecting his accuracy. After missing three consecutive jump shots, Zhao Dong recognized the warning signs:
1. Stamina is critical. No matter how advanced his skills, without physical endurance, his performance would falter.
2. Skill diversity matters. His high-level shooting ability was only a foundation—it wasn't enough to overcome strong defenses on its own.
3. Adaptability is key. He needed to mix in more off-ball movement and inside cuts to counteract defensive pressure.
Determined to meet his task requirements, Zhao Dong pushed forward. Despite Geiger's stifling defense, he fought his way to 20 points and 10 rebounds, primarily relying on free throws and contested shots. Yet his inefficiency showed—8 of 19 from the field, 4 of 7 from the line, with 3 blocked attempts and 5 turnovers.
The Knicks' struggles culminated in a disappointing loss, ending their winning streak. With an 11-9 record, they now ranked second in the Eastern Conference.
While Zhao Dong completed his task, the game highlighted key areas for growth. He realized that achieving greatness required more than raw skill—it demanded endurance, versatility, and the ability to adapt under pressure.
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