###
**Anta?**
Hearing this familiar name, Wang Song's interest was piqued.
This was the future "Light of Domestic Brands!" But as of now, Anta was likely just a moderately successful brand in China.
*"Have they already started their overseas expansion so early?"* Wang Song thought to himself.
If Anta had initiated their international layout earlier, they might not have let Li-Ning gain such a head start in later years. It seemed that his presence had indeed caused significant deviations in the timeline.
---
"Falk, what offer did this Chinese manufacturer make?"
Seeing Wang Song suddenly show interest, David Falk hesitated for a moment before responding with a wary expression.
"Wang, you're not seriously considering this small brand from your hometown after rejecting Nike and Reebok, are you?"
Falk's concern was evident on his face.
He had done some background research on Anta when they first reached out. From a purely professional standpoint, Anta was just a fledgling sports goods store with no foothold in the international market and not even a dominant position in China's domestic scene.
Compared to global giants like Reebok and Nike, Anta was not even in the same league.
"This is a commercial contract, not a patriotic gesture for the national team. Wang, you must prioritize your best interests," Falk cautioned.
Wang Song chuckled lightly. "Don't worry, Mr. Falk. I just want to understand their offer and sincerity. Having more options gives us more leverage, doesn't it?"
If Wang Song didn't have some insight into the future trajectory of the domestic footwear industry, he might have dismissed Anta just like Falk. But his knowledge of Anta's future vision and bold moves gave him pause.
In later years, although Anta entered the basketball shoe market relatively late, its overall industrial layout was impressive.
Wang Song knew that if he could make a name for himself in the NBA, Anta might seize this opportunity to leap to the forefront of the market, aligning itself with the next big trend.
---
Seeing Wang Song's earnest expression, Falk adjusted his attitude and opened his notebook.
"Wang, one last reminder—this sneaker contract will likely be the most significant commercial deal of your career. The terms of this agreement will directly influence the heights you can achieve in the next two decades of your NBA career. Choose wisely."
"I understand," Wang Song replied firmly.
Falk flipped to the page where he had recorded Anta's proposal.
"Frankly, this offer from your country's brand is quite tempting," Falk admitted, sliding the document across the table.
The document listed the proposed terms of the contract.
**Five years, $8 million.**
It was slightly higher than Nike's offer but only half of Reebok's. On the surface, Anta's cash offer didn't stand out.
But it was the additional clauses in the proposal that caught Wang Song's attention.
**Personal branding, lifetime profit-sharing, and co-creation opportunities—these were game-changers.**
Anta offered to establish a personal sneaker line for Wang Song, effectively allowing him to create his brand under their umbrella. This was a bold and unprecedented move.
To date, the only athlete who had successfully established a standalone brand in collaboration with a company was Michael Jordan, with his iconic Air Jordan line.
Other superstar players mostly had signature shoes but rarely their own brand identity.
Anta's vision and sincerity were evident in their proposal.
---
However, the generous terms came with strict conditions.
Anta's contract included clauses requiring Wang Song to achieve specific milestones within the first three years:
1. **Win Rookie of the Year or secure an All-Star selection within the first three seasons.**
Failure to achieve either would grant Anta the right to unilaterally terminate the contract.
2. **Average at least 20 points and 10 rebounds per game in one of the first three seasons.**
Failing this would also lead to early contract termination.
3. **Sell at least 1 million pairs of shoes within three years.**
Falling short of this sales target would void the contract's guarantee clauses.
The conditions were undeniably demanding.
---
As Wang Song's agent, Falk had immediately dismissed Anta's proposal upon reading these clauses.
Despite the enticing branding and profit-sharing opportunities, the sheer number of stipulations and the high thresholds made it seem like a gamble Anta wasn't fully prepared to honor.
"See what I mean, Wang?" Falk said, shaking his head. "This small brand is offering $8 million like it's $80 million—with strings attached!"
He reached for the document, intending to discard it.
"Wait, David!"
Wang Song's interruption caught Falk off guard.
"Let's hear what Anta has to say. Specifically, I want to understand how they plan to structure the profit-sharing," Wang Song said resolutely.
Seeing the determined look in his client's eyes, Falk knew there was no point in arguing.
**This Asian rookie was nothing if not headstrong.**
---
Meanwhile, at a four-star hotel in New York, two Anta representatives, Ding Zhong and Zhao An, were nervously waiting for a phone call.
They had just finished dinner and were unsure if their efforts would bear fruit.
Given Falk's dismissive attitude during their last meeting, Ding Zhong wasn't optimistic.
"Brother Zhao, do you think Wang Song will choose us?" Ding Zhong asked hesitantly.
Zhao An smiled faintly but didn't answer directly.
Before approaching Wang Song's team, they had thoroughly analyzed the market and conducted due diligence on the competition.
Their $8 million offer was already a significant stretch for Anta, considering their limited budget and plans to sponsor the CBA in the coming year.
Still, the inclusion of branding and profit-sharing opportunities demonstrated their sincerity.
Just as Ding Zhong was about to lose hope, the phone rang.
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**(To be continued...)**