Tang Lei was taken back to find that so many sports brands had reached out overnight. The thrill of it quickly subsided, though, as he thought through what was at stake. Brand endorsements weren't just ordinary contracts—they came with the expectation that he'd wear the brand's shoes on the court. In a league as competitive as the NBA, quality footwear wasn't just a style choice but a safety issue. A poorly made shoe could lead to injuries, potentially damaging his career and casting a shadow over Chinese brands abroad.
Tang was in no hurry to make a decision. He planned to do some research, or even hire someone to help, before signing anything. He wasn't worried about pressure to perform, given the support of his system. Even injuries didn't concern him much; he could always buy "healing potions" from the system's shop if needed. By closing his messages, Tang checked his Weibo and saw another spike in followers, pushing him past the million mark—an unbelievable milestone.
His inbox was flooded with requests from potential agents. Some even offered to work for free, but Tang wasn't naive enough to trust those offers. He knew that choosing the right agent was crucial. For now, he needed to focus on his upcoming game, so he sent out a quick message on Weibo, thanking fans for their support and explaining that he'd review endorsements once he found an agent.
After shutting down Weibo, Tang switched over to Twitter. His follower count there had also grown, though nothing compared to his Chinese fan base. In his private messages, he saw a reply from Caroline:
"Oh my gosh, are you really giving me tickets to the Christmas game? Does this mean I get to watch you play in person?!"
Tang couldn't help but smile as he imagined her excitement. He replied, "Of course! Just send me your address, and I'll have them mailed to you." Though still over a week away, the Christmas game tickets were already in high demand. The NBA's Christmas Day matchups were always carefully chosen to showcase top teams, and this year the Warriors would be hosting the 76ers in what many were calling a potential Finals preview.
With Twitter closed Tang got ready for the day, eating a quick breakfast before heading to the Warriors' training facility that afternoon. As he parked, he heard someone calling out in Mandarin.
"Hey, Tang Lei, could you sign my jersey?"
Turning around, Tang saw a young Asian boy, holding two of his number 77 jerseys, looking as if he'd been there a while. "Sure," Tang replied, smiling as he signed the jerseys. "Did you come here early?"
The boy nodded enthusiastically, saying, "I came this morning! I loved those last-second shots you made. They were amazing!"
"Thanks for the support. Let's grab a photo, too," Tang said, reaching for the boy's phone. He crouched beside the boy, his arm extended to take a few selfies. Handing the phone back, he said, "Keep cheering us on, ait?"
"Definitely! Thank you, Tang Lei. Good luck tomorrow!" The boy bounded back to his family, and Tang watched, touched by the moment. It struck him how different the basketball culture was here. Parents fully supported their children's sports dreams, unlike in China, where kids were often pushed to focus solely on academics.
He gave a slight sigh as he headed into the facility, ready for whatever awaited him next.