On July 1, 2011, the alliance's old labor-management agreement officially expired, and the labor-management parties also held the last negotiation.

In the end, there were still huge differences between the two sides and no agreement was reached. NBA officially entered a shutdown period, which was also the second league among the four major professional sports leagues in the United States after the NFL suspension in March 2011.

During the shutdown, the free agent market and trading market are closed and players will not receive salaries. Even players cannot use the team's training facilities for any reason, and the team cannot hold any summer training camps, exhibitions, team meetings and coaching gatherings.

The entire NBA, from coaches to players, fell into a "magnified holiday".

Although I had known this would happen, Link was still helpless. In the next six months, Link will usher in a day without any games. The Grizzlies' deal for Jimmy Butler and the contract renewal with Link must be postponed until the free agent market and trading market are opened.

After the suspension began, the most obvious change was that many players chose to play overseas.

The European League and Ba are the two major strongholds for players to choose to travel. Countless NBA main players have developed a close relationship with Ba, and Ba has become particularly lively this summer.

Under the arrangement of Jeff Austin, Link also went to major cities to start his business activities. Don’t underestimate the commercial value of a first-year undraft. If you are outstanding enough, if you can attract attention, even a rookie player can show off his skills in business activities.

Link still remembers that before traveling through time, Lakers rookie Kyle Kuzma organized two tours of China. Although Kuzma's Chinese tour is not as crowded as Kobe came to China, his popularity is incomparable to other rookies.

Compared to Kuzma in the future, Link also has yellow skin even though his skills and appearance are not inferior, which naturally makes his Chinese trip very smoothly.

When he came to China, Link actually felt deeply. This was his first time "returning to China" in nearly a year. Looking at the familiar street scenes around him, Link felt very nostalgic.

Sitting on the bus, Jeff Austin has been introducing Link to his China tour. In fact, the itinerary of this kind of business activity is similar. During the day, go to some special snack streets or restaurants to eat Chinese food, which will bring you closer to the fans.

Similar to the future when Thompson eats stinky tofu and Wade eats bean juice.

But for Link, these are not problems. He is a "native" Chinese, and eating Chinese food just happens to be worthy of his appetite.

In the afternoon, I will go to some schools to participate in charity activities and play basketball with the children.

In the evening, a 1v1 street ball game organized by Nike will be arranged. Hearing this, Link suddenly became interested. He picked up the plan and saw that the opponent was Wang Wuyou.

"That's about your itinerary these days. How about it? Are you excited about the first trip to China?" Austin gasped after reading a large series of trips.

"It's okay to be excited, but there's a familiar feeling."

"Familiar? Didn't you born in the United States?"

"Uh, but I've been to China before, hehe."

While talking, the bus that Link took the hotel. Before the car could stop, a large number of fans rushed up!

Link looked at the dark outside the car window and felt his scalp tingling! In Memphis, although he was also a star, to be honest, the population of Memphis is not enough! Link was walking on the road with a swagger, and it was impossible for so many people to gather in the empty streets!

"Hehe, have you seen it? This is the legendary Chinese situation! Let's go, Link, Chinese fans can't wait." Austin laughed proudly. The Chinese market he had always dreamed of was right in front of him!

Link didn't expect that his popularity in China seemed to be quite high. But if you think about it, you must have known that there are many Chinese fans who hate him, after all, he is an ab. This is how Chinese people are. Sometimes they are not pleased with both ends. They are discriminated against in the United States and scolded in China. But there are dark guys everywhere. At least, these fans who are willing to come to see him are still very willing to treat them enthusiastically.

Link walked off the bus and waved his hand with the fans. He was 2.03 meters tall in the middle, but he still couldn't see the end of the crowd.

"Everyone! Thank you very much! Thank you for your support, I am very happy!" Link got off the car and said Chinese with Beijing accent. Now, the fans around him are even more crazy.

If a superstar wants to gain recognition from fans, in addition to being strong enough, the sense of distance between him and the fans is also an important indicator.

No matter how well you play, but you cannot integrate into the fans, you will naturally not be too popular. Even if you are just a small third-tier star, you will be very popular if you get close to the fans.

At this point, the best one is Lao Ma, the "Political Commissar of Ma". He not only integrates into the fans, but also truly integrates into Chinese basketball and Chinese life. As the saying goes, the food should not be too ugly. Everyone knows that they come to China to make money, but how to make money depends on whether the Chinese are willing to make money for you.

Link thinks that there is no need to be too noble or big-name. It is originally a pleasure to interact with fans who like him. Besides, without these fans, there is no commercial value from Link.

Later, Link signaled the security staff not to separate himself from the fans so much. He let the crowd get infinitely close to him, and then patiently satisfied the fans' search for photos and autographs.

Austin was crowded among the crowd, but instead of complaining, he felt relieved.

This guy Link is a good boy. He has not forgotten yet, and he has also gone from obscurity to shocking the entire league. He has not forgotten yet, and he has been a part of this group of ordinary people.

Link walked for half an hour from the bus to the hotel gate, just 50 meters away, and he spent basically signing and taking photos.

Finally, Link kept walking backwards and waved with the fans until he disappeared into the elevator.

"You are very good, do you know how to make fans like you." In the elevator, Austin seemed very satisfied with Link's performance just now.

"Is there any? I just try to respect everyone who respects me." Link shrugged, this is how he gets along with others.

After that, Link participated in various activities according to the process. At noon, he went to the snack street to eat a lot of snacks. Of course, every time he walked to a place, there were countless cameras facing him two meters in front of him, which was actually quite unnatural.

But seeing Link ate all Chinese food with chopsticks, even "dark dishes" like stinky tofu, Chinese fans suddenly felt that this guy seemed to be no different from us!

In the afternoon, Link performed a "Go to Your Basketball Dream Show" in a primary school. A primary school student's layup was blocked ruthlessly by Link, which was considered a little bit of a slut. Of course, Link finally picked up the young player and dunked a basket, which was considered compensation.

After participating in the school activities, Link told Austin that he hopes to participate in more charitable school basketball activities in the future. For example, building basketball courts for schools in remote areas and teaching students in places with low basketball popularity. This is similar.

Link knew that after Yao Ming became the chairman of the Chinese Basketball Association in the future, he personally participated in the popularization of basketball's basics. Yao Ming said it well that super geniuses cannot be cultivated, and they have to rely on discovery. The better the foundation, the greater the chance of discovery.

Link can't play for the Chinese team, so let's help Chinese basketball go better from the side.

Even if you put aside Link's feelings for China and do more charity, it will be no bad thing.

Austin wrote down all Link's requests, and he felt more and more that Link is not just a player.

A professional player can't achieve great success if he only knows how to play.

In the evening, the battle between Link and Chinese Street Ball and Wang Wuyou came as scheduled. In recent years, Wang Wuyou has participated in many similar commercial activities. Back then, Link was also very envious of him for having the opportunity to fight against NBA-level stars.

But unexpectedly, I have now become the side that fights Wang Wuyou.

There is nothing to say about this 1v1 game. Wang Wuyou is very serious, but Link really doesn't have any interest in this game. After all, the difference between the two sides is too big.

The difference between professional players and amateur players cannot be filled by hard work. What's more, Link is still a professional player who plays in the top basketball league.

Link asked Wang Wuyou to score one goal, and then scored five goals in a row to end the game.

At nine o'clock in the evening, today's event was over. The fans dispersed, and only Link and his team were left in the entire arena.

"It's already nine o'clock, are you sure you want to continue?" Austin looked at Link, and this time he spoke in a serious tone.

"I'm sure, I've been so hot just now. If I don't practice, it's a waste of my physical condition."

Austin nodded, then waved to the staff. Two Spalding basketballs used in NBA games were brought up, which was specially brought by Link!

With the cooperation of a staff member, Link still practices fixed-point shooting. Even during the holidays, he must remain in shape and continue to accumulate his own little white strips!

The gap between two players with similar talents is often widened during the offseason.

"By the way, how did you arrange the trainer's affairs? Jeff."

"Don't worry, I already have a few candidates to find. After the business activities are all over, I will arrange the best trainer and the most suitable training for you. And after this offseason, you will become a better player."

Austin suddenly felt that Link's future development might be better than he thought.

A talented player may not be able to succeed.
Chapter completed!