He Will Rewrite the Grizzlies' History

With all eyes on him, Xu Ling walked up to the stage. David Stern looked exceptionally friendly. “Congratulations, son.” “Thank you.” Xu Ling replied politely, then walked to the sidelines and stopped in front of veteran reporter Gregg Seye, known for his brightly colored suits and humorous interviewing style. “Congratulations, Eli!” Seye offered his congratulations first, then immediately tossed out the first question: “As this year’s No. 3 pick, how do you feel right now?” Xu Ling took the microphone, a relaxed smile appearing on his face. “I feel good. At least it proves I haven’t been busy for nothing these past few months. Of course, the most important thing is that I finally don’t have to answer questions like ‘Will you be disappointed if you don’t make the top three picks?’ anymore.” “The bidding war between Nike and Adidas over you has caused a lot of discussion outside,” Seye threw out the second question. “What made you ultimately choose Adidas?” Bidding war? Xu Ling couldn’t help but smile inwardly. “There isn’t really anything particularly complicated,” he said candidly to the camera. “It’s just that the contract Adidas offered looked a bit better.” Seye smiled knowingly, then asked the third question, sharper than the last and eagerly awaited: “As everyone knows, the Grizzlies didn’t have a good season last season. Team owner Mr. Michael Heisley even tried to sell the team last year, but failed. Facing a team in a slump and surrounded by uncertainty, how do you view the starting point of your career that is about to begin?” This question was very realistic. Xu Ling’s agent Leon Rose had also expressed concerns about it. But the draft was inherently a passive gamble—the Trail Blazers and the SuperSonics favored more talented players, and the Grizzlies took the one left over from the Big Three. “I’m just here to play basketball,” Xu Ling answered simply and firmly. “Is that your entire answer?” Seye pressed. “That’s right,” Xu Ling nodded. “That’s the only thing I need to care about in Memphis.” The draft continued. Atlanta went as expected and selected their long-locked target—the championship-winning big man from the University of Florida, Al Horford. However, starting from the fifth pick, chaos arrived as expected. Boston, which had originally planned to trade up to contend for Xu Ling or hoped he would unexpectedly slide, quickly activated Plan B after those plans fell through and snatched Mike Conley with the No. 5 pick. This unexpected turn disrupted Milwaukee’s arrangements, forcing them to abandon their original choice and instead pick forward Jeff Green. And Minnesota, which had planned to select Green but came up empty-handed, after weighing its options, unexpectedly used the No. 7 pick to select the towering Chinese prospect Yi Jianlian. Faced with this series of surprises, Charlotte was pleased to see this and without hesitation took the versatile forward it had long coveted, Corey Brewer. This was the chaos caused by the Grizzlies taking Xu Ling. Half of the lottery teams did not select the players they had initially settled on. After finishing interviews with American media, Xu Ling felt as if he had turned into a ruthless answer machine. The NBA’s globalization had been so successful not only because its talent selection range had expanded from the United States to all eligible players around the world, but also because of the omnipresent media network behind it. Even today, almost every major country has NBA beat reporters stationed there. American media was relatively easy for Xu Ling to handle. After all, he had gradually become accustomed to their questioning styles and focus. What really gave him some trouble was the media from Europe, Japan, and South Korea. Sometimes he couldn’t even quite understand the intent of their questions and could only rely on politeness and instinct to muddle through. For example, a Japanese reporter once asked seriously: “Mr. Xu, I heard that you possess ‘absolute taste,’ able to taste the subtle differences between different sports drinks. Is that an important reason you chose to work with Adidas? Do you think this extraordinary perception will help your defensive judgment in the NBA?” Faced with such imaginative questions, Xu Ling often could only suppress his inner astonishment, work hard to keep his face calm, and give airtight answers like “I will focus on basketball itself.” The NBA staff member in charge of guiding draft prospects noticed the impatience on Xu Ling’s brow. He walked over and said in a tone that suggested he had seen it all before: “Eli, this is all part of the process you have to adapt to. This is the NBA’s daily routine.” Xu Ling did not fully agree inside. He didn’t think every NBA team could receive this scale of media spotlight on a regular basis. The global attention at this moment was only because this was the 2007 NBA Draft that had been hyped for a whole year, and more because this was New York. After hours of nonstop interviews finally ended, the event moved into the photo session. Xu Ling arrived at the photo area wearing a Grizzlies cap. Most of the other first-round prospects were there as well. He looked around and immediately noticed Yi Jianlian sitting alone in the corner, his expression somewhat blank, seeming out of place amid the lively atmosphere around him. He was undoubtedly the most silent and closed-off person present. But this was completely understandable. Xu Ling knew that Yi’s team had always hoped he would be selected by a team in a major city with many Chinese people. However, things went against their wishes, and he was ultimately taken by the Minnesota Timberwolves. Not only was his draft position lower than expected, but more troublesome was that he was joining a team that already had superstar Kevin Garnett at the same position. Anyone facing such a situation would probably inevitably feel confused and worried about their future. However, what could be done now that things had already come to this? Few people can be in a perfect situation, and few can get perfect timing. Take Makimoto Chinka playing a yakuza wife—that was her heyday. Every real man who studied Japanese action films in the 2000s would be deeply impressed by her. But when she returned in 2025 as an “age-defying beauty,” time had not etched any weariness into her face, yet failed cosmetic surgery had ruined all the good memories. Sometimes, the best moment has already arrived; you just haven’t realized it yet. Xu Ling walked over and asked, “How are you feeling now?” Yi looked up. Seeing it was Xu Ling, he forced a smile and said in Mandarin with a Cantonese accent, “Congratulations. Third pick—well deserved.” His congratulations were sincere, but the gloom in his brow had not lifted. “Thanks,” Xu Ling smiled, trying to lighten the mood. “Memphis is actually pretty good. They have a stable core there. At least I don’t have to be like Oden, being treated as a savior before even playing a game. The pressure is too great.” Yi heard this and only shook his head lightly. His voice lowered a little. “I wasn’t that lucky. Minnesota is too cold, and there aren’t many Asians either.” Xu Ling immediately understood what he was hinting at: a trade request. He was silent for a moment, did not directly respond, and instead pointed at the busy photography lights and backdrop around them. “Look at this place—it’s a mess. Everyone is in a hurry to stuff themselves into the shiniest template, hoping one picture will make them famous.” He looked at Yi and said meaningfully, “But sometimes, the place under the brightest flashbulbs is not necessarily the best place to grow. On the contrary, those corners that look remote may have firmer soil, allowing people to quietly take root and grow at their own pace.” Yi naturally heard the comfort in Xu Ling’s words. He nodded lightly and then asked, “Maybe. So, do you listen to music?” “Occasionally,” Xu Ling followed up. “Any recommendations?” Yi smiled and said a song title with considerable meaning: “‘Next Stop, Diva.’ It’s pretty good.” Xu Ling was slightly taken aback, then also laughed. In this situation, the song title seemed like a silent prophecy. “Okay,” he nodded. “I’ll listen to it.” At the end of the lottery picks photo session, all the young talents took their places as instructed. Greg Oden, the No. 1 pick with all eyes on him, stood in the center as was fitting. Kevin Durant and Xu Ling stood on either side of him, as if flanking and guarding him, and as if challenging him. Then Mike Conley, Joakim Noah, Al Horford, Corey Brewer, and Yi Jianlian—these youthful faces had been continuously hyped by the media for a year, carrying the hopes and fantasies of countless teams. Oden and Durant, this unmatched pair, probably never expected that after the college season ended, a dark horse from China would suddenly appear, strongly forcing its way into the discussion for the top two picks, almost rewriting the script. However, the NBA ultimately followed the iron rule it had upheld for decades: talent above all; talent is everything; talent is the only thing. This was a draft class recognized by scouts as overflowing with talent, making the teams involved feel as if they had fallen into a grand dream. Some teams’ dreams might stretch on to 2016 or even further, while some teams’ dreams might soon shatter—everything would start with Oden in the very center. “Gentlemen, look this way—” the photographer loudly guided. “Say ‘cheese’ with me!” The lights suddenly brightened, freezing the moment instantly. A group photo of the 2007 lottery picks destined to go down in history was born here. --- After all the on-site activities ended, Xu Ling did not linger. Accompanied by his agent Leon Rose and his team, he flew overnight to Memphis. The next day, in the Grizzlies front office, both sides officially signed his rookie contract. Under the current salary cap, Xu Ling signed a four-year, $19.5 million contract. The form was the standard “2+1+1”: the first two years guaranteed, the latter two years team options. The signing process was uneventful because everything had regulations and there was no room for bargaining. So West took out the contract, Xu Ling signed, both sides smiled for photos, and it was done. The next day, the Grizzlies held a press conference for their third pick. Jerry West sat beside Xu Ling. Facing the flashing cameras below the stage, this dynasty architect known for his cold demeanor also showed a rare trace of satisfaction on his face. “Many people talk about talent,” West’s voice was low and clear, instantly capturing the attention of everyone present. “They talk about height, wingspan, vertical leap—things that are visible to the naked eye and can be measured. But in the world of basketball, the rarest talent is here.” He stretched out a finger and tapped his own head. “It is a calm mind, decisiveness beyond one’s age, and the ability to see through the game and tear it apart. Our choice yesterday was not for some kind of ‘possibility’ in the future, but for ‘certainty.’ I am certain that what Eli possesses is precisely this rarest talent. Eli will rewrite the Grizzlies’ history. I believe this without a doubt!” --- Sina Sports / By Wang Meng [NBA Signing Express] The Memphis Grizzlies officially completed their signing of Xu Ling, the Chinese rising star selected third in the first round of this year’s draft, on June 29 local time. Grizzlies basketball operations president Jerry West praised Xu Ling at the press conference for “possessing the rarest basketball mind” and clearly stated that “he will rewrite the Grizzlies’ history.” The highest-drafted Chinese player since Yao Ming has officially begun his NBA career. #NBA2007Draft# #XuLingSignsWithGrizzlies# Netizen discussion @I Have No Self, No Me: “Too excited! The pride of Chinese basketball! From Yao Ming to Little Xu and Little Yi, we’ve been witnessing history! The No. 3 pick is well deserved. Just look at his composure during Seye’s interview—this kid has the bearing of a great general! Memphis, go! We must follow the Grizzlies this season!” (3,824 likes, 56 replies) @Celestial Dynasty IQ King: “This is hilarious. Some people are still hyping Durant’s overwhelming talent? Xu Ling’s commercial value alone leaves him two streets behind! The Adidas contract says it all! Old man West already said the rarest thing is the mind. Emperor Oden just has a glass body, and that No. 2 pick is skinny as a bamboo pole. In three years, Xu Ling will definitely be the best of the 2007 class!” (2,155 likes, 423 replies) @Rational Ball-Watcher for 30 Years 99995: “I have to admit Xu Ling’s commercial value and basketball IQ are indeed top-tier, but is West’s bold claim of ‘rewriting history’ a bit exaggerated? The Grizzlies almost sold the team last year, and the Pau Gasol trade rumors never stopped. Can such a turbulent environment really develop a rookie? In contrast, Yao Ming had Steve Francis back then, and the Rockets had a mature system. Of course, Xu Ling is much better than some bust No. 3 picks, but as for Memphis... can only say good luck. How he turns out in the future will depend on fate.” (1,768 likes, 617 replies) @Xu Basketball King Surpasses Jordan: “Who the hell are you kidding with this fake neutral rational act? You’re just Kobe’s brain-dead fans stirring things up here, right? The Grizzlies’ turmoil won’t stop my god Xu from carrying the team! Does Old Man West’s eye for talent need your questioning? Back then, you guys were the ones saying Yao Ming wouldn’t make it, and now you’re using new tactics to smear Xu Ling? Even if Memphis is terrible, it looks better than your idol forcing a trade, huh!” (1,033 likes, 89 replies)