The NBA's Twilight Star System

It was a call that left Jay both confused and pleasantly surprised.

When Jay answered the phone, he noticed it was from an unknown number but decided not to hang up. After all, this was a crucial period, and missing any call might lead to regrets.

"Hello, this is Jay Sun," Jay said seriously.

"Ha-ha, hello, Jay Sun! I thought you wouldn't answer. I'm Yao Ming," a hearty laugh came through the phone.

"Yao Ming?! Chairman Yao?! Oh, I mean… Yao Ming, hi! I'm Jay. I'm a huge fan of yours!" Jay stammered, his usual calm demeanor completely thrown out the window.

"Ha-ha, hi Jay. Don't get too worked up," Yao said warmly.

Jay almost forgot that at this point, Yao wasn't yet the Chairman of the Chinese Basketball Association. That would happen in 2017, and this was only 2014. Yao didn't mind the title slip; he figured it was just a nickname fans used for him.

After the initial greetings, Yao didn't say anything particularly noteworthy. He complimented Jay on his performance in the NCAA and offered encouragement, wishing him luck with the draft and a bright future.

Just as they were about to end the call, Jay decided to voice his confusion and ask for advice on selecting an agent.

Hearing this, Yao paused for two seconds before candidly admitting that Bill Duffy had given him Jay's number and asked him to reach out. However, Yao explained that he hadn't planned to persuade Jay outright—he just wanted to offer some general encouragement and praise.

Now that Jay had brought it up, Yao felt obligated to share his thoughts. "To be honest, Jay, Jeff Austin is also a great agent. I know of him and his work—he's very capable." Yao paused briefly before continuing, "Let me break it down for you. Think of it as a reference, even if I may not be entirely correct."

"Jeff Austin's strength lies in negotiating contracts. He can help you secure deals that are slightly above your current value. When you're about to hit your prime, he'll likely help you land a max contract. This makes him a great fit for players aiming to become All-Stars.

"Bill Duffy, on the other hand, is more like a full-service manager. While his contract negotiations tend to land at fair market value, his greatest strength lies in managing off-court matters. He's very detail-oriented and can act as your personal concierge, allowing you to focus entirely on basketball. Plus, he has solid connections in China, which will make it easier for you to secure endorsement deals and handle other business opportunities there."

Yao concluded with some parting advice: "If you're confident in your future and believe you'll make it big, I'd recommend choosing Bill Duffy. After all, which superstar doesn't get great contracts? But hey, the future is unpredictable, so it's ultimately up to you."

After the call ended, Jay mulled over Yao's advice for a long time. However, one thing was clear—Jay was confident he would succeed. After all, has anyone with a system ever failed? If someone with a cheat code like his couldn't make it, they might as well head home and play in the CBA.

Ultimately, Jay made his decision: Bill Duffy.

Jay hoped he wouldn't regret it. While Yao's endorsement carried some weight, it was Duffy's reputation as a "full-service manager" that sealed the deal.

The next day, Jay called Duffy to finalize the agreement. Duffy was thrilled and sent Yao a message to thank him for the connection.

Duffy promptly met Jay at the training facility with the necessary paperwork, and they signed the contract. Jay was officially under Bill Duffy's wing.

Duffy also assured Jay that he would handle everything, from arranging training facilities to finding a top-tier trainer. Jay was satisfied, though he noticed that Eve seemed a bit pouty about not being involved.

As Jay continued his rigorous training, the NBA lottery results were announced. The Cavaliers won the first overall pick again, and the media unanimously predicted that Andrew Wiggins would be their choice. It seemed like Wiggins was already being heralded as the future of Cleveland.

Jay, knowing better as a time traveler, chuckled to himself. "Young man, you still have a lot to learn."

Jay didn't dwell on Wiggins' fate. After all, he had his own uncertainty to deal with. Why worry about a millionaire's life when he wasn't even sure where he'd land yet?

With the lottery complete, teams began scheduling workouts for prospects. Jay followed Duffy's advice to skip the combine and only participate in individual team workouts. This strategy would capitalize on Jay's Chinese heritage to create an air of mystery while avoiding scrutiny over his physical weaknesses.

Duffy leveraged his connections to secure workouts with teams holding mid-to-late first-round picks, including the Hornets, Nuggets, Grizzlies, Suns, and Clippers. The Nuggets had the highest pick at 19, while the Clippers were at 28. These teams were all in need of guards, aligning well with Jay's goals.

Jay started his workouts with the Hornets. However, he wasn't particularly thrilled about the idea of playing for Charlotte. After all, with Michael Jordan as the team owner, there was a certain "mystique" surrounding their decisions—one better left unquestioned.

At the Hornets' facility, Jay's reception was no different from his experiences with the Nuggets and Grizzlies. He was greeted by assistants and workout staff, not the GM or head coach. Jay understood that his draft stock wasn't high enough to warrant star treatment yet.

During his workout, Jay noticed a familiar face—Shabazz Napier.

"Napier? And with reporters and security guards too?" Jay muttered to himself, suddenly feeling a little inadequate. "Should I hire a bodyguard too?"

Napier noticed Jay but didn't approach him, either still bitter about the NCAA finals or simply dismissive.

Once Jay's drills were over, Napier still hadn't started his workout. Instead, he was chatting and laughing with the Hornets' GM.

Jay didn't try to engage, quietly leaving with Duffy.

"Bill, do you think I'll go undrafted? They didn't seem very interested in me," Jay asked, his brow furrowed.

"Don't worry, Jay," Duffy replied confidently. "Sometimes the more interested a team looks, the less interested they actually are. It's all part of the game. Just focus on showcasing your strengths."

Jay nodded, partially convinced. In the end, he had no choice but to trust the process—it wasn't like he could choose his team.

Without taking a break, Jay and Duffy boarded a flight to his next workout destination.