After two years of grinding in the NCAA, Yao Ming had undergone a complete transformation. Under the elite development system at Duke, he'd received the most professional training available, thanks to Coach K—who'd fully delivered on his promise. He threw every resource he had into building a powerhouse team around Yao, both on and off the court.
Now, the once lanky kid from Shanghai had evolved into a beast—standing at 226 cm and weighing 120 kg. No longer just potential, Yao Ming was production.
The New York Times ran a full feature on him:
"The Duke center's game is built on the foundation of three legends—Hakeem, Ewing, and David Robinson. He's an offensive juggernaut with polished low-post skills, mid-range touch, and even three-point range. His shooting touch is elite.
Defensively, he's no slouch either. His agility allows him to rotate out to the mid-range, and his length covers space like crazy. He's not just tall—he's fast. Transition offense? He can lead a break.
If he enters the draft, the No. 1 pick is all but locked."
New York Sports also chimed in:
"Duke's big man isn't just ready—he's overdue. He's outgrown college hoops. The NCAA can't elevate him any further. It's time."
That afternoon, Zhao Dong hosted a private lunch at his place in New York. The guests were close-knit—Yao Ming, his parents, and a few longtime friends from the Chinese basketball circle.
As the food was served, Yao's parents stood up and raised their glasses toward Zhao Dong.
"Thank you for everything you've done for our son," Yao's mother said sincerely.
Zhao Dong smiled and waved it off. "Come on, don't say that. With or without me, Yao Ming would still be Yao Ming. He put in the work. Let's just raise a glass and wish him a win in tonight's championship game."
"Cheers!" everyone said as they lightly sipped red wine.
During the meal, one of the guests leaned over and asked Zhao Dong, "The media's buzzing—saying Yao should declare for the draft. What do you think?"
Zhao Dong paused and nodded. "Yeah, it's time. I've watched almost every one of his games. His growth in these past two years is legit. He's NBA-ready."
One of the guests gave a heavy sigh, a bit envious. "Man… if I'd had the chance to go through the NCAA system, maybe I'd be somewhere different now."
Still, he was doing alright. He'd cracked the Knicks rotation and was clocking about 20 minutes a game—solid minutes for a big.
Then Yao's mother turned to Zhao Dong, her expression calm but full of concern.
"You've always said he should stay at Duke for three years. Do you still feel that way?" she asked.
Zhao Dong took a moment, then smiled at Yao Ming.
"You didn't slack off. You earned this."
Yao scratched his head and laughed bashfully.
"But yeah," Zhao Dong continued, "Coach K has done an amazing job with him. Yao's technical and physical foundations are rock solid now."
Yao's father nodded. "We thanked Coach K again yesterday after practice."
Zhao Dong went on. "At first, I said three years because I thought it would take that long. But I was wrong. Yao Ming's ahead of schedule."
He turned to Yao's parents. "The NCAA's job is to lay the foundation. That part's done. What he needs now is pro-level competition. Right now, there's no college center who can match up with him. If he stays, he'll stagnate."
His mother and father exchanged glances, then nodded slowly. They were basketball people, after all. They understood.
One of the advisors leaned forward. "So… can I go ahead and register him for the draft?"
"Yeah," Zhao Dong nodded. "Right after tonight's title game. And tomorrow, I'll have my people at Zhao Dong Sports draw up a sponsorship deal for Yao."
Everyone at the table grinned.
"You might be the No. 1 pick, bro!" one of the guests said, clapping Yao on the back.
Zhao Dong suddenly raised a hand.
"One thing though. Nobody says a word about the draft until after tonight's game."
"Why not?" someone asked, puzzled.
"Elton Brand is Duke's starting power forward and the current favorite for No. 1. If word gets out that Yao is entering the draft, it might rattle him," Zhao explained. "And let's be real—centers run the league right now. If Yao declares, he jumps to the top of the board."
"Got it. We'll keep it under wraps," everyone agreed.
—
That evening, Zhao Dong, Yao's parents, and the rest of the crew rolled into Madison Square Garden for the NCAA championship.
They barely got through the door before the media swarmed in.
"Zhao Dong! Elton Brand is projected No. 1 right now. If Yao Ming declares, who goes first—Brand or Yao?"
"Zhao, can you confirm if Yao's declaring for the draft?"
"Zhao Dong, over here! Quick question!"
Reporters shouted question after question, mics and cameras pressed in close.
Zhao Dong waited until the buzz around him settled before answering, "Sorry, I don't have an answer about the draft right now."
A reporter quickly switched topics. "Zhao Dong, who do you think has the better shot at winning the championship—Duke or UConn?"
"Definitely Duke," Zhao Dong said without hesitation.
"Why's that?"
"At the five, UConn's got no one who can handle Yao."
He smiled calmly, continuing, "This is still an era ruled by dominant centers. UConn just doesn't have the size or talent to deal with Duke down low. Offensively, they'll be limited just trying to get anything going with Yao protecting the paint."
Zhao Dong leaned forward slightly, voice full of confidence. "But the bigger issue's on the defensive end. How are they gonna stop Yao's post game? What about when he pops out for that mid-range? And when Duke spreads the floor and starts swinging the ball around—how are they defending that? They're gonna get exposed."
---
Inside Duke's locker room, Yao Ming sat next to Elton Brand, both lacing up their sneakers as the atmosphere buzzed with anticipation.
Since Yao hadn't announced his draft decision yet, Brand was currently the media favorite to be the No. 1 pick in the upcoming 1999 NBA Draft. But everyone at Duke knew—on the court, the team ran through Yao. He was the system. The first option, the anchor on both ends.
"Yao," Brand asked, lowering his voice, "you still haven't decided yet?"
He was clearly uneasy. Deep down, he knew if Yao entered the draft, his shot at going first overall would vanish.
Yao smiled. "Elton, focus on the finals. Don't let outside noise mess with your head, alright?"
Brand blinked in surprise before nodding slowly. "Yeah… yeah, you're right."
From across the room, Shane Battier grinned. "Honestly, it doesn't matter who goes first. All the top five picks are getting paid. Iverson went first in '96, but Camby got the biggest contract, remember?"
Corey Maggette joined in, laughing. "Man, if I even get a lottery spot, I'll be set. Rookie deals are crazy these days. You make tens of millions before even proving yourself."
Yao turned to Brand again. "Don't let the media hype fool you. Being the No. 1 pick just brings pressure. Look at Iverson—he's getting compared to Zhao Dong every single day. That stuff's brutal."
Brand paused, thinking it over. "Yeah? Maybe it's better being the second pick, then…"
Yao smirked. "If I do enter the draft, I don't even wanna be the top pick. Imagine underperforming your first year and everyone calling you a bust. That would suck."
Brand chuckled. "Facts."
As Brand let down his guard, Yao smiled to himself. He'd gotten exactly the reaction he wanted.
---
At 8 PM sharp, the NCAA National Championship game tipped off.
NBC was broadcasting the showdown live across the country.
In the booth, Marv Albert called the action, joined by Matt Goukas.
"This year's Duke squad is stacked," Marv said. "They're running back the same starting lineup from last year—only now, they're all sophomores."
Matt nodded. "You've got Elton Brand at forward, a projected top-three pick. Corey Maggette, another forward, projected as a lottery pick. Shane Battier, lottery potential. William Avery at guard—lottery buzz as well."
"Don't forget Carlos Boozer," Marv added. "He's staying another year. And Jay Williams? He's not in this year's draft, but scouts are already saying he's a future top-five pick."
"And of course, the centerpiece—Yao Ming. The big man hasn't declared for the draft, but most media outlets have him projected top three—maybe even No. 1 overall in a strong class."
Matt raised an eyebrow. "You're telling me Duke's got that much talent on one team?"
Marv laughed. "It's wild, right? The most talked-about guy is Yao Ming. He just took home the John Wooden Award and the Naismith. And if he does enter, I think the No. 1 pick might be headed to a Chinese player."
"I heard Zhao Dong brought him to the States," Matt added with a grin. "I bet the Knicks would kill to get him."
Marv chuckled. "A B-2 bomber might crash, but there's no way Yao drops to the Knicks' pick."
---
Tip-off.
The arena roared. Madison Square Garden was electric as Yao Ming stepped to center court.
UConn's center stood across from him, listed at 6'10"—but he couldn't match Yao's length or reflexes.
The ref tossed the ball up.
Yao won the tip with ease. Duke took possession.
On the first play, Yao posted up on the left block. He gave a little shoulder fake, then exploded baseline, slipping inside with a spin.
William Avery read the move perfectly, threading a pass at the exact moment Yao cut.
Catching it mid-stride, Yao rose up and slammed it home with a one-handed dunk right over UConn's center.
"Let's go!"
Zhao Dong leapt to his feet on the sidelines, clapping hard. Cheers erupted throughout the Garden.
On the next possession, Duke went right back to the big man.
Yao planted himself deep in the paint. Once he had the ball, he began dancing—left, right, shoulder feint, back to the left. The UConn center bit hard, and Yao powered up for a soft layup.
But the help defense came fast. The power forward rotated.
No problem.
Yao spun under, switching hands mid-air and kissed the ball off the glass with a beautiful reverse layup.
Swish.
Back-to-back buckets. Duke up early.
"Oh man, the two bigs from UConn just got rocked by Duke's center!"
Marv Albert shouted with excitement as Matt Goukas followed up:
"Zhao Dong's got this kid Yao Ming playing like a future Hall of Famer. That footwork, that vision—he's not built for college anymore."
"Facts," Marv agreed. "Yao, get to the NBA already. NCAA ain't it for you no more. You're not learning anything by dunking on these dudes. Just don't pull a Duncan and waste two years staying in college. He could've been even better if he went pro earlier. The stronger the comp, the faster you level up!"
On the next possession, Yao Ming caught the ball deep in the paint. He immediately drew a double team from Connecticut's two bigs. With ice in his veins, he kicked the ball out to the perimeter where Battier was wide open.
"Money!"
Shane Battier knocked down the three from the wing. Duke opened the game with a cold-blooded 7–0 run.
Matt Goukas laughed. "That's the gap. Duke's got a true NBA-level big man, and UConn just can't deal with that inside presence. It's a mismatch."
"Mid-range miss by UConn! Rebound secured by Duke's center—he's pushing the break!" Marv yelled. "Wait, Yao's running the floor too—he's moving like a guard!"
"No way!" Matt gasped.
"Fast break finish? No—BLOCKED! Yao chased down the shot and sent it packing!"
The arena erupted.
"Yao's at the top of the key now…pulls up for three…AND HE DRAINS IT!"
Back-to-back plays. Inside, outside, coast-to-coast.
Yao Ming caught another entry pass inside. UConn tried doubling again, but Yao split the defense with a series of pivots before tossing up a clean hook shot.
"Another bucket. That's 7-of-9 from the field. He's cooking these boys!"
By halftime, Yao had put up a monster stat line:
7/9 FG
4/4 FT
1/1 3PT
19 points
Across the crowd, scouts and GMs were glued to their notebooks, watching every move.
"Is he declaring this year?" one scout muttered.
Jazz GM Tim Howells stared at Yao with a look that could melt steel. "We NEED this guy. He's a franchise player."
Clippers execs, sitting a few rows down, looked at Yao like he was a supermodel.
"He's the real deal," Marv said. "UConn's center got no business being on the same court. Yao's playing like a pro already."
Matt added, "Score's 40 to 29. Duke's up 11. At this rate, they're running away with the chip."
Zhao Dong, sitting courtside beside Hu Weidong, leaned over. "Championship's in the bag."
Hu nodded. "UConn's post offense is completely neutralized. Yao's rim protection is elite—three blocks already."
"No low-post offense, getting crushed on defense too. UConn's toast."
Charles Barkley, who had been sitting nearby, turned with a grin. "Congrats, China. Looks like y'all got your first No. 1 pick."
Duke went on to win the 1999 NCAA Men's Basketball Championship.
Yao Ming took home the MOP (Most Outstanding Player) award.
---
The Next Day
Zhao Dong Sports dropped a bomb: a $100 million signature shoe deal for Yao Ming over 7 years.
Shortly after, Yao officially declared for the 1999 NBA Draft.
The announcement set off shockwaves.
Final Stats (Championship Game):
38 minutes
29 points
12 rebounds
1 assist
1 steal
4 blocks
1 turnover
3 fouls
More than enough to cement himself as a top pick.
Back in New York, Jazz GM Tim Howells was still hanging around, not ready to leave.
"We need to act now," he muttered. "If we don't get the No. 1 pick, we better start hyping Brand hard."
Other lottery-bound teams had the same idea.
Suddenly, sports media across the U.S. went full PR mode—talking up Elton Brand like he was the second coming. Every strength he had was blown way out of proportion.
Brand, who'd been down after hearing about Yao's draft announcement, was suddenly on cloud nine.
Meanwhile, Zhao Dong had already flown Yao Ming out to Houston for private training.
"You're getting the full Hakeem package," Zhao told him. "If you lock in and master The Dream's footwork, you'll be unstoppable in the paint. This is your shot to become a true super center."
"Brother Dong, trust me—I'm not gonna let you down."
Yao thumped his chest three times like King Kong and smiled.
---
New York – Knicks HQ
It was the end of March. The regular season had hit the halfway mark.
The Knicks had completed 32 games, with 18 left in the next 35 days. The grind wasn't as brutal as March had been, but they still had five back-to-back games to deal with.
April 1st
The Knicks had the day off before hosting the Cavaliers on April 2nd.
Zhao Dong finally caught a break and slept in. It was already 10:30 AM when he dragged himself out of bed, yawning.
Lindsay hadn't gone to the office today either. She stayed home just to be with him. As soon as she saw him stumble out of the bedroom, she ran over with a mischievous smile.
"Babe, I've got good news!" she whispered excitedly.
Zhao Dong rubbed his eyes. "What, you finally scammed Adi and the others into buying your fake companies?"
"Hehehe…"
Lindsay giggled. "Nope. I just took a test. I'm pregnant."
Zhao froze. It took him a full five seconds to react.
"Wait… what? You're pregnant?"
Lindsay's smile faded a bit. "What? You're not happy?"
Zhao Dong quickly waved his hands. "No no no, I just… I mean, you're still super young. Just turned 20. We could've waited another year or two."
Lindsay kissed his cheek and chuckled. "Happy April Fool's, baby."
Zhao blinked. "…Huh?"
Lindsay took off running but Zhao caught her by the waist. The two tumbled onto the bed, laughing and rolling around.
Just a normal day off for the Knicks' Golden Tyrant.
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