“I’m different from them, Coach,” Wang Zhelin said firmly, standing his ground against the room’s unanimous objections.
Though the veteran coaches viewed his stance as youthful arrogance, Wang Zhelin knew his systemic growth potential surpassed conventional limits.
Seeing that persuasion alone wouldn’t break the impasse, he offered a strategic compromise.
“How about this,” Wang Zhelin proposed.
“We sign a one-year Category A contract.
I promise to deliver a CBA championship to the Fujian Sturgeons this coming season.
If we fall short, I will voluntarily sign a one-year extension.
How does that sound?” Fan Bin stared at him in astonishment before finally nodding.
In the team’s history since its founding in 1999, Fujian had never advanced past the first round of the playoffs.
Guaranteeing a title in a single season was a near-impossible claim—even prime Yao Ming wouldn’t make such a guarantee for a franchise at this level.
But Wang Zhelin’s unwavering confidence left no room for further debate.
Wu Bolan stepped forward, still puzzled.
“Zelin, why the rush to go to the NBA at eighteen?
Couldn’t you wait just one more year?” “Sister Bolan, players used to alter their age to look younger; I’m just pushing the timeline forward,” Wang Zhelin joked lightly.
“Besides, isn’t having a player eager to reach the top level a good problem for the club?” With the terms settled, Wang Zhelin signed a 1+1 Category A rookie contract.
The deal paid a pre-tax base salary of 400,000 RMB for the first year, with the club holding a priority renewal option for Year 2 featuring a 20–30% salary increase.
Crucially, a custom clause was appended at the bottom: If the player leads the Fujian Sturgeons to the 2011–12 CBA Championship, the club will fully support his entry into the 2012 NBA Draft.
Additional performance incentives were included for Rookie of the Year, All-CBA selections, All-Star honors, stat titles, and MVP candidacy.
Watching the contract signed, Wang Changhai realized his son needed professional representation.
He remembered an acquaintance, Old Zhou, who had recently stepped down as COO of PEAK America and was transitioning into player management after studying sports management in the United States.
He’s overqualified for the role, Wang Changhai thought, resolving to reach out immediately.
Meanwhile, team captain Gong Songlin approached Wang Zhelin with a warm smile.
“Welcome to the first team, Xiao Wang!” “Thanks, Captain,” Wang Zhelin replied with a laugh.
“Though technically, I’ve been in the club system since I was fourteen.” “Right, we’re family already!” Gong Songlin grinned, patting his shoulder.
Head Coach Fan Bin stepped in to finalize administrative details.
“The 2011–12 CBA season kicks off on November 19th.
Training camp opens on November 5th—two weeks prior.
Use this next month to stay sharp.” “Understood, Coach.
You’ll see an even stronger version of me in November,” Wang Zhelin promised.
Before leaving, Wang Zhelin leaned into Fan Bin’s ear with a mischievous smirk, whispering a suggestion.
Fan Bin’s hesitation vanished into an eager grin.
“That’s a bit devious…
but I like it.” At 3:30 PM, the Fujian Sturgeons posted an official announcement across Weibo and major sports platforms: “Welcoming Wang Zhelin to the Sturgeons First Team — Targeting the CBA Championship Next Season!” Online fans immediately met the headline with ridicule, mocking a franchise that had never won a playoff series for declaring championship ambitions.
However, moments later, a 10-minute high-definition video “accidentally” surfaced alongside Wang Zhelin’s combine evaluation sheet.
The clip showed the seventeen-year-old completely dismantling European import Will McDonald 10–1 in a live 1v1 matchup.
Within hours, the video ignited a massive firestorm across domestic basketball media.