Chapter 22: The 1996 NBA Draft

Two days after Li You concluded his workout with the Lakers, his agent, Arn Tellem, and Kobe Bryant also completed a workout at the YMCA gymnasium.

However, this session was orchestrated by Tellem, who had come to terms with the reality that teams holding top-10 picks were simply not going to draft a high school guard. The risk was too high; no one was willing to gamble a high draft pick on a lottery ticket at this stage.

Unlike Li You’s professional demeanor, Kobe was every bit the 17-year-old, and his childhood dream of playing for the Lakers was genuine. During the workout, he was throwing down thunderous dunks, showing off his immense athleticism. As the son of a former pro, Kobe’s draft stock wasn't bad. After the workout, Michael Cooper shared his assessment: "His technical skills aren't fully polished, likely because he skipped college, but the young man has great talent. You can tell he idolizes Michael Jordan."

Mitch Kupchak, however, felt Kobe performed well. Flipping through his notes, he offered his view: "His performance at the McDonald's All-American game was unremarkable, but he showcased real talent in this workout. Don't forget, he isn't even 18 yet."

Jerry West, having listened to the discussion, finally spoke up: "We have to draft him. The team will be rebuilding this offseason; this is an opportunity!"

Everyone looked surprised. Dave Wohl, who had joined the Lakers as a senior scout the previous year, had remained silent until now, but he couldn't help but interject: "Li’s performance was better. Even Allen Iverson’s efficiency in the NCAA during his sophomore year didn't match Li’s. I watched his tournament play—he is absolutely underrated!"

Seeing the confused expressions from the others, Jerry West replied calmly: "Kobe Bryant is 6-foot-6, and we are not in need of a point guard. Of course, at the 24th pick, Li remains the top choice."

Dave Wohl shook his head but said nothing more. He didn't believe Li You would slide that far. No members of the coaching staff were present for this workout, and Wohl, suspecting that Del Harris wouldn't be fond of a high school player, sighed inwardly: "I hope this isn't the wrong choice..."

...

Before the draft, Marc Bartelstein and Li You continued to travel for workouts. The Warriors' home arena, the Oakland Coliseum, was undergoing major renovations, so their workout was held at the HP Pavilion in San Jose. Unlike the warm reception from the Knicks and Lakers, the Warriors were quite perfunctory. Li You didn't mind; he wasn't a hundred-dollar bill, so he couldn't expect everyone to like him.

The subsequent workout with the Kings didn't go smoothly either, as they didn't give him many opportunities to showcase his skills. Marc Bartelstein was highly dissatisfied with the attitude of these two teams, but the following workout with the Suns sent the agent into a rage: "What the hell! You’re telling me there’s no air conditioning in the gym?"

"Damn it! Don't even think about having my player train in here!"

The Suns' staff seemed indifferent, while a few assistant coaches offered awkward excuses: "The gym's AC has been acting up for a couple of days, Marc. This is definitely not intentional!"

Li You shrugged. He could see the arrogant expressions on the white staff members and noticed the Black staff members off to the side gloating. "Let’s go, Marc! Phoenix doesn't welcome us; there's no point in waiting around."

Marc Bartelstein composed himself, tugged at his tie, and muttered, "You will regret this!"

The Warriors held the 11th pick, the Kings held the 14th, and the Suns held the 15th. With the recent workouts going poorly and the teams showing clear prejudice, Bartelstein couldn't help but curse under his breath once they returned to the hotel. Li You made a mental note to list these teams in his notebook to ensure he wouldn't forget them later. Checking his schedule, he rubbed his chin and said, "After Charlotte, the workouts will be mostly over. Let’s swing by Chicago and take in the Bulls' championship parade while we're at it!"

Seeing that Li You remained unfazed, Bartelstein felt a sense of relief. "There’s still the Nets. The newly appointed head coach, John Calipari, has sent us an invitation. Li, this is an opportunity."

Li You didn't care much for the Nets' invitation, as there was no way they would select him with the 8th pick. "It’s on the way, so it’s no trouble to check out the Nets, but I doubt anything will come of it."

...

On June 24th, approaching the draft, Li You met up with Ray Allen in Manhattan, New York. However, seeing the Black woman suddenly appear by his side, Li You felt like he was being force-fed a dose of PDA.

"Li, do you want me to introduce you to some pretty girls from our band? You should find a girlfriend!" Shannon Walker-Williams had only recently met Ray Allen, but they were already quite close. Unlike other women he had met, she was dainty and came from a good family.

The three of them were preparing to take a stroll through Central Park. Ray Allen was in high spirits, having both the money and the girl. "Shannon’s friends are all very pretty, Li. You should consider it. Once you enter the league, it’s time to settle down!"

Li You felt that Ray Allen had become a total "simp," completely smitten before they were even officially dating. "Law school is demanding, and I plan to pursue further studies later. Balancing basketball and academics is already troublesome enough, so I’m not considering that for now."

Hearing this, Shannon, who was clinging to Ray Allen's arm, didn't seem to mind, simply winking playfully as the couple continued to show off their affection. Li You twitched his mouth, feeling like a third wheel. Compared to having a steady girlfriend, he actually preferred attending his roommate Evan’s wild parties.

...

On June 26th, at 7:00 PM, the Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford, New Jersey, was bustling with activity. The 1996 NBA Draft would officially begin in half an hour.

Before the draft, the league had invited 19 players, each allowed 10 guests, including family and friends. When Li You received his invitation the previous day, he was surprised, but Marc Bartelstein just smiled and said nothing—clearly, he already knew the outcome. Li You had originally intended to invite Manuel Varga, the good neighbor who had looked after him since he was a child. Coming to the States alone, his safe upbringing in Albuquerque had been entirely thanks to that family. However, once he heard it would be on television, the plan fell through.

Aside from his friend Evan, the rest of the people at Li You’s table were friends from the University of Connecticut School of Law. Five men and five women, they were chatting excitedly, their demeanor completely out of place with the tense atmosphere of the arena. A group of family members of Black players at a nearby table couldn't help but mutter, "This isn't a university graduation ceremony!"

Li You, dressed in a light gray suit, tugged at his tie. Evan teased, "Li, feeling nervous?"

Before Li You could respond, Melinda, a blonde woman in a white dress, laughed and said, "Li will definitely be picked. He’s going to be a big star, just like Bruce Lee!"

Li You rubbed his forehead and swatted away Melinda’s wandering hand under the table. These women were all "close-contact" friends; their energy was simply overwhelming. "Marc already knows the result, so I’m naturally not nervous!"

Hearing this, the group began chattering away about which team would pick him. Beyond the players, there were naturally many fans looking for excitement. Thanks to the geographic proximity, there were more Knicks fans there than any other, many wearing UConn jerseys.

The draft was broadcast live by TNT. A young Ernie Johnson, still sporting a full head of hair, was at the broadcast desk, while veteran coach Hubie Brown introduced the situation for each team. Li You scanned the room and saw many familiar faces; players from Mississippi and Kentucky were also in attendance.

The first overall pick was naturally the most anticipated. The cameras frequently cut to Allen Iverson, whose family appeared quite nervous. Once the draft officially began, a countdown clock appeared on the screen; teams had to make their selections within the allotted time, or forfeit their pick.

When a young David Stern walked to the podium with a smile and unfolded the card in his hand, the arena went silent: "In the 1996-97 NBA Draft, the first overall pick, the Philadelphia 76ers, select Allen Iverson from Georgetown!"

As soon as Stern finished speaking, cheers erupted in the arena. Iverson, tears in his eyes, hugged his mother. Watching Iverson walk to the stage and put on the 76ers cap, Li You felt as if he were witnessing history.

Just as in his memories, the Raptors chose Marcus Camby, the Grizzlies chose Shareef Abdur-Rahim, the Bucks picked Stephon Marbury, and the Timberwolves selected Ray Allen. Li You noticed his friend’s expression change, forcing a smile, while Marc Bartelstein looked particularly grim.

Shortly after the announcement, David Stern returned to the podium: "We have a trade to announce. The Minnesota Timberwolves are trading up, sending Ray Allen and a first-round pick to the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for Stephon Marbury."

The subsequent picks followed his memories, with each announcement sparking a wave of cheers. This time, David Stern walked to the podium with an exceptionally bright smile, appearing to be in high spirits: "In the 1996-97 NBA Draft, the 18th overall pick, the New York Knicks, select Clay-Lee from the University of Connecticut!"

The UConn fans in the arena cheered and clamored. Li You stood up with a smile, hugged his friends, and stepped toward the stage. Approaching from the side, he accepted the Knicks hat from a staff member and shook hands with David Stern: "Li, welcome to the NBA!"