That night, Zhao Dong got a call from Ernie Grunfeld, informing him about the coaching change.
Zhao Dong was a little surprised but didn't say much.
Later, he had a call with Jeff Van Gundy, who sounded relieved. Van Gundy even joked that moving back to an assistant role might slow down his hair loss.
"Jeff, you should consider being a commentator. That job might actually help you grow some hair back," Zhao Dong teased.
"Hah! You serious? I might actually try it if I get the chance," Van Gundy laughed, surprisingly interested.
The next afternoon, the New York Knicks officially announced Don Nelson as their new head coach, replacing Van Gundy. The decision caused a bit of buzz in the media—after all, firing the guy who just won a championship was bold.
But since Nelson was a respected coaching veteran, known as a "tactical scientist," the backlash wasn't too severe.
That same day, Zhao Dong bought a high-rise apartment near Lindsay's place.
Compared to her luxury mansion, though, his place was modest—it only cost around $1.5 million and was roughly 1,900 square feet. Still, it was a massive upgrade from his hotel room.
Back in Beijing, he could've bought multiple high-end courtyard homes for the same price. Generally, a nice one cost around ¥2,000 to ¥3,000 per square meter, meaning ¥340,000 could get him a solid spot. Even the Beile Mansion or Beizi Mansion wouldn't have cost him more than a million RMB.
Since the place was already renovated and Ringo Wells had furnished it with all the essentials, Zhao Dong simply moved in with his bags, ditching the hotel life.
For the next few days, he had to stick around New York. Wells had lined up a bunch of endorsement shoots and magazine cover appearances before Zhao Dong could fly home.
That evening, Zhao Dong met Don Nelson for dinner at a restaurant.
"Hey, Coach Nelson," Zhao Dong greeted him with a smile.
"Hey, Zhao, you can just call me Don," Nelson replied casually.
After ordering their food, they got straight to business.
Nelson was initially a little concerned about Zhao Dong's fiery temperament, which was evident in his rookie season. The pride, arrogance, and raw aggression could be a handful. But after just a few minutes of conversation, Nelson realized that Zhao Dong was surprisingly level-headed and professional—far from the hothead the media portrayed.
"Zhao, what kind of offensive system do you prefer? Or what's your ideal style of play?" Nelson asked.
"A faster-paced offense, for sure. I want to take advantage of my mobility. When I'm on the outside, if I move quickly, it's hard for the defense to keep up. But we need a solid playmaker with elite vision and passing skills at the point guard spot. Right now, our PG lacks those abilities."
Zhao Dong took a sip of water before continuing.
"But it's not just about the PG. The whole team needs to buy into the system. When we push the break, everyone has to be involved—run fast, attract defenders, pass quick, and keep moving. Everyone has to know their role."
"But here's the thing—I don't want to go all-in on small ball and sacrifice defense. When the fast break isn't there, I want us to quickly switch to half-court sets. I'm not about that soft, no-defense, all-offense type of game."
Nelson nodded in approval.
"Ah, small ball and positional play working together. You know, that's kinda how the Showtime Lakers played with Magic Johnson—fast-paced but still physical and defensively sound."
"Exactly. I love scoring, but I want balance. Even though I'm good at facilitating, I want the offense to run through me more. I want to focus on being the primary scorer," Zhao Dong explained.
"Of course. You're the most dangerous offensive weapon we have. That's a no-brainer," Nelson agreed.
Zhao Dong leaned in slightly, lowering his voice.
"One thing though, Don—you might not like this part. Your run-and-gun style is gonna look great in the regular season. Fans will love it. But in the playoffs, that shit won't fly. Teams will slow it down and beat us up. We need more half-court plays and low-post sets when the pace slows down."
Nelson's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Go on," he encouraged.
"In the playoffs, I'm gonna park my ass in the low post more often. That's where I'm most efficient. I want to bully defenders down low. If the fast break isn't there, I'm going old-school—back-to-the-basket, physical post play."
Nelson grinned, clearly impressed by Zhao Dong's basketball IQ.
"Got it. When you drop into the post, we'll scale back on the fast breaks and focus on efficient half-court sets. We'll only push the break if we have a clear shot at it," Nelson confirmed.
The two chatted for over an hour, and the chemistry was instant.
Zhao Dong respected Nelson's offensive creativity, something Van Gundy lacked. However, he was well aware that offensive-minded coaches often had a weak spot—defense.
Luckily, the Knicks' DNA was all about defense. With Van Gundy and Tom Thibodeau still around as defensive specialists, Zhao Dong wasn't worried. No matter how much Nelson loved offense, the Knicks' identity wouldn't change overnight.
Meanwhile, Nelson was thrilled to coach Zhao Dong. The versatile, positionless playstyle he'd always wanted to implement was now a reality with a superstar built for it.
On June 23rd, over in Chicago, the Bulls headquarters welcomed a special guest: Tracy McGrady, a draft prospect.
Bulls GM Jerry Krause arranged a secret meeting with McGrady, bringing him in for a private session.
McGrady, though excited, was also nervous as hell. Krause had told him the Bulls were considering trading Scottie Pippen for him—a rookie-for-superstar swap. The idea alone made T-Mac's legs shaky.
After all, Pippen wasn't just any player—he was a top 50 all-time NBA superstar. The pressure of being traded for him was terrifying.
Michael Jordan, who was back in Chicago, attended the meeting.
Though Jordan was loyal to Pippen, he was willing to let Krause explore the trade if it meant making the team stronger. But MJ wasn't gonna let the Bulls trade his right-hand man for just anyone.
He wanted to see McGrady in person before giving the green light.
After the meeting, Jordan had a private conversation with Krause—a serious discussion that could potentially shake up the Bulls' future.
"Jerry, you said you were looking for a top point guard. Any progress?" Jordan asked as he stepped into Krause's office.
"Of course. I've got my eyes on Kidd from the Suns. What do you think?" Krause replied.
"Kidd? The second pick in '94. Great on both ends—elite playmaker, solid defender. He's got superstar potential," Jordan said, nodding slightly. "But do you even have the pieces to trade for him? I doubt it. Plus, the Suns just snagged him from the Mavs mid-season—they're not flipping him that fast."
Krause let out a helpless sigh. "Yeah, I talked to Phoenix. I offered Luc Longley, Ron Harper, two role players, and our next two first-round picks. They weren't interested. But…" Krause suddenly smirked. "They did have a counteroffer."
"Oh? They didn't shut you down completely? What's their play?" Jordan asked, intrigued.
Krause chuckled. "They want Pippen in the deal."
Before Jordan could snap, Krause quickly added, "Look, Scottie's not the same anymore. He can't handle Zhao Dong. I've already worked out a deal with the Grizzlies—Pippen for their No. 4 pick. With that pick, we'll grab the guy you're about to see. He's got Pippen's playmaking skills but with a way better offensive game and on-ball scoring ability. This is Plan A. Plan B is trading for Kidd."
Jordan didn't comment right away. Instead, he asked, "But if you pull off Plan A, what's your solution at the one? You really wanna watch Zhao Dong run point next season? You planning on bringing Magic back or what?"
Krause clicked his tongue in annoyance. "That kid's a pain in the ass," he muttered under his breath.
Jordan smirked slightly, knowing Krause's frustration wasn't aimed at Zhao Dong but at himself. He was the one who blocked the Bulls from signing Zhao Dong in the first place.
"Zhao Dong is quick, no doubt," Krause admitted. "But he's not top-tier fast. With his size, he won't get much faster. We just need a smaller, speedier point guard to create mismatches against him."
Jordan nodded. That made sense.
"If Plan A goes through," Krause continued, "I'm looking to trade for Steve Nash. The Suns took him 15th overall last year."
"Nash?" Jordan frowned, unimpressed.
Krause explained, "He's buried on the Suns' bench. After they traded for Kidd, he's barely getting minutes. We could snag him for cheap. And trust me—he's got potential. Great vision. We can groom him behind Ron Harper until we find a real franchise point guard."
Jordan nodded slowly, no longer objecting.
The two made their way to the conference room for a closed-door meeting. It was top-secret—none of the Bulls players or staff were notified. Not even Phil Jackson. Only a handful of management members and Jordan were in on it.
When Jordan saw the young Tracy McGrady, he frowned slightly. Could he even wait for this kid to develop?
At 34, Jordan needed immediate firepower, not potential. If this McGrady kid couldn't contribute right away, was it even worth the trade?
"You think you can handle Zhao Dong?" Jordan asked bluntly, locking eyes with McGrady.
Tracy's body stiffened. Facing the GOAT was one thing—but hearing Zhao Dong's name? His hands twitched slightly. The media had been going wild with reports of Zhao Dong putting Karl Malone in the ICU.
McGrady hesitated.
"Can he even touch Zhao Dong?" Jordan's tone was filled with disdain. He turned to Krause, his face stone-cold. "This kid's a bug in front of Zhao Dong. That Tyrant would crush him into dust. Jerry, I'm not signing off on this. I don't have time to wait for him to grow up."
Just like that, Krause's Plan A was dead. Jordan's veto killed the McGrady deal.
After McGrady left, Krause dragged Jordan back to his office. There was still unfinished business—Phil Jackson.
"You seriously want to trade Pippen for Kidd?" Jordan snapped. "Why the hell can't you just get along with Pippen and Phil?"
"Michael, that's not fair," Krause shot back, frustrated. "I brought both of them in. You think I can't work with them? This is my job—I've gotta optimize this roster."
He clenched his fists slightly. If only he had signed Zhao Dong when he had the chance. That would've made everything easier. They'd have already won another championship.
Krause exhaled sharply but kept his voice steady. "Look, I've said it a hundred times. Scottie's past his prime. Next year, he'll be even slower. Meanwhile, Zhao Dong's just getting better."
He leaned forward, eyes sharp. "We lost the Eastern Conference Finals because Pippen's playmaking collapsed under pressure. We need a better floor general. Scottie's the only real trade chip we have. You know that."
Jordan's jaw tightened, but he knew Krause was right.
"You watched the Finals. You saw how Zhao Dong dominated, right?" Krause pressed.
Jordan scoffed, "Yeah, with ridiculous low-post efficiency. But Pippen's a wing, not a center."
"That's exactly why we need to overhaul the lineup," Krause argued. "I'm not just changing the small forward spot—I'm fixing the point guard and the paint, too. Keep the current squad? You'll still get bounced by Zhao Dong next year, even if Ewing declines."
Jordan rubbed his face with both hands, trying to calm his frustration. Finally, he nodded. "Go on."
Krause's eyes narrowed. "Here's the plan: trade Pippen for Kidd. With Kidd running the offense, we won't need a playmaking small forward. Our ball movement will be fine.
At the three, we'll bring in a 3-and-D guy—someone who can slow down Zhao Dong on defense and hit open shots on offense. We'll reduce the small forward's role in our system to limit Zhao Dong's defensive impact.
A low-usage, floor-spacing wing will keep Zhao Dong from disrupting our ball movement. And finding a guy like that? Way cheaper than building around a star three."
Jordan leaned back slightly. It made sense. With him as the primary scorer, they didn't need a high-usage small forward. And with Kidd running point, they could maintain their playmaking without relying on a wing initiator.
More importantly, keeping the small forward role simple meant Zhao Dong's defensive influence would shrink.
"No, Jerry. If Pippen's not handling the ball, he's exactly the guy we need. Why not keep him?" Jordan asked, suddenly realizing the flaw in the plan.
"Michael, how the hell are we gonna trade for Kidd without putting Pippen on the table? I've told you—he's our only real trade chip," Krause replied, rubbing his temples.
"Alright, alright…" Jordan sighed, nodding helplessly.
Krause shifted the conversation to Phil Jackson's future, but Jordan wouldn't budge. The standoff left Krause frustrated as hell.
While the Bulls were scheming trades, the Knicks were gearing up for their own moves, ready to strike the moment the trade window opened.
Ernie Grunfeld had already worked out a deal with the Raptors: Patrick Ewing for Marcus Camby, Toronto's unprotected 1997 first-round pick (the No. 9 pick), plus a few role players to balance the salaries.
Grunfeld had initially pushed for two unprotected first-rounders in '97 and '98, but the Raptors shut him down, claiming Ewing's lingering injuries made him too risky.
Grunfeld was still kicking himself for not trading Ewing for Shaq last year. The regret was so strong, he felt like slamming his head against the wall.
June 28, 1997 – NBA Draft Night
That evening, Madison Square Garden was buzzing with energy. Jordan showed up, looking for a little leisure and entertainment.
Click, click, click…
The moment he walked in, the media swarmed him like sharks that smelled blood.
"Yo, Mike! You here for a big trade or what?" Zhao Dong asked with a grin, spotting Jordan.
Jordan rolled his eyes. "What, I can't just show up without making a blockbuster move?" he shot back.
Zhao Dong laughed and shrugged it off, not interested in dealing with the old rogue. He turned and walked away.
Just then, Ernie Grunfeld, Don Nelson, Jeff Van Gundy, and Tom Thibodeau made their way over to Zhao Dong.
Zhao Dong scanned the coaching staff—one offense-minded, two defensive specialists. Looked solid for next season. It all depended on how they reshuffled the roster.
But honestly, he didn't care about the lineup changes. He wasn't about to lobby for new stars or management deals. The Knicks only needed him. As long as he kept getting stronger, he could go one-on-five every night. Hell, if he averaged 50 a game, who was gonna deny him the MVP?
Grunfeld loved Zhao Dong's attitude. He was relieved he wasn't dealing with a diva like Jordan. Zhao Dong was already a better franchise centerpiece than Ewing ever was—no locker room drama or front-office interference.
Suddenly, Gregg Popovich strolled over with David Robinson toward the lottery section. They walked up to Tim Duncan and extended a hand.
"Tim, good to see you," Popovich greeted with a smile.
"Hey, Coach. Hey, David," Duncan replied, standing quickly and shaking their hands.
"The Spurs just got crazy lucky," one of the GMs muttered, eyeing Duncan.
Grunfeld turned to Nelson and asked, "You think the Spurs would flip Duncan for Ewing?"
Nelson scoffed. "Duncan just finished his senior year—his body and game are already NBA-ready. No way they trade him for an aging, injured Ewing."
Nelson shot Grunfeld a sharp look, still salty about last year. It was Grunfeld who blocked the Ewing-for-Shaq trade.
Shaq was a prime-time, franchise-shifting force. Trading Ewing for him was a no-brainer.
But… Grunfeld had lucked into Zhao Dong instead. The rookie sensation had torn through the league, crushed the Bulls, and won the championship. Nelson couldn't help but admire the guy's incredible luck.
Still, he was feeling the pressure. Zhao Dong was dead set on defending the title—hell, the kid was even talking dynasty. If the Knicks didn't back him up with the right pieces, the season could be a disaster. Nelson knew if they failed, his job was toast.
"I still think we should take a shot," Grunfeld suddenly muttered.
Without hesitation, he stood up and marched toward Popovich.
"Hey, Greg, you open to a deal?" Grunfeld asked casually.
Popovich, glancing at Grunfeld, then at Zhao Dong sitting in the crowd behind him, raised an eyebrow. "Go ahead," he said.
"Ewing for the No. 1 pick," Grunfeld said straight-up.
Popovich didn't even blink. "Hell no," he shot back. "Do I look stupid? Ewing's 34 and injury-prone. No one knows if he's gonna be worth a damn next year. But…" Popovich's eyes flicked toward Zhao Dong.
"If you're offering him," Popovich smirked, "I'll say yes right now."
Grunfeld's face darkened. He glared at Popovich. "Yeah, keep dreaming. Not for one, two, or even three first-rounders," he snapped before turning and storming off like Popovich might actually chase him down.
Popovich chuckled and shook his head in mock disappointment. As he turned back to Duncan, he noticed something—Duncan's expression had shifted.
The kid's face was tight with barely concealed irritation.
Shit.
Popovich instantly realized his mistake. He shouldn't have discussed a trade in front of Duncan. The rookie had clearly been rattled by the mere idea of being swapped for Zhao Dong.
After Pop and the Admiral left, Duncan sat down again.
He was calm on the surface, but his mind was still churning.
"Two or three picks just to match Zhao Dong?"
Even though he was mature and had studied psychology in college, the competitive fire in him was burning.
Still, he took a deep breath and held his composure. The years of mental training weren't for nothing.
Soon, the draft kicked off.
No surprise—Tim Duncan was the first overall pick, donning a Spurs cap.
Up next, the Sixers took Keith Van Horn at No. 2.
Then, the Celtics grabbed Chauncey Billups at No. 3.
The Knicks' and Bulls' front offices were already plotting their next moves, knowing they were gearing up for another showdown with Zhao Dong next season.
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