Jerry West formally extended an invitation to David Robinson, and his agent, Bill Austin, immediately expressed that Robinson was very interested in joining the Lakers.
But the key issue, as always, was the contract.
West tentatively offered $15 million over three years.
Austin sighed inwardly. David left San Antonio for a championship, but this shows how much his market value has shrunk. Everyone in the league knew Robinson was chasing a ring now—nobody was going to throw him a max contract.
Austin didn't argue. Instead, he told West he would speak with Robinson and give him an answer soon.
When Robinson heard the details, he felt helpless, but he still analyzed his options carefully.
At the same time, at Allen Iverson's urging, the Philly 76ers also reached out. Their offer? Two years, $16 million—slightly better than Portland's and close to what Robinson had wanted.
The 76ers' plan was to trade away defensive anchor Theo Ratliff. Their management realized during the playoffs that pure defense wasn't enough to beat Zhao Dong. They needed more scoring.
Robinson fit that plan perfectly. His offensive skill set, even at 35, was far superior to Ratliff's. Adding Robinson would allow them to form a God-Killing lineup:
The Admiral + The Mailman (Karl Malone) stretching the floor inside
Iverson slashing through wide-open lanes
Robinson's shooting and passing would open massive driving lanes for Iverson and allow for more versatile offensive sets.
"David," Austin asked cautiously, "Los Angeles or Philadelphia?"
He deliberately didn't push Robinson either way. If the team Robinson picked failed to win a title, Austin didn't want to be blamed.
Robinson compared the lineups in his mind.
Outside: Kobe vs. Iverson—both elite, but different playstyles
Inside: Shaq was still the most dominant force in the league, and pairing with him meant better chances to neutralize Zhao Dong
After a long pause, Robinson made up his mind.
"Call the Lakers," he said firmly.
"Good choice." Austin exhaled in relief and immediately contacted West.
When West received the call confirming Robinson's decision, he was ecstatic.
With Robinson on board, the Lakers could finally put Ben Wallace on the trade block. Trading Big Ben for future assets wouldn't just balance the roster; it would also save salary and reduce luxury tax.
When assistant GM Mitch Kupchak informed Big Ben that he was officially on the trade market, Wallace only smiled bitterly.
He had been prepared for this ever since losing his starting spot in the Finals. "Business is business," he muttered. As long as his contract was guaranteed, he didn't care where he played—especially since he was already investing with Zhao Dong off the court.
The reaction to Robinson joining the Lakers was explosive—much louder than when Tim Duncan signed with the Nets.
Duncan's move hadn't sparked outrage because it wasn't seen as a "superteam" yet. Yao Ming had only finished his rookie season, and Duncan had lingering meniscus issues. People weren't sure how dominant the Nets would be.
But Robinson?
Even at 35, he was still a respected superstar. Many media voices called him out for "ring-chasing."
"David Robinson not only left his home team for the championship, but he's joining forces with another dominant center," Larry Bird criticized openly. "That's not the way a true franchise cornerstone should end his career."
Newly-appointed Pacers coach Isiah Thomas was even harsher. "A super center should never cling to another super center. It's pathetic."
Robinson stayed silent, partly out of respect for San Antonio, but Austin fired back.
"David is 35," Austin said in a phone interview. "Thomas calling this 'teaming up' is ridiculous. A veteran chasing one last ring doesn't deserve criticism. He's earned this."
The media didn't care—they loved the drama. The more heated the debate, the higher the ratings.
Meanwhile, Zhao Dong ignored all the noise.
His mind was elsewhere—Lindsay's due date was approaching.
By late July, he was completely focused on family life. Basketball gossip, trades, and free agency meant nothing to him.
At the end of July, Don Nelson Sr. called.
"Zhao, my contract with the Knicks is up," Nelson said. "They want me to stay, but I'm leaving. I need a new challenge."
"Where to, Coach?" Zhao Dong asked.
"Michael Jordan invited me to Dallas," Nelson laughed. "My son's there too, so why not give it a try?"
Zhao chuckled. "Just be careful. Jordan's track record as a GM isn't exactly stellar. Make sure your son grabs those draft picks."
Nelson laughed heartily. "You're probably right."
Before hanging up, Nelson also revealed that Jeff Van Gundy Jr. would take over as the Knicks' head coach.
On August 1st, Zhao Dong officially reported to the Chinese national team, though he spent most of his time at home with Lindsay, waiting for the birth of their children.
The Dongcheng Training Base—now half state-owned—had replaced the old Tsinghua University facility. Zhao still held half the equity since he personally financed a large portion of its operations.
The atmosphere at the base was intense. With the Olympics approaching, athletes and coaches trained with relentless focus.
As Zhao approached the basketball training hall, he spotted Director Liu Yumin waiting for him at the entrance.
"Director Liu!" Zhao greeted warmly.
"Zhao Dong, you're finally here!" Liu waved with a broad smile. "Come in quickly."
The Dongcheng Training Base buzzed with energy. The massive training hall, usually shared by both men's and women's basketball teams, now belonged solely to the men. The women's team had failed to qualify for the Olympics this year, leaving the court entirely to the national men's squad.
Some joked that "when men and women work together, the work isn't tiring," but right now, it was all business.
The men's team roster was stacked: Zhao Dong, Yao Ming, Wang Zhizhi, Batere, Li Xiaoyong, Guo Shiqiang, Sun Jun, Zhang Jinsong, Hu Weidong, Zheng Wu, Liu Yudong, and Li Nan.
The head coach, Jiang Xinquan, was flanked by several assistants, including Del Harris, the former Lakers coach who had once guided the Shaq-Kobe OK combo.
Zhao Dong was the last to report. Everyone else had arrived days earlier, already grinding through recovery and conditioning sessions.
As soon as he stepped into the hall, players greeted him enthusiastically.
"Coach Jiang."
Zhao Dong first nodded to his teammates, then shook Jiang Xinquan's hand.
"Zhao Dong," Jiang said with a smile, "you showing up puts a lot of pressure on us!"
Zhao grinned. "Don't tell me you didn't expect it."
Jiang chuckled and turned to Director Liu Yumin, joking, "Director Liu, with that tone, even if we win a silver medal, he'll probably call it a failure."
Liu gave a wry smile. "What can you expect? Zhao Dong is now the God of Basketball. Four seasons in the NBA, four championships. For him, silver is second place—and second place is failure."
"Director Liu understands me," Zhao Dong said, smiling.
Jiang grew serious and looked around at the team. "Then let's try it this time—our goal is the gold medal!"
"Win the gold!"
The first to shout was Yao Ming, his confidence soaring after his stellar NBA rookie season.
"Win the gold!"
Wang Zhizhi and Hu Weidong, both now NBA champions alongside Zhao Dong, joined in. Dazhi had even been the starting center in the Finals. Their ambitions had long surpassed what they once were in their previous careers.
The rest of the team quickly followed, chanting in unison.
Del Harris watched silently, nodding to himself. With Zhao Dong on the roster, this team had the firepower to beat anyone.
Liu Yumin and Jiang Xinquan exchanged satisfied smiles.
This Olympic squad was no ordinary Chinese team. The entire Golden Generation of '96 was here, boosted by NBA-experienced stars like Yao Ming, Wang Zhizhi, Batere, and Hu Weidong. Their strength far surpassed previous Olympic teams.
And above all stood Zhao Dong—the undisputed best player in the world. Recognized not only in the NBA but across international basketball, his efficiency and dominance were unmatched.
If a team with Zhao Dong didn't win gold, anything less than first place might truly be seen as a failure.
The General Administration of Sport hadn't announced it publicly to avoid adding pressure, but internally, the only acceptable goal was gold.
Now that Zhao Dong himself had declared it, no one doubted him. His presence didn't add pressure—it lifted it.
Morale skyrocketed the moment he entered the hall.
"How's everyone holding up physically?" Zhao Dong asked.
Jiang Xinquan replied, "The veterans—like Liu Yudong—have some lingering injuries, but nothing that will keep them from playing."
Liu Yumin added with a smile, "Thanks to you, the medical facilities here are several levels better than before. Their recovery over the past two years has been excellent."
Zhao waved it off. "Don't thank me. Without these guys, I wouldn't have any gold medals either."
After a short round of greetings, Jiang brought up Zhao Dong's role.
"We were thinking about your position…"
Zhao nodded. "Let Yao and Dazhi handle the interior. I'll run the point."
He had long preferred to play as a combo guard, orchestrating the offense while scoring when necessary. The Chinese team's weakest spot had always been at point guard—sometimes they struggled just to cross half-court under full-court pressure.
Jiang grinned. "Exactly my plan. I had considered bringing Li Qun, but since I wanted you as our primary point, I didn't call him in."
"My style at the one will be two-way," Zhao clarified. "I'll score when needed and organize when necessary. Any problem with that, Coach?"
Jiang laughed. "Couldn't ask for more. If I don't put the God of Basketball at the helm, who else would I trust? My only concern is your stamina. You've played hundreds of NBA games and only rested for a month. Are you good to go?"
"No problem," Zhao said confidently. "I'll still be taking it easy until the end of the month before ramping up."
"Then it's settled." Jiang clapped his hands.
Zhao turned to Yao with a grin. "You're lucky, Yao. Duncan by your side next season? That's big."
Yao laughed sheepishly. "We should at least make the Eastern Conference Finals with that lineup."
Hu Weidong chimed in, smirking. "But Zhao, the Lakers just added David Robinson. Two super centers now. And your Trail Blazers haven't made any major moves yet. What's your plan for next season?"
Zhao sighed and nodded. "It's going to be tough."
Zhao Dong sat on the sidelines of the Dongcheng training hall, listening to the coaches discuss roster options. The topic shifted from the Trail Blazers to the American national team.
He had briefly considered pushing his Trail Blazers to trade for Ben Wallace, but he eventually shook his head.
Big Ben was a great defender, no question about it. His finishing rate around the rim exceeded 60%, and next to Zhao Dong, he could draw enough defensive attention to free up space inside. His interior defense was elite against most players, especially in stopping guard penetration.
But against giants like Shaquille O'Neal, Tim Duncan, or Yao Ming, Ben was simply overmatched. Against the Lakers, Nets, or even the Knicks, he wouldn't be enough to shift the balance.
"Forget it," Zhao Dong muttered to himself. "Not worth the trade."
The conversation turned when Liu Yumin asked, "Zhao Dong, do you know which stars the U.S. is sending this year?"
"It hasn't been officially announced, but I've got the list from their training camp. Pretty much confirmed."
He turned to Del Harris, who had been quietly observing. "Coach Harris, you hear anything?"
Harris shook his head. "No, Zhao. I've been in China the whole time. No updates from the States."
Zhao nodded and began listing names.
"Head coach is Rudy Tomjanovich. Their bigs: Alonzo Mourning, Antonio McDyess, Kevin Garnett, and Vin Baker."
Seeing the blank expressions of Coach Jiang and Liu Yumin, Zhao added explanations.
"Mourning's considered the fifth-best center in the NBA. Defensive monster—shot-blocking, rim protection, tough as nails.
Oh, and 'rim protection' means lowering opponents' scoring efficiency at the basket. It's not just about blocks, it's about making life hell for anyone attacking the rim."
He continued:
"McDyess? Former No. 2 pick in '95, still at his peak—20+10 guy.
Garnett's the new generation's All-Star power forward. Offense, defense, versatility—he can even defend all the way to the three-point line.
Vin Baker? He's declining. Drinks too much, can't control his weight. He's heavier than Shaq right now.
All four can switch between center and power forward."
Coach Jiang asked with curiosity, "So how do Yao and Dazhi match up against those four?"
Zhao Dong smiled. "Ask Yao yourself."
All eyes turned to Yao Ming, who grinned. "I can handle them in the post. Garnett's the only one I can't stay in front of—he's more athletic than me."
"That's good enough."
Coach Jiang and Liu Yumin both laughed, relieved.
Zhao added confidently, "If Yao seals himself in the paint, clears the space, they won't be able to stop him."
Coach Jiang clapped. "Excellent! Now, what about their perimeter players?"
Zhao listed the rest.
"Outside players: Sharif Abdur-Rahim—small forward, but he can slide to the four. 206 cm tall, No. 2 pick from my draft year, had a 20+10 season in 1999-2000.
Then their guards: Vince Carter, Ray Allen, Allan Houston, Steve Smith, Tim Hardaway, Gary Payton, and Jason Kidd.
First four are shooting guards, last three are point guards.
Except for Steve Smith, the other six are elite right now—top-tier scorers and playmakers."
Dazhi scratched his head. "Brother Dong, that means they don't really have a true small forward?"
"Not exactly," Zhao replied. "Rahim's their only true three. But those shooting guards can all slide to small forward.
You should especially watch Ray Allen and Vince Carter—both deadly shooters and slashers. Carter's the one to be most careful about under the rim. They call him the Canadian Flying Man, or UFO. His vertical's insane. Don't let him put you on a poster."
Zhao's tone grew serious.
"This Olympics is Carter's breakout stage. His dunks are lethal.
If he even tries to jump over you—pull him down. I don't care how it looks. He wants to fly over you? Make him regret it."
The team exchanged amused glances. It was ironic hearing that from Zhao Dong, the same guy who humiliated NBA big men with his own gravity-defying dunks.
Still, no one dared to laugh outright.
"Remember this," Zhao continued sternly. "Beware of fire, theft, and UFOs. I don't want to see anyone getting dunked on, and definitely no crazy highlight-reel stuff on us. Clear?"
"Clear!"
The entire team responded in unison. Even Sun Jun, one of the CBA's brightest stars, looked dead serious.
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