NBA: Built to Dominate

Nike Headquarters, Portland, USA

Inside the towering Nike headquarters, Brand Jones, the company's Director of Operations, hurried into the executive office.

"Chairman, the Atlanta Hawks lost!"

Phil Knight, Nike's chairman, was seated on a sleek leather couch, reviewing the company's quarterly sales reports.

Hearing Jones burst into his office like that, he didn't even look up.

He wasn't interested in NBA game results—

Especially not the Hawks.

They were an unpopular team with no major stars and, frankly, no commercial value.

Jones, however, wasn't finished.

"They lost to the Los Angeles Lakers… and Alex Mo dominated again!"

Knight finally looked up.

"Alex Mo? That's the Chinese No. 1 pick, right?"

"Yes."

Knight sighed.

"Shame he's just a center."

Nike's Skepticism Toward Big Men

For years, Nike had a simple rule:

Centers don't sell shoes.

Even in New York, where Patrick Ewing played in the league's biggest market, his signature sneakers never sold well.

Historically, guards and wings—players like Michael Jordan and Penny Hardaway—were the real moneymakers in the sneaker business.

That's why Nike had no interest in Alex Mo.

No matter how good he was, he was just a big man.

On the other hand, Allen Iverson, Mo's teammate, had already signed a deal with Reebok before entering the NBA.

Nike had tried, but they were too late.

So why should they care about Alex Mo?

Jones had the answer.

"Chairman, the Hawks weren't just beaten… They were destroyed by Alex Mo's three-pointers!"

Knight's eyes narrowed.

"Wait… what?"

Jones nodded.

"He played like a shooting guard!"

A Center Shooting Like a Guard?

Knight was skeptical.

Sure, some centers had good mid-range shots.

Hakeem Olajuwon had great footwork and could hit jumpers. David Robinson had a solid touch .Even Ewing had a respectable mid-range game.

But shooting three-pointers like a guard?

That was different.

"Are you serious?" Knight asked.

Jones didn't hesitate.

"I brought the game tape. Let me show you."

Watching the Tape: A Game-Changer

Minutes later, a TV screen flickered on in Knight's office.

Jones pressed play.

At first, Alex Mo looked like a normal center—dominating inside with powerful dunks and rebounds.

But then…

Boom!

A three-pointer from beyond the arc.

Swish!

Another pull-up three.

Then, after grabbing a defensive rebound, Alex pushed the ball up the court himself, took one dribble past the half-court line—

And launched another three!

Swish!

Knight leaned forward in his seat.

This wasn't luck.

It wasn't some desperation shot.

Alex Mo was shooting threes with confidence—like a guard.

Nike's Change of Heart

"Look at his dribbling, Chairman," Jones pointed at the screen.

"He's quicker and smoother than Olajuwon ever was."

"He's not a traditional big man."

Knight rubbed his chin.

"A sample size of one game is too small…" he muttered.

"But I'll keep an eye on him."

He jotted down Alex Mo's name in his notebook.

"If he keeps playing like this, we'll reconsider our stance."

Knight's philosophy had always been:

Centers don't sell shoes.

But what if Alex Mo wasn't a center?

The Entire Sneaker Industry Takes Notice

Nike wasn't the only brand paying attention.

At Adidas' headquarters, executives were having the exact same discussion.

One of them even put it bluntly:

"Alex Mo isn't a center."

"He's a 6'11 swingman!"

If he had entered the NBA as a shooting guard, no one would hesitate to offer him a major endorsement deal.

Maybe…

It was time to change their thinking.

Even Reebok and Converse—which had yet to be acquired—began scrambling to reevaluate Alex Mo.

They weren't going to let Nike and Adidas get the jump on them.

The NBA Media Reacts

The sneaker companies weren't the only ones stirring.

ESPN was already debating Alex Mo's performance.

Their host posed a question to the panel:

"Is there anyone in NBA history who has played like Alex Mo?"

A big man with:

The size and strength of a center, the athleticism of a forward, the shooting ability of a guard, and the ball-handling skills of a point guard?

"Have we ever seen a player like this before?"

The panelists took turns answering.

"In terms of athletic bigs, sure—Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell, Shaq, the four great centers."

"Even Sean Kemp and Karl Malone were fast, powerful bigs."

"But Alex Mo is different."

He doesn't just run fast.

He dribbles like a guard.

He shoots like a guard.

And that?

That's unheard of.

Patrick Ewing and the Georgetown Challenge

Meanwhile, in New York, the Knicks' training facility was buzzing.

Larry Johnson, who had just joined the team that summer, was chatting with Patrick Ewing.

"Hey Pat, did you see what Alex Mo did last night?"

Ewing shook his head.

"Nope. What happened?"

Johnson grinned.

"The kid hit seven three-pointers."

Ewing's eyes widened.

"A center? Shooting threes?"

"No," Johnson corrected.

"He's not just a center."

Ewing frowned.

"What do you mean?"

Johnson smirked.

"Imagine Mutombo guarding him at the three-point line."

"If you were in Mutombo's place… would you guard the three or the drive?"

Ewing froze.

His first instinct was to say he'd protect the paint.

But then…

He saw the headline on the New York Daily News.

"Alex Mo Shoots 7-for-7 from Three, Drops 43 Points!"

Ewing closed his mouth.

The question was simple.

Defend the three? Or the drive?

He didn't have an answer.

Kevin Garnett Speaks Up

Over in Minnesota, Timberwolves rookie Kevin Garnett was watching Alex Mo's highlights on a screen.

Reporters asked for his thoughts.

Garnett smirked.

"I know what people are saying…"

"They're wondering if I can guard him."

He scoffed.

"I'm faster than him."

"I jump higher than him."

"If he pulls up for a three, I'll block him."

"If he drives, I'll stop him."

He stared at the camera.

"When the Timberwolves play the Lakers… I'll show everyone what I can do."

The media erupted.

The NBA had just found its first rival matchup for Alex Mo.

Alex Mo vs. Kevin Garnett.

And the entire world would be watching.