Chapter Summaries

Wang Yi spent time with his parents after returning home, then resumed light training and prepared to join the Sacramento Kings. After a week, he and Nicole flew to Sacramento, leaving Los Angeles behind for now.

• Wang Yi told his parents he had been traded, and his father urged him to answer the move with strong performances while his mother fretted over him.
• Wang Yi promised his mother he would bring his parents to live with him once he was settled, and he clarified that Nicole was only a friend.
• Wang Yi slept in, then trained lightly at the Training Hall while Nicole explored on her own.
• Wang Yi's family moved to a hotel after relatives, friends, and online streamers crowded their home, and Wang Yi met friends for drinks.
• A week later, Wang Yi and Nicole flew to Sacramento, where Wang Yi planned to report to the Kings instead of returning to Los Angeles.

After arriving in Sacramento, Wang Yi met Kings owner Vivek Ranadivé, General Manager Vlade Divac, and Coach Luke Walton. The Kings welcomed him as the centerpiece of their plans and offered him a three-year contract worth about $84 million, leaving him stunned.

• Wang Yi contacted Vlade Divac after landing, and Divac arranged to visit him at his hotel with the coach.
• Wang Yi rested and considered the Kings’ losing history, resolving to transform the team.
• Vivek Ranadivé, Vlade Divac, and Luke Walton arrived at Wang Yi’s hotel room to welcome him.
• Divac outlined the Kings’ plan to build around Wang Yi and offered to raise and extend his contract to three years for about $84 million.
• Wang Yi stared in disbelief as Ranadivé confirmed the offer.

Wang Yi reviewed and signed a three-year, $84 million contract with the Kings, then agreed with the team on ambitious goals and his role as its new leader. After moving into a villa in Sacramento, he discovered that Zeng Xinyi lived next door.

• Kings owner Ranadave and general manager Divac offered Wang Yi a three-year, $84 million contract, and Wang asked Luo Lin to review it before signing.
• Coach Luke Walton told Wang that the Kings aimed to make the Playoffs, but Wang proposed reaching the Western Conference Finals, and the team adopted that goal.
• Walton said Wang would need to earn the young roster's respect and lead the team, and Wang agreed to take on the challenge.
• Luo Lin reviewed the contract, Wang signed it with Divac, and the Kings advanced him five million dollars for expenses.
• Wang moved into a rented villa and discovered that Zeng Xinyi lived next door; she came over and asked to see his home.

Wang Yi tried to win over veteran Harrison Barnes, whom he hoped to lead toward the Kings’ goal of reaching the Western Conference Finals. Barnes dismissed his ambitions and rebuffed Wang Yi’s visits, leaving Wang Yi determined to return again.

• Wang Yi learned that Buddy Hield, Harrison Barnes, Marvin Bagley, Richaun Holmes, and several young players would remain on the Kings, and decided to win over Barnes and TT Thompson first.
• Wang Yi visited Barnes at his villa, calmly passed a chained, growling dog, and waited while Barnes played the cello.
• Wang Yi urged Barnes to aim for the Western Conference Finals, but Barnes laughed at the idea and ended their conversation.
• Wang Yi announced he would return the next day and insulted the dog’s yellow teeth as he left.
• The next morning, Barnes refused to let Wang Yi inside, but Wang Yi called through the door that he would come back again.

Wang Yi followed Barnes to church and used a striking song to capture the old musician’s interest. After the song ended, Barnes slammed on the brakes, leaving Wang Yi’s attempt to recruit him unresolved.

• Wang Yi returned to Barnes’s house the morning after being threatened with a trespassing report and followed Barnes to church.
• Wang Yi attended the service, introduced himself as a new Kings player, and noticed Barnes playing accordion with the children’s choir.
• Wang Yi admitted he had followed Barnes and persuaded him to give him a ride home by claiming his car had broken down.
• Wang Yi played a song featuring an Italian prayer, an orchestral introduction, rap, and gunshots, surprising Barnes with its unfamiliar sound.
• Barnes slammed on the brakes as the song’s final note faded.

Wang Yi played Barnes “In the Name of the Father,” reigniting Barnes’s passion for music and prompting him to ask to learn the song. Barnes agreed to help Wang Yi persuade TT Thompson in exchange, and Wang Yi planned to use more of Jay Chou’s songs to secure his help with others.

• Barnes heard “In the Name of the Father” in Wang Yi’s car and asked to see the original music video.
• After watching the video, Barnes searched for a film by that name, then accepted Wang Yi’s explanation of the song’s story and praised its arrangement.
• Barnes learned that the song was released in 2003 and that its singer had composed it himself.
• Barnes asked Wang Yi to teach him the song, and Wang Yi offered to do so if Barnes helped persuade TT Thompson.
• Barnes agreed to do his best to help persuade TT, and Wang Yi considered using more of Jay Chou’s songs to win over the other people he needed to convince.

Wang Yi tried to recruit his teammates for the next season, first helping Barnes learn Jay Chou's song before shifting his attention to Buddy Hield when TT Thompson could not be reached. Hield challenged Wang Yi to meet him at Rucker Park, and Wang Yi eagerly set off for the streetball court.

• Wang Yi taught Barnes to sing "In the Name of the Father," and Barnes memorized the lyrics despite struggling with Chinese pronunciation.
• Wang Yi called TT Thompson several times, but TT did not answer, so Wang Yi decided to contact other teammates first.
• Wang Yi called Buddy Hield, who answered while playing at Rucker Park and challenged him to come there.
• Wang Yi accepted the challenge and headed for Rucker Park, a renowned streetball court where NBA players had often been humbled.

Wang Yi decided to visit Rucker Park and play there despite warnings that outsiders, especially Chinese players, could face hostility and danger. After securing Marbury’s help, he arranged to travel to New York with Barnes, who insisted on accompanying him.

• Barnes warned Wang Yi that Rucker Park could be dangerous, but Wang Yi insisted that winning over the crowd would make the challenge more exciting.
• Barnes showed Wang Yi an online guide advising visitors to travel by car, bring something, and go with someone who knew Harlem.
• Wang Yi called Yao Ming for Political Commissar Ma’s number, and Yao Ming warned him that Rucker Park was even harder than the online stories suggested.
• Wang Yi contacted Marbury, who invited him to visit and offered to go with him to Rucker Park the next day.
• Barnes offered to pay for his flight so he could protect Wang Yi, and Wang Yi agreed to let him come.

Wang Yi arrived at Rucker Park with Marbury and decided to play after watching Hield struggle against the local streetballers. He joined the Destroyers to face the popular Hell's Angels, including legendary players Larry Williams and Troy Jackson.

• Wang Yi and Barnes flew to New York, where Marbury welcomed them and brought them to Rucker Park the following evening.
• Marbury led Wang Yi onto the court, where fans recognized and cheered for Marbury while some spectators taunted Wang Yi.
• Wang Yi watched Hield score only five points as the opposing players repeatedly beat him, then told Marbury he wanted to play.
• Duke Tango warned Wang Yi not to play, but Wang Yi declared that he had come to conquer Rucker Park, prompting Duke Tango to rile up the crowd against him.
• Duke Tango placed Wang Yi on the Destroyers, who were set to face the Hell's Angels, featuring Larry Williams and Troy Jackson.

Wang Yi faced the Hell Bringers at Rucker Park without help from his system, enduring the crowd’s abuse and his teammates’ disdain. He left the chapter having stunned the spectators by stopping an Afro-haired opponent’s flashy move and catching the ball behind his back without looking.

• Wang Yi challenged the Hell Bringers, who had won 13 games in a row, and stood firm as the crowd called him a traitor and hurled insults at him.
• The teams began with a jump ball, and the Hell Bringers gave the ball to an Afro-haired player to face Wang Yi one-on-one.
• The Afro-haired player used a behind-the-leg dribble and an Immortal Points the Way fake, but Wang Yi kept his eyes on him and held his position.
• Wang Yi reached behind himself and caught the ball one-handed without looking, leaving the crowd stunned.

Wang Yi dominated three Hell's Angels players with his defense and three-point shooting, helping the Destroyers take a seven-point lead before the starters rested. Bone Collector led a comeback to tie the score at the end of the first quarter, and Wang Yi studied him while settling on a plan for the next quarter.

• Wang Yi hit a logo three-pointer and then shut down Afro while making three more shots from beyond the arc.
• Bone Collector sent two more players to guard Wang Yi, but Wang Yi stopped both of them and earned his teammates' respect.
• Wang Yi finished the first quarter six-for-ten from three-point range with 18 points as the Destroyers led 22–15.
• The Hell's Angels' substitutes, led by Bone Collector, overwhelmed the Destroyers' bench and tied the game at 27–27.
• Wang Yi watched Bone Collector during the break and settled on a plan.

Wang Yi accepted Bone Collector’s one-on-one challenge at Rucker Park, where Bone Collector scored with a flashy move but Wang Yi answered with another three-pointer. Wang Yi’s eighth three of the day left the crowd amazed, while Westbrook suspected he still had more to show.

• Russell Westbrook arrived at Rucker Park to watch the games, drawing cheers from the crowd.
• Bone Collector challenged Wang Yi, and Wang Yi stepped onto the court despite having planned to rest.
• Wang Yi opened their one-on-one exchange by sinking his seventh three-pointer of the day.
• Bone Collector used a Whirlwind Roller Coaster move to get past Wang Yi and score a layup.
• Wang Yi rose over Bone Collector’s contest and made his eighth three-pointer, drawing a louder reaction from the crowd.

Wang Yi shut down Bone Collector with a block and a chase-down block, then answered the taunts about his three-point shooting with a spectacular 360-degree, between-the-legs dunk. The crowd erupted as Wang Yi challenged Bone Collector and Duke Tango.

• Bone Collector tried to fake past Wang Yi, but Wang Yi stayed still and blocked his jumper into the stands.
• Bone Collector used a simple crossover to get around Wang Yi, but Wang Yi chased him down and blocked his layup against the backboard.
• Wang Yi taunted Bone Collector, then brought the ball up while Bone Collector and Duke Tango mocked his reliance on three-pointers.
• Wang Yi faked a three, drove past Bone Collector, and slammed a 360-degree, between-the-legs dunk.
• Wang Yi celebrated before the roaring crowd and challenged Duke Tango and Bone Collector to respond.

Wang Yi dominated Bone Collector and the Hell’s Angels with blocks, fast breaks, and emphatic dunks, giving the Destroyers a 45–35 lead. During the timeout, Ladder admitted he could not beat Wang Yi one-on-one and urged the Hell’s Angels to rely on teamwork.

• Wang Yi blocked Bone Collector’s hook shot, then raced downcourt and slammed in a dunk from just inside the free-throw line.
• Wang Yi repeatedly drove past defenders and scored with dunks while shutting down Bone Collector’s attacks.
• With five minutes left in the second quarter, the Destroyers led 45–35, and Wang Yi had scored 37 points.
• During the timeout, Bone Collector demanded that Ladder teach Wang Yi a lesson, but Ladder admitted he could not beat Wang Yi alone.
• Ladder proposed that the Hell’s Angels play as a team, arguing that their teamwork gave them the best chance to win.

Wang Yi challenged Ladder to stop the Hell’s Angels from relying on team play, then scored another logo three before Ladder attacked. Ladder spun past him and attempted a shot under the basket, with Wang Yi leaping to block it.

• The Hell’s Angels used Bone Collector and the Tattooed man to score a dunk through teamwork, drawing disappointment from many spectators.
• Ladder faked Wang Yi out with a spin and a full turn before passing to Bone Collector for another dunk.
• Wang Yi challenged Ladder to a one-on-one, and Ladder took a defensive stance against him.
• Wang Yi launched a logo three over Ladder and made the shot.
• Ladder spun past Wang Yi near the basket and shot as Wang Yi jumped to swat the ball.

Wang Yi dominated Ladder and the Hell's Angels with his three-point shooting, leading the Destroyers by twenty at halftime and earning most of Rucker Park's respect. He then set his sights on winning over the remaining stubborn spectators as Westbrook asked him to explain two Chinese expressions.

• Wang Yi outmaneuvered Ladder, taunted him, and sank a three-pointer after leaving him behind with a spin move.
• Wang Yi kept making threes during the one-on-one rounds while Ladder scored some twos, missed a shot, and had another blocked.
• The Destroyers led the Hell's Angels by twenty at halftime, and Wang Yi had scored 51 points, including twelve threes.
• Most of the Rucker Park spectators cheered Wang Yi, while he focused on winning over the spectators who still sat silently.
• Westbrook and Marbury congratulated Wang Yi, and Wang Yi offered to teach Westbrook two Chinese expressions meaning “fuck” and “fucking awesome.”

Wang Yi won over Hield and faced a Hell’s Angels team that switched to playing together in the second half. He answered their scoring with threes and capped the run with an astonishing one-handed, behind-the-head dunk, leaving the crowd stunned.

• Hield apologized to Wang Yi, and the two promised to turn the league upside down together next season.
• Bone Collector and Ladder urged the Hell’s Angels to rely on their teamwork and take back the game in the second half.
• After the break, the Hell’s Angels scored through team play, but Wang Yi answered with consecutive three-pointers.
• The Hell’s Angels trapped Wang Yi, who passed to Little Dreadlocks, broke toward the basket, caught a wayward pass behind his head, and dunked it with his right hand.
• Duke Tango and the spectators reacted in disbelief and called Wang Yi’s dunk crazier than anything in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest.

Wang Yi dominated the Rucker Park game with spectacular dunks and three-pointers, drawing the attention of Jordan Kilganon, who found a new goal in training Wang Yi to become his rival. Exhausted but still determined to break the Hell Bringers' resolve, Wang Yi launched a fast break as lightning struck overhead.

• Jordan Kilganon watched Wang Yi dunk and recognized his exceptional physical gifts, then decided to help train him before challenging him himself.
• Wang Yi performed a self-toss dunk with a full 360-degree spin, thrilling the crowd and further inspiring Jordan Kilganon.
• The Destroyers agreed to set screens and feed Wang Yi the ball, and he scored with repeated three-pointers and dunks.
• Wang Yi's stamina and shooting declined in the third quarter, so he focused on increasingly forceful dunks while his team built a 93–63 lead.
• After Bone Collector hit a three-pointer, Wang Yi sprinted downcourt and called for Little Dreadlocks to throw him the ball as lightning flashed overhead.

Wang Yi's overwhelming power tore the rim free during his performance at Rucker Park, ending the game as a downpour began. After Duke Tango announced Wang Yi had scored 80 points in less than three quarters, the crowd gave him the nickname “God King” and claimed his borrowed jersey as a Rucker Park keepsake.

• Wang Yi unleashed a two-handed dunk and yanked the rim until it broke free and flew into the night.
• The spectators, players, and NBA stars watched Wang Yi in stunned silence as lightning and torrential rain swept over the court.
• The referee ended the game because the rim was damaged and the rain had started, and Duke Tango announced that Wang Yi had scored 80 points in less than three quarters.
• Duke Tango proposed the nickname “God King,” and the Rucker Park crowd chanted it together.
• Wang Yi tried to return the borrowed number 1 jersey, but the Destroyers player refused it, and the crowd decided to hang it above Durant's number 35 jersey.

Wang Yi visited Marvin Bagley III to persuade him to join the Kings’ efforts, but Bagley insisted they settle things with a one-on-one game. Wang Yi accepted the challenge while Barnes and Hield waited outside the locked court.

• On the plane, Wang Yi asked Hield and Barnes about Bagley’s personality and learned that injuries and comparisons with his draft peers had made him increasingly discouraged and quiet.
• After returning to Sacramento, Wang Yi recruited Barnes and Hield to accompany him to Bagley’s house.
• Bagley ignored Wang Yi’s introduction and challenged him to play one-on-one, promising to go with him if Wang Yi won.
• Bagley led Wang Yi into the backyard basketball shed, locked Barnes and Hield outside, and prepared to play.
• As the basketball echoed inside, Barnes called the sound music, while Hield said it sounded like a heartbeat.