At the same time, other teams also completed their roster cuts one after another.
Of the three Chinese players, Guo Ailun was cut halfway through the Pre-season, Ding Yanyuhang was released by the Mavericks at the last moment, while Zhou Qi successfully remained with the team.
Just as he had told Tang Tian before, Ding Yanyuhang signed a one-year deal with the Mavericks' NBDL affiliate, the Dallas Legends, after being cut, continuing to chase his dream.
On October 26, after a long Long Grass Period, the curtain finally rose on the 2016-2017 NBA Regular Season.
There were ten games that day, including one marquee matchup in each conference: the Cavaliers against the Raptors, and the Warriors against the Spurs.
The Warriors-Spurs game drew particular attention.
The Warriors had signed Durant over the summer and were the hottest favorites to win the championship, while the Spurs had traded for Bogut to fill Duncan's void and still possessed title-contending strength.
It was a head-on clash between two powerhouses.
The Pelicans' game was a day later. Since both teams were their main rivals, Tang Tian pulled Davis along to watch the live broadcast at the Training Facility.
League President Adam Silver also appeared at the game site.
With Duncan retired, Ginobili aging, and Parker's status within the team declining, the Spurs' GDP era had essentially come to an end.
The Spurs were now built around the twin-core pairing of Kawhi Leonard and Marcus Aldridge.
Once the game began, it immediately fell into a stalemate.
In the sixth season of his career, Leonard had already displayed the potential of a true superstar.
Whether the Warriors used Iguodala or Green in the matchup, neither could contain him effectively.
He and Durant entered a shootout from the opening tip, with neither side able to stop the