Brogdon's selection sparked considerable controversy.
Those who supported him believed his numbers with the Pelicans carried more weight, and his competitors had been weaker as well. There was nothing wrong with the selection.
Those opposed to it kept bringing up the statistics. After all, there had never been a Rookie of the Month in NBA history with such a low average score.
Both sides stuck to their arguments, and the dispute remained unresolved.
Against that backdrop, the Mount Tenryu showdown between the Pelicans and Warriors was about to begin at New Orleans Arena.
Before the game, the Pelicans held an open practice.
After practice, Tang Tian accepted an interview from reporters at courtside.
Besides questions related to the game, the reporters also asked about Brogdon, who had been the most talked-about player lately.
"What do you think about your teammate Brogdon being named Rookie of the Month? Some people say the league chose Brogdon because of Tatum's relationship with you."
"Do I have that much influence? How come I didn't know?"
After hearing the question, Tang Tian replied with a smile.
"Brogdon wasn't even the first offensive option off the bench. If it had been any other rookie, I don't think anyone could have performed as well as he did. And as you can see, he's now starting on the stage of the Western Conference Finals. He's the best rookie."
Tang Tian's follow-up remarks made his stance clear. He strongly supported Brogdon.
When he had suggested that Dempsey draft Brogdon, it was because he valued Brogdon as a Ready-to-play player. Brogdon's performance had now met his expectations.
That night, the Mount Tenryu battle between the Pelicans and Warriors officially began at New Orleans Arena.
The arena was packed inside and out. Naturally, fans would not miss such a crucial game.