Chapter Summaries

Tang Tian and Butler teamed up against Walker and Thompson in two-on-two training, winning 5-3 through strong defense. Thompson accepted the gap between himself and Tang Tian and trained harder, while Butler’s extreme dedication surprised everyone.

• Butler replaced Irving in the training games, and Tang Tian paired with Butler against Walker and Thompson.
• Walker and Thompson scored first through a pass and layup, but Tang Tian stole the ball and scored after Butler fed him inside.
• Tang Tian blocked Walker’s layup, and Tang Tian and Butler won the game 5-3 after a long, defensive contest.
• Thompson realized his losses were due to Tang Tian’s greater strength rather than his teammates and responded by training harder.
• Tang Tian and Walker discovered that Butler ran four or five kilometers to the facility each morning and kept getting up earlier, once finding him preparing to leave at four.

Tang Tian and Walker attended the 2012 NBA Draft, where former UConn teammates Jeremy Lamb and Andre Drummond waited in the Green Room. The Hornets selected Anthony Davis first, and Harrison Barnes fell to seventh, joining the Warriors with hopes of eventually defeating Tang Tian.

• Tang Tian and Walker met Jeremy Lamb and Head Coach Ollie at the draft, where Andre Drummond had also been invited to the Green Room.
• Tang Tian spotted familiar prospects, including Dion Waiters, Harrison Barnes, and Anthony Davis, before returning to the stands with Walker.
• The Hornets chose Anthony Davis first, while the Bobcats selected Michael Kidd-Gilchrist second.
• The Wizards drafted Bradley Beal, the Cavaliers drafted Dion Waiters, the Kings drafted Thomas Robinson, and the Trail Blazers drafted Damian Lillard.
• The Warriors selected Harrison Barnes seventh, and Barnes resolved to use his new team as a chance to defeat Tang Tian.

Tang Tian watched the 2012 NBA Draft, considered how he could use his future knowledge to influence the Spurs’ management, and followed the opening of free agency. The chapter left Howard’s expected trade as the biggest story of the summer.

• Tang Tian accepted Walker’s warning that Harrison Barnes could become a future rival if Barnes joined the Warriors.
• The Rockets selected Jeremy Lamb twelfth, and Tang Tian and Walker congratulated him before inviting him to train with them.
• Tang Tian tracked notable second-round selections, including Draymond Green to the Warriors and Chris Middleton to the Pistons before he was sent to the Bucks.
• The Spurs used their only pick, the sixtieth overall, to select Marcus Denmon as the 2012 NBA Draft ended.
• Tang Tian followed the start of free agency and noted that Howard’s refusal to stay with the Magic made a trade inevitable.

The Rockets used the Arenas Clause to sign Jeremy Lin and Omer Asik to backloaded offers that the Knicks and Bulls declined to match. ESPN columnist Chad Ford called the deals poison contracts because the players’ rising salaries would burden their former teams while counting at an average value against the Rockets’ cap.

• Yi Jianlian agreed to a two-year, $5 million extension with the Mavericks, with a player option for the second year.
• The Rockets offered Jeremy Lin a four-year, $28.8 million contract, and Glen Grunwald said the Knicks would match it.
• The Rockets then offered Jeremy Lin a three-year, $25.1 million deal with a $13.8 million salary in its third year, and the Knicks chose not to match.
• The Rockets offered Omer Asik a similar contract, and the Bulls also declined to match it.
• Chad Ford described the Rockets’ signings as poison contracts because the backloaded salaries would strain the Knicks’ and Bulls’ cap space if they retained the players.

The Heat strengthened their roster by signing Ray Allen, Rashard Lewis, and Kwame Brown, while the Spurs focused on retaining their players and Tang Tian worried about his future renewal. As teams withdrew from the stalled Howard trade, the Nets built a star-studded lineup around Deron Williams, Joe Johnson, and Gerald Wallace.

• Fans debated the Rockets' signings and whether Tang Tian might attract a Poison Contract.
• Ray Allen joined the Heat on a three-year, 9.3 million deal after the Celtics showed little interest in renewing him.
• The Heat used the amnesty clause on Mike Miller and signed Rashard Lewis and Kwame Brown.
• The Spurs renewed Duncan, Diop, Green, and Mills, leaving little room for further additions and prompting Tang Tian to worry about his next contract.
• With no progress on the Howard trade, the Nets retained Brook Lopez and Humphries, then traded for Joe Johnson and Deron Williams and renewed Gerald Wallace.

Tang Tian signed several Chinese endorsement deals and used the spending points to acquire Divac’s passing skill, then trained hard with his partners. As he prepared to seek game experience, Nike arranged a China Tour after his popularity surged.

• Tang Tian decided he needed better passing and asked Fagan to find him more endorsement opportunities.
• Tang Tian signed deals with Orion, Tsingtao Beer, Bright Dairy, Nongfu Spring, and BMW, earning enough spending points for a new skill.
• Tang Tian exchanged $2 million in spending points for Fingertip Art (Divac), which improved his passing consistency and vision.
• Tang Tian practiced passing with Walker and trained alongside Walker, Butler, and Thompson, while Lamb and Drummond played in the Summer League.
• Tang Tian planned to find games for Actual Combat practice, but Fagan called to tell him Nike was preparing a China Tour as his popularity in China rose.

Tang Tian returned to China for a Nike promotional tour, where he met Yi Jianlian and was greeted by huge crowds of fans. At the Beijing event, two young players caught his attention, and one boy’s story about hoping to watch Tang Tian play in the Olympics left him stunned.

• Tang Tian accepted Nike’s China Tour invitation, told his parents he was coming home, and flew to Beijing with Fagan and Carl.
• Hundreds of fans welcomed Tang Tian at the airport, and he spent time meeting them before leaving with his group.
• Tang Tian reunited with Yi Jianlian, then attended a packed Nike event at a streetball court.
• Tang Tian watched the young players’ showcases and encouraged Wang Quanze to pursue his NBA dream.
• Lin Yi introduced himself as a boy from the mountain areas of Chengdu and said his school planned to install a satellite receiver so its students could watch Tang Tian play in the Olympics, leaving Tang Tian frozen in place.

After meeting young fans who dreamed of seeing him play, Tang Tian decided to join China’s Olympic team despite the injury risks and Fagan’s objections. The Basketball Association replaced Yi Li with Tang Tian on the roster, sparking debate among fans about China’s chances in London.

• Tang Tian promised Lin Yi that he would play in the Olympics after hearing how children in the mountains followed his basketball career.
• Tang Tian defended against Wang Quanze and Lin Yi, then gave Wang Quanze and Lin Yi signed Spurs jerseys with messages encouraging their dreams.
• Tang Tian contacted Huang Zhen, who secured special approval for him to join China’s Olympic team despite the late timing.
• Fagan warned Tang Tian that his insurance did not cover the Olympics and urged him to wait until 2016, but Tang Tian insisted on playing and accepted the risk.
• The Basketball Association announced its twelve-man Olympic roster, replacing Yi Li with Tang Tian.
• Chinese fans argued over whether Tang Tian and Yi Jianlian could help the team advance from a difficult Olympic group.

Tang Tian visited his parents, gave them a villa, and then traveled to London to join China Team for the Olympics. He and Deng Huade discussed building the team around defensive stops and fast breaks as Tang Tian considered their path to the quarterfinals.

• Tang Tian bought a villa in his parents' names, visited them, and left them the keys and a letter before departing.
• Tang Tian flew to London with Carl and Huang Zhen and met Deng Huade at the team's hotel.
• Tang Tian proposed adapting the team's defense into a system built around Thunder and Heat-style defensive counterattacks, and Deng Huade agreed.
• Tang Tian and Deng Huade discussed tactical details, with Deng Huade impressed by Tang Tian's strategic understanding.
• Tang Tian assessed China Team's group opponents and concluded that victories over Brazil and Great Britain could secure a Top 8 place.

Tang Tian joined the Chinese national team in London and helped Deng Huade introduce a faster tactical system ahead of the Olympics. After the veterans struggled to keep pace, Deng Huade settled on a younger starting lineup suited to the system.

• Deng Huade introduced Tang Tian to the national team, where seven of the eleven players had competed in the 2008 Olympics.
• Deng Huade announced a new tactical system, but Wang Zhizhi, Liu Wei, Zhu Fangyu, and Wang Shipeng struggled with its pace during training.
• Tang Tian told Deng Huade to move the veterans to the bench and said Guo Ailun’s speed would suit the system.
• Wang Zhizhi missed the next practice because his foot injury flared up, and Deng Huade grouped the younger players with Tang Tian and Yi Jianlian.
• Tang Tian’s passing improved the younger group’s play, and Deng Huade formed a starting lineup of Chen Jianghua, Sun Yue, Tang Tian, Ding Jinhui, and Yi Jianlian.

China Team finalized its rotation and arrived in London for its Olympic opener against Spain, whose players treated the game as preparation for facing the USA. Tang Tian saw Spain’s overconfidence as an opportunity for an upset as the teams prepared to play.

• Guo Ailun played so well under Tang Tian’s Tactical System that he pushed Liu Wei out of the rotation, while Wang Zhizhi and Liu Wei accepted their reduced roles.
• Yi Jianlian carried China Team’s flag at the London Olympics opening ceremony as fans debated China’s chances against Spain and recalled the close 2008 loss.
• China Team and Spain Team arrived at the London Olympic Basketball Arena for their acclimation practices ahead of their July 29 opener.
• Marc Gasol said Spain’s main goal was to defeat the USA and described the game against China Team as a chance to find their rhythm.
• Deng Huade grew furious at Marc Gasol’s remarks and Yi Jianlian frowned, but Tang Tian welcomed Spain’s apparent underestimation of China Team.

China Team used a bold, small starting lineup and Tang Tian’s passing to surprise Spain Team with fast breaks and take a 40–26 lead at halftime. Spain’s coach adjusted its lineup, but China Team went into the break ahead by 14 points.

• Deng Huade started Chen Jianghua, Sun Yue, Tang Tian, Ding Jinhui, and Yi Jianlian against Spain Team.
• China Team stopped Spain’s opening possession when Ding Jinhui intercepted Pau Gasol’s pass, then Tang Tian launched a long pass that led to Sun Yue’s dunk.
• Yi Jianlian grabbed the rebound from Pau Gasol’s missed shot, and Tang Tian’s long pass set up Chen Jianghua’s layup for a 4–0 lead.
• After Marc Gasol scored inside, China Team quickly pushed the ball upcourt, and Tang Tian hit a three-pointer to make it 7–2.
• Scariolo substituted Ibaka for Pau Gasol, but China Team continued exploiting its transition game and led Spain Team 40–26 at halftime.

China Team held off Spain Team’s second-half comeback and won 87-77, making history with its first victory over Spain in a major tournament. Tang Tian’s playmaking and late steals helped secure the win, and the chapter left China Team celebrating its breakthrough Olympic victory.

• At halftime, Yang Jian and Zhang Weiping credited China Team’s fast, aggressive play to Tang Tian’s influence, while Spain Team adjusted its lineup and tactics.
• Spain Team cut China Team’s fourteen-point lead to eight with Marc Gasol’s dunk and Navarro’s scoring, prompting Tang Tian to call a timeout and recommend a shift to half-court offense.
• Tang Tian’s no-look pass set up Yi Jianlian for a dunk and foul, and Wang Shipeng later hit a three-pointer as China Team maintained its lead through the third quarter.
• After Spain Team narrowed the margin with consecutive threes, Tang Tian stole Navarro’s ball for a layup and then intercepted Calderon’s pass before finishing a fast-break three with Sun Yue.
• China Team withstood Spain Team’s final attacks and won 87-77, prompting the players, Deng Huade, and Chinese fans to celebrate the historic victory.

After China Team stunned Spain, Tang Tian recognized that the victory had depended on several unlikely factors, while Deng Huade began looking ahead to the Top 8. China Team later watched the women lose to USA, then suffered consecutive defeats to Russia and Australia, leaving its chances of advancing in doubt.

• China Team celebrated its upset of Spain, and Deng Huade confidently suggested they could start thinking about their Top 8 opponent.
• Tang Tian attributed the win to Spain's poor play, China Team's unusually hot shooting, and other favorable circumstances.
• Tang Tian met Maya Moore while both teams comforted their women's players after USA Women's Basketball Team beat China Women's Basketball Team by more than 40 points.
• China Team lost to Russia Team 60 to 76 after struggling against its physical play.
• China Team then lost to Australia Team 66 to 81, making its chances of advancing grim.

China lost to Great Britain, leaving its Olympic hopes dependent on beating Brazil, and Tang Tian emerged as the team leader ahead of their decisive game. After Brazil surged to a 9-0 start, Tang Tian steadied China and led an 8-0 comeback run, leaving the teams battling with China's momentum rising.

• China lost 71-74 to Great Britain after controversial calls, while Guo Ailun scored 13 points and 2 assists.
• China and Brazil entered their final group game tied at 1-3, with the winner advancing to the Top 8 and the loser eliminated.
• Barbosa called China a barbaric team before the game, while Deng Huade urged China to defeat Brazil in the locker room.
• Brazil opened the game with a 9-0 run as China struggled with tense shooting, turnovers, and an offensive foul.
• Tang Tian rallied China to focus on defense, hit a three-pointer, stole a pass, and helped spark a fast-break dunk by Sun Yue.
• China's press forced turnovers, and Wang Shipeng hit a transition three as China answered with an 8-0 run and Brazil called timeout.

Tang Tian and Yi Jianlian led China Team through a dominant run against Brazil Team, turning an early deficit into a commanding lead. After Barbosa shoved Tang Tian, Tang Tian held Yi Jianlian back and appealed to the referee to keep the situation calm.

• After a timeout, Brazil Team put Caio Torres in for Machado, but Tang Tian found Yi Jianlian cutting for a dunk.
• Yi Jianlian blocked Barbosa, and Tang Tian hit a fast-break three that gave China Team a 13–11 lead before China Team finished the half ahead 41–31.
• At the start of the second half, Yi Jianlian blocked Barbosa again, and Sun Yue scored on a fast break.
• Tang Tian stole the ball from Barbosa, and Yi Jianlian dunked the missed fast-break three to put China Team 14 points ahead.
• After Barbosa missed a layup and shoved Tang Tian, Tang Tian pulled Yi Jianlian back and told the referee to stay calm.

China Team pulled away from Brazil Team with defensive stops and fast breaks, then held off a late comeback to win 81–68. The victory sent China Team through to the Olympic Top 8 as the group’s fourth team, matching its best result in Olympic history.

• After Barbosa received a technical foul, Tang Tian made the free throw to give China Team a 16-point lead.
• Brazil Team shifted its offense to Nene in the paint, but Tang Tian’s double-team forced a missed three-pointer and Yi Jianlian secured the rebound.
• Tang Tian and Yi Jianlian stopped Nene on consecutive possessions, and Sun Yue finished both resulting fast breaks with two-handed dunks.
• Tang Tian stole Nene’s pass and assisted Sun Yue before hitting a trailing three-pointer to give China Team its biggest lead at 18 points.
• Barbosa led Brazil Team’s fourth-quarter run to cut the deficit below 10, but Tang Tian shut him down and China Team won 81–68.
• China Team advanced to the Olympic Top 8 as the group’s fourth team, and Chinese fans celebrated by raising the Five-star Red Flag and singing.

China Team advanced to the Olympic quarterfinals after defeating Brazil, then lost to USA as the basketball tournament moved toward its finals. Tang Tian congratulated Maya Moore on her gold medal and met Italian model and former basketball player Valentina Vignali, while NBA news ignited social media just before the men's final.

• China Team defeated Brazil, with Tang Tian scoring 20 points and dishing out 10 assists, and finished fourth in Group B.
• China Team lost 71-101 to USA in the quarterfinals, while USA, Spain, Russia, and Argentina advanced to the semifinals.
• USA and Spain reached the men's final, while USA Women's Basketball Team defeated France 86-50 to win gold and extend its Olympic winning streak to 41 games.
• Tang Tian attended the women's final, congratulated Maya Moore, and met Valentina Vignali, whom Moore introduced as an Italian model and former professional basketball player.
• NBA news set social media ablaze shortly before the USA-Spain men's final and the Olympic closing ceremony.

A four-team trade sent Dwight Howard to the Lakers, creating a new lineup of stars that drew widespread attention. Tang Tian watched the USA defeat Spain in the Olympic final, then left London for New York after the closing ceremony.

• The Lakers, Magic, 76ers, and Nuggets completed a blockbuster trade that sent Howard to the Lakers and Iguodala to the Nuggets.
• Basketball fans debated the trade, with many praising the Lakers' new star lineup and criticizing the Magic's return for Howard.
• Tang Tian and the Chinese men's basketball team watched the USA defeat Spain in the Olympic final, where Kevin Durant scored 30 points and set USA Olympic scoring records.
• The London Olympics concluded with a closing ceremony and the handover of the Olympic flag to Rio de Janeiro mayor Paes.
• Tang Tian said goodbye to his teammates and Head Coach Deng Huade, then flew to New York with Carl.

After returning to New York, Tang Tian proposed an all-women version of Nike’s Godfather Series and recruited Maya Moore and Valentina Vignali. Vignali doubted they could beat male streetball players, so Tang Tian wagered two million dollars against a provocative forfeit and left confident he would win.

• Tang Tian resumed training with Thompson, Lamb, Drummond, and other players, impressing them with his improved passing.
• Tang Tian suggested that Nike invite women to join the next Godfather Series instead of bringing in more established male NBA stars.
• Tang Tian flew to Minneapolis and asked Maya Moore and Valentina Vignali to take part in the show.
• Vignali called the idea of beating male streetball players impossible, while Tang Tian persuaded Moore to try.
• Tang Tian and Vignali agreed that if Tang Tian led the women to victory, Vignali would give him oral sex; if he failed, he would pay Moore and Vignali one million dollars each.
• Tang Tian began writing up the wager, confident that he could lead the team to victory.