Chapter Summaries

After Barnes injured him, Tang Tian defended Metta World Peace to Stern and recovered at home while the Pelicans lost three straight games. Back at the Training Facility, he assessed his teammates and planned how they could improve, concluding that the team needed a stronger center and might need to trade Ryan Anderson.

• Fans condemned Barnes after the injury report, and Tang Tian messaged Stern to argue that Metta World Peace should not receive an overly severe suspension.
• Stern replied that he understood, and Tang Tian left the hospital after a day and rested at home before returning to the court.
• The Pelicans lost three straight games while Tang Tian was sidelined, and his teammates looked relieved when he visited the Training Facility.
• Tang Tian watched practice and decided Davis should work on his shooting, Holiday should develop his three-point shot, and Gordon should focus more on shooting than driving.
• Tang Tian concluded that Ryan Anderson's defensive limitations made a trade for a 3-and-D wing desirable and that the Pelicans urgently needed to acquire a center.

Tang Tian began helping Davis develop his shooting and strengthened his bond with Metta World Peace after the league upheld the suspensions from the Pelicans-Clippers fight. The chapter left Metta World Peace considering whether to accept Tang Tian’s birthday gift.

• Tang Tian invited Davis to dinner with Procopio and assistant coach Vaughn Tate, where Procopio explained how Davis could become an outstanding shooter.
• The league gave Barnes a two-game suspension and a $15,000 fine, while Metta World Peace received a three-game suspension and a $25,000 fine.
• Tang Tian invited Metta World Peace to dinner, and the league rejected the Clippers’ appeal of the suspensions.
• Tang Tian offered to pay Metta World Peace’s fine, and the two bonded over having stood up for teammates.
• Tang Tian gave Metta World Peace headphones as a belated birthday gift, but Metta World Peace initially declined them.

Tang Tian watched from the sidelines as the Pelicans lost to the Thunder, while Durant recorded a triple-double and openly claimed he would beat Tang for the scoring title. Their rivalry ignited a fan debate that the league amplified, and Scarlett Johansson expressed concern for Tang and called him the most charismatic and gentlemanly man she had ever met.

• Metta World Peace accepted Tang Tian's gift, and the two grew closer as friends.
• Tang Tian sat out the Pelicans' game against the Thunder with a shoulder injury, and the Thunder beat the Pelicans after Durant took over in the fourth quarter.
• Durant recorded 32 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists, then said Tang could not guard him and that he would win the scoring title.
• Fans argued over whether Tang or Durant was better, and the league's official Twitter account fueled the debate by comparing their third seasons.
• Scarlett Johansson asked about Tang's injury during an interview, then called him the most charismatic and gentlemanly man she had ever met.

After Tang Tian’s injury left the Pelicans struggling, Davis helped them stay competitive while Tang Tian surged ahead in All-Star voting. Durant reacted angrily to Tang Tian’s huge lead and accused the voting system of being unfair.

• Scarlett praised Tang Tian in an interview, prompting a reporter to suspect that she was interested in him.
• After the Pelicans lost four straight without Tang Tian, Gordon and Davis led them to a 2-2 record over their next four games, and Davis’s improving mid-range shooting showed progress.
• The NBA announced the third-round All-Star voting results, with Tang Tian leading the Western Conference with 1.5 million votes.
• Durant smashed his phone after seeing the results, then posted on Twitter that All-Star voting was unfair because of reckless shooting and the population of a player’s country.

Tang Tian answered Durant’s criticism by saying he was proud to be Chinese, expected to return in about three weeks, and took plenty of shots because he was a Kobe fan. While Xiao Hua moved to restrict Chinese All-Star votes, Tang’s cast came off and he overheard Davis tell Holiday to ask him for advice.

• Durant’s complaint about Tang Tian’s shot attempts drew ridicule, and fans flooded Tang’s Twitter with questions.
• Tang Tian replied that he was proud to be Chinese, expected to return in around three weeks, and was a Kobe fan; Kobe then joked that the All-Star Fan Favorite was his fan.
• Xiao Hua urged Stern to further restrict votes from China, and Stern eventually told him to do what he wanted.
• Chinese fans found they could no longer vote in the final All-Star round, and criticism of the league spread across China.
• A week later, Tang Tian had his cast removed and began off-ball training; he overheard Davis tell Holiday that Tang was a life mentor.

Tang Tian advised Holiday to develop as an attacking Point Guard rather than force himself into a traditional organizer role, and Williams agreed to the change. As Tang Tian neared his return, the struggling Pelicans lost to the Spurs, Davis avoided a serious injury, and Tang Tian asked Dempsey to pursue a physical interior player.

• Tang Tian told Holiday to focus on shooting, driving, and defense as an attacking Point Guard, and promised to speak with the coaching staff.
• Tang Tian convinced Williams to make Holiday's role clearer and let Tang Tian organize the offense when he returned.
• The Pelicans lost several games against strong opponents and fell to twelfth in the West, while Davis put up a 30+10+5 line against the Trail Blazers.
• Tang Tian suggested Davis grow his hair to medium length, and Davis agreed without hesitation.
• The Pelicans fell nearly 20 points behind the Spurs, and Davis took a hard collision with Baynes but got up without a serious injury.
• Tang Tian asked Dempsey to try to trade for a strong, physical interior player after the Pelicans lost to the Spurs.

Tang Tian returned to practice and was cleared to play after recovering from his shoulder injury, then won the All-Star Fan Favorite vote by a huge margin amid backlash over the NBA blocking votes from China. Stern reprimanded Xiao Hua and the league apologized, while Tang shifted his focus to the Pelicans’ game against the Grizzlies, where he was set to face Tony Allen.

• Tang Tian completed full team practice, received clearance from the team doctor, and was eligible to play against the Grizzlies.
• The league announced that Tang Tian had won 1.9 million votes and become the All-Star Fan Favorite, prompting fans to criticize the voting restrictions and engage in retaliatory voting.
• Stern rebuked Xiao Hua over the damage to the league’s image and warned that Tatum would become Chief Vice President and that Xiao Hua could face a presidential review.
• The league blamed a technical malfunction and staff negligence for preventing fans in China from voting, dismissed the staff responsible, and apologized.
• Tang Tian treated his teammates to dinner but then focused on helping the Pelicans recover from their losing streak ahead of their January 25 game against the Grizzlies.
• TNT’s analysts debated Tang Tian’s return from injury, while fans anticipated his matchup with Tony Allen, who had defended him effectively before.

Tang Tian returned to the Pelicans lineup against the Grizzlies and repeatedly attacked Tony Allen despite the defender’s suffocating pressure. The game remained close, but Tang Tian’s persistence put New Orleans ahead and aimed to wear down the 33-year-old defender.

• Tang Tian received a roaring welcome in his return game as the Pelicans started Alexis Ajinca in place of Jason Smith.
• The Grizzlies opened with tight defense and Randolph scored over Davis, while Tang Tian answered with a pull-up jumper over Allen.
• Tang Tian kept attacking Allen through contact, missing several shots as the game stayed tied at 2-2.
• Tang Tian grabbed his own offensive rebound and drew a hand-check foul from Allen, then made both free throws to give the Pelicans a 4-2 lead.
• Tang Tian continued to target Allen, expecting the veteran’s reliance on physicality and stamina to catch up with him.

Tang Tian broke out of his shooting slump and delivered spectacular dunks as the Pelicans erased the Grizzlies’ lead and took control. He left the crowd roaring after two explosive slams.

• Randolph drew a foul and made both free throws, giving the Grizzlies a 15–8 lead.
• Tang Tian scored with a pull-up jumper, then assisted Davis on a basket that cut the Pelicans’ deficit to two.
• Tang Tian hit a three-pointer to bring the Pelicans within one point.
• Tang Tian caught Davis’s high pass and threw down a rim-high alley-oop dunk, putting the Pelicans ahead.
• Davis blocked Marc Gasol, and Gordon’s long pass set up Tang Tian for another dunk on the fast break.

Tang Tian returned from injury, led the Pelicans to a win over the Grizzlies, and accepted an invitation to the Slam Dunk Contest. After the league announced the All-Star reserves and individual-event participants, Tang Tian was confirmed for the dunk contest while Davis received criticism for his selection.

• Tang Tian scored 31 points and added seven assists as the Pelicans beat the Grizzlies 83-77, ending their five-game losing streak, while Davis recorded 20 points and 15 rebounds.
• The league invited Tang Tian to compete in the Slam Dunk Contest, and he agreed.
• The Pelicans beat the Jazz and Kings in back-to-back games as Tang Tian scored 25 and 27 points.
• The league announced the All-Star reserves, and Davis’s selection drew criticism while Tang Tian encouraged him to ignore the doubters.
• The league announced the individual-event participants, including Tang Tian in the Slam Dunk Contest and Lillard in four events.

Tang Tian exchanged for Kemba Walker’s Low Stance Rhythm Dribble skill and spent more than ten days adapting to his improved ball-handling. As the Pelicans prepared for their final game before All-Star Weekend, Tang Tian, Davis, and Love all faced questions of performance and pride ahead of the matchup with the Timberwolves.

• Tang Tian began training for the Slam Dunk Contest with Davis and Holiday, while the league announced that Adam Silver would serve a year under committee oversight after succeeding Stern.
• Tang Tian used two million premium points to acquire Low Stance Rhythm Dribble (Kemba Walker), raising his ball-handling to 80 and improving his ball protection.
• Tang Tian practiced his new dribbling ability with Little Lion, and after more than ten days he felt ready to attack off the dribble in an official game.
• The Pelicans prepared for their final pre-All-Star road game against the Timberwolves, where Davis would face Love and Tang Tian would try to recover his shooting form.

Tang Tian showed off his newly improved ball handling against the Timberwolves, beating defenders for two spectacular dunks to open the game. The Pelicans took an early lead as the Timberwolves struggled to contain him.

• Tang Tian joked with Metta World Peace about Minneapolis's cold before the Pelicans faced the Timberwolves at Target Center.
• Tang Tian took the ball against Brewer, crossed past him, and opened the scoring with a one-armed dunk.
• Love posted up Davis, but Davis blocked his shot, recovered the ball, and passed it to Tang Tian.
• Tang Tian crossed past Rubio in transition and finished with a one-handed slam dunk.

Tang Tian erupted for 15 points in the first quarter as the Pelicans exploited Minnesota’s slow big men and raced to a commanding lead. After the Timberwolves called timeout, the Pelicans kept up the pace, ending with Aminu’s fast-break dunk and the crowd buzzing about the team’s Big Three.

• Martin scored the Timberwolves’ first points, but Tang Tian answered with a pull-up jumper and continued attacking mismatches against Love.
• Tang Tian scored through a foul and assisted Holiday for a three-pointer as the Pelicans extended their lead.
• Tang Tian drew Love into the paint and tossed an alley-oop to Davis, who dunked it.
• Tang Tian hit a pull-up three to give the Pelicans a 20-8 lead, prompting Adelman to call timeout.
• Tang Tian advised Williams to increase the pace, and the Pelicans turned a fast break into Aminu’s two-handed dunk.

Tang Tian led the Pelicans to a dominant first half against the Timberwolves, scoring freely as his team built a large lead. After Derrick Williams briefly helped the Timberwolves rally, Tang Tian outplayed him on both ends, and the Pelicans restored their advantage.

• Tang Tian scored repeatedly in the first quarter, including a three-point play and a buzzer-beating jumper, as the Pelicans took a 19-point lead.
• Adelman called the Timberwolves' offense and defense terrible and opened the second quarter with bench players, who cut the deficit to 12.
• Tang Tian returned to the game and shook Derrick Williams loose with a pull-up jumper, then stole the ball when Williams tried to post him up.
• Tang Tian and Holiday combined for a fast-break basket and drew a foul on Barea, prompting Adelman to send his starters back in.
• Tang Tian made the free throw to complete the three-point play and push the Pelicans' lead back to 17.

Tang Tian scored 40 points in three quarters as the Pelicans defeated the Timberwolves 120-98 before the All-Star break. After the win, he highlighted Kemba Walker’s dribbling as the style most similar to his own.

• At halftime, the Pelicans led 65-47, and Tang Tian had 30-plus points and six assists; Adelman urged the Timberwolves to stay confident and continue double-teaming him.
• Tang Tian told Morrow to set screens early, and Morrow made an open three after the Timberwolves double-teamed Tang Tian.
• Tang Tian scored against the Timberwolves’ attempts to double, fight through screens, and switch, reaching 40 points by the end of the third quarter as the Pelicans led by 25.
• Davis helped the Pelicans extend their fourth-quarter lead before he and Tang Tian sat, and Gordon joked with Davis about Tang Tian rubbing his hair bald.
• The Pelicans beat the Timberwolves 120-98, earning a fourth straight win; Love finished with 32 points and 21 rebounds, while Davis recorded 20-plus points and 10-plus rebounds.
• Tang Tian told a reporter that Kemba Walker’s dribbling was the most similar to his own, and Walker sneezed while training.

As All-Star Weekend approached in New Orleans, Tang Tian’s popularity drew fans and business opportunities, including a possible Chinatown investment. After meeting young aspiring player Lin Yi at a Nike event, Tang Tian was invited to discuss an addendum to his endorsement deal that would launch his own signature shoes.

• Media coverage of Tang Tian’s postgame comments about Walker sparked fan speculation, while Walker recognized that Tang Tian was joking and supporting him.
• Durant read online arguments about Tang Tian and Love and vowed to face Tang Tian in their next game after All-Star Weekend.
• Tang Tian noticed New Orleans’ growing Chinese presence and considered discussing a Chinatown investment with Benson and Carl.
• Tang Tian met Lin Yi at a Nike promotional event, learned that a scout had helped him pursue professional basketball, and invited him home for a meal.
• A Nike representative told Tang Tian they wanted to discuss a shoe-contract addendum that could launch his signature shoes and give him a share of sales revenue.

Tang Tian attended All-Star Weekend, joked with Curry about teaching him to dunk, and watched the Rookie Game and individual contests. As the Slam Dunk Contest approached, the Pelicans’ roster needs and trade rumors remained in the background.

• Tang Tian sat courtside with Kobe and Curry, then agreed to teach Curry to dunk if Curry dunked in the All-Star Game.
• Drummond scored 35 points and grabbed 25 rebounds to lead Team Hill to victory and win Rookie Game MVP; the trophy broke during the presentation, but Drummond posed with its pieces.
• Tang Tian trained with Davis and Holiday ahead of the individual events while trade rumors circulated, including reports that the Pelicans were seeking roster help.
• Bosh helped Miami win the Shooting Stars event, Lillard won the Skills Challenge, and Morrow beat Belinelli in overtime to win the Three-Point Contest.
• The Slam Dunk Contest began, with Tang Tian among the competitors.

The Slam Dunk Contest began with the Eastern Conference taking a 2-0 lead, then Paul George and Tang Tian each delivered a spectacular first dunk in the final matchup. Tang Tian ended the chapter by completing a free-throw-line dunk on his first attempt, leaving the crowd stunned as the contest continued.

• John Wall outperformed Damian Lillard, giving the Eastern Conference its first point with a 93-78 victory.
• Terrence Ross beat Harrison Barnes 85-76 after both contestants delivered disappointing performances, putting the Eastern Conference ahead 2-0.
• Paul George opened the final matchup with a successful 360-degree, between-the-legs windmill dunk and received a perfect 50.
• Tang Tian took off from the free-throw line and completed the dunk on his first attempt, thrilling the arena.

Tang Tian defeated Paul George in the first round with two perfect-score dunks, then watched John Wall bring the Slam Dunk Contest final back into contention with an extraordinary dunk. The champion remained undecided as fan voting opened.

• George scored 42 points after missing two attempts at a difficult dunk with Russell Westbrook's help, while Tang Tian ignored Smith's advice and chose Anthony Davis as his assistant.
• Tang Tian leaped over Davis and dunked on his first attempt, earning 50 points and a 100-point total that defeated George.
• The Eastern Conference won the first round, and Wall and Tang Tian advanced to the final as fan voting opened.
• Wall leaped over the Wizard and completed a crossover between-the-legs dunk, stunning the crowd and restoring suspense in the contest.

Tang Tian stunned the arena by leaping over five commentators, including O’Neal, and dunking to take control of the Slam Dunk Contest. After Wall completed another difficult dunk, Tang Tian prepared his final attempt with the Pelicans’ mascot Pierre.

• Tang Tian changed his plan and asked five commentators to line up beneath the basket, with O’Neal in the middle.
• Tang Tian cleared all five commentators and slammed the ball through on his first attempt, drawing a wild reaction from the arena.
• Wall completed a between-the-legs crossover dunk over the mascot in two attempts, earning applause despite Tang Tian’s lead.
• Pierre emerged from the players’ tunnel as Tang Tian’s partner for his final dunk, leaving the crowd wondering what he would attempt.