Chapter Summaries

Tang Tian planned the Pelicans’ offseason roster and contract moves before joining the team’s championship parade through New Orleans. The celebration ended with players and fans chanting “Pelicans Championship!” together.

• Tang Tian chose a three-year contract with a player option in its final year, and Dempsey agreed to his plan.
• Tang Tian rejected pursuing Westbrook and told Dempsey to prioritize re-signing Holiday, Bojan, Dinwiddie, and other rotation players while scouting late draft prospects.
• Three days after the Pelicans won the championship, the team began its parade aboard the Mars Project yacht on the Mississippi River.
• Pelicans players signed and tossed jerseys and basketballs to fans along the levees, then gave interviews at a downstream port.
• Fans and Pelicans players chanted “Pelicans Championship!” together during the final stretch of the parade to the New Orleans Arena.

The Pelicans celebrated their championship in a packed Mercedes-Benz Superdome, where Tom Benson, Stevens, and Tang Tian addressed the crowd. New Orleans Mayor Jeff Hunt designated June 22 as Tang Tian Day in recognition of Tang Tian’s contributions to the city.

• Tom Benson said he was proud that the Saints and Pelicans had both won championships for New Orleans.
• Stevens praised the Pelicans players with jokes and personal thanks, highlighting their contributions to the championship.
• More than 70,000 fans chanted for Tang Tian, and he answered Stevens with the words, “Pelicans Championship.”
• Jeff Hunt thanked the Pelicans and declared June 22 Tang Tian Day to honor Tang Tian’s basketball and charitable contributions.

After Tang Tian was honored with Tang Tian Day and planned a September wedding with Olson, he approved a trade sending Dinwiddie and the Pelicans’ 30th pick to the 76ers for picks 20 and 22. The deal was announced on the eve of the draft, leaving fans eager to see which rookies the Pelicans would select.

• Hunter announced Tang Tian Day, and Tang Tian thanked him and the cheering fans.
• Tang Tian and Olson tentatively chose September for their wedding but disagreed about whether to hold it in Hawaii or Tang Tian’s hometown.
• On the flight to Brooklyn, Dempsey told Tang Tian that the 76ers had offered picks 20 and 22 for Dinwiddie and the Pelicans’ 30th pick.
• After considering Dinwiddie’s future contract and the Pelicans’ need for draft picks, Tang Tian told Dempsey to accept the trade.
• Dempsey finalized the deal and contacted Dinwiddie, who saw the move to the rebuilding 76ers as a chance to develop.
• Woj reported the trade on the eve of the draft, prompting fans to debate the decision and wonder which prospects the Pelicans would choose.

At the 2016 NBA Draft, Tang Tian met retired Kobe before watching the Lakers select Ben Simmons first overall and the 76ers take Ingram second. The draft reached the Pelicans’ picks at twentieth and twenty-second, where Tang Tian was ready to put his plans into action.

• Tang Tian and Dempsey ran into Kobe, who had come to advise Kupchak, and Tang Tian joked with him about training and having a son.
• Xiao Hua faced loud boos at the draft as fans remained angry about the Finals refereeing controversy.
• Tang Tian predicted Ben Simmons had a better chance than Ingram of being selected first by the Lakers.
• The Lakers selected Ben Simmons first overall, and the 76ers chose Ingram second.
• The Suns selected Jaylen Brown, the Timberwolves selected Kris Dunn, the Nuggets selected Jamal Murray, the Kings selected Buddy Hield, and the Bucks selected Dragan Bender.
• The draft reached the Pelicans’ twentieth and twenty-second picks, and Tang Tian prepared to use the plans he had made.

The Pelicans selected Pascal Siakam at 20th and traded down from 22nd before drafting Malcolm Brogdon at 27th. Tang Tian saw both picks as valuable additions, especially Brogdon as a ready-to-play guard who could replace the departed Dinwiddie.

• The Pelicans selected Pascal Siakam with the 20th pick, following Tang Tian’s recommendation despite Dempsey’s concerns about his shooting.
• Dempsey rejected Tang Tian’s proposal to take Malcolm Brogdon at 22nd because of Brogdon’s age and injury history, but agreed to trade down for a ready-to-play player.
• The Pelicans traded the 22nd and 60th picks plus cash to the Suns for the 27th pick and a future second-round pick.
• The Suns selected Malachi Richardson at 22nd, while Brogdon remained unselected.
• The Pelicans selected Brogdon with the 27th pick, and he hurried to the stage after nearly falling out of the first round.

Tang Tian welcomed draft picks Siakam and Brogdon to the Pelicans and watched the 2016 draft conclude with Zhou Qi and Wang Zhelin selected. Duncan then announced his retirement and publicly declared that the future belonged to Tang Tian, prompting James to urge the Cavaliers to strengthen their roster.

• Tang Tian told league vice president Tatum that he hoped not to see the Finals' officiating again, and Tatum said he would try to change things on the league's board.
• Tang Tian encouraged Siakam and met Brogdon, whom the Pelicans had drafted alongside Siakam.
• The Rockets selected Zhou Qi 31st and the Nets selected Wang Zhelin 51st as the 2016 draft ended.
• Duncan announced his retirement on Twitter and tagged Tang Tian, writing that the future belonged to him.
• James reacted to Duncan's message by calling Gilbert and demanding that the Cavaliers strengthen their roster, and Gilbert relayed the order to David Griffin.

The 2016 Free Agency Market opened amid a major salary-cap increase, triggering huge contracts and an arms race among contenders. The Pelicans secured their core with extensions, while Durant narrowed his choices to seven teams and left his destination undecided.

• Durant said he would test free agency, raising expectations that he might leave the Thunder.
• The salary-cap increase fueled massive contracts for DeRozan, Drummond, Beal, Batum, and several role players.
• The Rockets, Warriors, Cavaliers, Mavericks, and Knicks pursued major free agents to strengthen their rosters.
• The Pelicans extended Davis, Tang Tian, Holiday, and Bojan Bogdanovic, keeping their championship core together through at least 2018.
• Durant narrowed his possible destinations to the Knicks, Rockets, Warriors, Clippers, Spurs, Heat, and Thunder.

The Pelicans reshaped their bench by signing Deron Williams, David West, and Boban Marjanovic after Jeremy Lin chose the Nets. Durant ended his free-agency meetings by joining the Warriors, making them title favorites.

• The Pelicans identified experienced bench guards, forwards, and centers as roster targets, prioritizing Deron Williams and Jeremy Lin at point guard and Boban Marjanovic at center.
• Durant met with seven teams, and reports narrowed his likely destinations to the Rockets, Warriors, and Knicks.
• Jeremy Lin signed a three-year, $40 million deal with the Nets, while the Pelicans signed Deron Williams to a two-year deal with a team option.
• The Pelicans signed David West to a one-year minimum contract and Boban Marjanovic to a three-year, $21 million deal.
• Durant announced that he would join the Warriors and play alongside Stephen and Klay.

Durant joined the Warriors, drawing fierce backlash and prompting Tang Tian to remind fans of Durant's old “traitor” jab. The Rockets and Mavericks strengthened their rosters after the Freeze Period ended, while the Warriors remained the championship favorites.

• Fans reacted to Durant joining the Warriors and speculated that the team would trade Bogut to make room under the salary cap.
• Tang Tian posted “Traitor?” on Twitter, recalling Durant’s earlier insult, and Durant answered public criticism by saying he cared only about results.
• The Rockets signed Eric Gordon to a four-year, $53 million contract as their fallback after failing to land Durant.
• The Mavericks persuaded Conley to join on a four-year, $114 million contract after the Grizzlies hesitated to offer him a maximum deal.

The NBA’s top teams strengthened their rosters, setting up a fierce new season, while Tang Tian prepared to lead China Team at the Rio Olympics. China Team landed in a difficult Group A alongside the USA, France, Serbia, Brazil, and Australia.

• The Mavericks built a star lineup around Nowitzki, the Spurs acquired Bogut, and the Cavaliers traded for Whiteside.
• Fans debated which contenders would dominate the upcoming NBA season as the offseason wound down.
• Tang Tian returned to China to join the national team’s preparations, aiming to help China win an Olympic medal and challenge the USA Team.
• China Team’s Olympic group was revealed to include the USA, France, Serbia, Brazil, and Australia.
• Serbia’s roster featured Jokic, Boban Marjanovic, Belica, Theodosic, and Bogdan Bogdanovic, while France and Australia also brought formidable teams.

Tang Tian joined China’s men’s basketball team and led its preparations for the 2016 Olympics, determined to fight through a difficult group and win a breakthrough. After finalizing the roster and facing ridicule for relocating to a hotel, the team arrived in Rio, where Tang Tian carried China’s flag at the opening ceremony.

• Tang Tian arrived at training camp in Ningbo, addressed the sixteen players, and led them through a plan built around defense, three-pointers, and pick-and-rolls.
• Tang Tian and the team completed their training camps, then announced a twelve-player roster before flying to Brazil with Yao Ming.
• Yao Ming arranged a hotel for China’s team, prompting mockery from Brazilian and foreign media as they compared China with the USA Team.
• Tang Tian remained focused despite the ridicule, believing an Olympic breakthrough would silence the critics.
• On August 7, Tang Tian carried China’s flag at the Rio Olympics opening ceremony as the Games began.

Tang Tian received Nash’s request to punish Barbosa and led China Team into its Olympic opener against host Brazil Team. Brazil surged ahead early as China Team’s young players struggled to score, leaving Barbosa newly confident.

• Tang Tian received a message from Nash asking him to beat Brazil Team hard, especially Barbosa, and agreed.
• China Team and Brazil Team met in a packed Carioca Arena, where Tang Tian received huge cheers during introductions.
• Varejao and Nene scored inside to give Brazil Team an early 4–0 lead.
• Tang Tian passed out of Brazil’s double-teams, but Zhai Xiaochuan and Zhao Jiwei both missed open three-pointers.
• Barbosa saw China Team’s shooting struggles and began to believe Brazil could fulfill his boast of beating them in Rio.

Tang Tian took over for China Team against Brazil Team, scoring repeatedly to erase the deficit and build a lead despite his teammates’ poor shooting. He left Brazil struggling to contain him as he continued dominating on both ends of the court.

• Yi Jianlian stopped Varejao’s shot, grabbed the rebound, and helped China Team end Brazil Team’s possession.
• Tang Tian made a three-pointer, then dunked off Zhao Jiwei’s long pass to put China Team ahead.
• Barbosa drove past Zhao Jiwei for a layup, but Tang Tian answered with a contested fadeaway jumper.
• Tang Tian scored a 2+1 against Varejao, reaching 10 points in just over three minutes.
• Tang Tian stole the ball from Barbosa and dunked on the fast break as Brazil Team failed to catch him.
• Tang Tian hit another three over Barbosa, and China Team opened a lead with all its points coming from Tang Tian.

Tang Tian directed China Team through Brazil Team’s increasingly aggressive defense, setting up Yi Jianlian and Zhou Peng to score as China built a commanding lead. China Team’s defense then blocked Barbosa’s layup, leaving the energized team firmly in control.

• Tang Tian scored all of China Team’s first 14 points, prompting Brazil coach Magnano to call a timeout and order the team to double-team him.
• Tang Tian gave China Team’s players instructions during the timeout, and Zhou Peng and Keyramut entered the game alongside Brazil Team’s substitutes.
• Yi Jianlian blocked Neto and grabbed the rebound, then hit a three-pointer after Tang Tian passed out of Brazil Team’s five-man trap.
• Yi Jianlian scored again with a two-handed dunk after Tang Tian found him against the double-team, extending China Team’s lead to 19–8.
• Tang Tian passed to Zhou Peng, who made an open three-pointer to put China Team ahead 22–8.
• Keyramut blocked Barbosa’s layup attempt out of bounds, and China Team’s supporters celebrated their team’s growing momentum.

China Team dominated Brazil Team behind Tang Tian’s scoring and defense, building a commanding lead after a strong first quarter. Tang Tian also coached Zhou Qi during the game, and China Team’s lead approached 30 points by the end of the third quarter as Barbosa’s Rio boast backfired.

• Yi Jianlian grabbed Zhou Peng’s missed shot and passed to Keyramut, who made an open three-pointer before Yi blocked Barbosa and Tang Tian scored a buzzer-beating layup for a 27-8 first-quarter lead.
• Tang Tian and Yi Jianlian rested, and China Team’s offense stalled until Tang Tian returned and helped Zhai Xiaochuan and Zhao Jiwei score as China Team took a 40-19 halftime lead.
• Wagnerano urged Brazil Team to rally, and Nene scored against Zhou Qi early in the second half before missing the free throw.
• Tang Tian advised Zhou Qi to keep his hands up, then scored five straight points as China Team widened its lead; Zhou Qi also disrupted Nene and scored a putback.
• China Team pushed its advantage close to 30 points by the end of the third quarter, while Barbosa watched from the sideline after his poor performance and failed boast.

China Team crushed Brazil Team in its Olympic opener, then defeated Serbia Team 84-81 after Tang Tian scored 10 straight points late in the game. The victory left China Team with two wins and showed that its improvement against Brazil had carried into a tougher matchup.

• China Team defeated host Brazil Team 77-42, with Tang Tian scoring 36 points in three quarters, and Tang Tian called the match a great Warm-up Game in a courtside interview.
• Brazilian fans criticized their national team after the loss, and Barbosa grew more depressed when he saw their reactions online.
• Serbia Team lost to Australia Team before China Team faced Serbia two days later at Carioca Arena.
• Jokic introduced Boban to Tang Tian during warm-ups, then Serbia Team and China Team traded scores through the opening stages of the game.
• Tang Tian scored 10 straight points late, helping China Team beat Serbia Team 84-81.

After losing to Australia, China Team regained confidence by watching France nearly defeat USA Team, and Tang Tian urged them to believe they could make history. The chapter ends as China Team and Dream Team XII prepare to begin their Olympic matchup.

• Tang Tian told China Team that their wins over Brazil and Serbia showed they could challenge the world's strongest teams.
• China Team lost 66-73 to Australia despite Tang Tian scoring 40 points and Yi Jianlian adding 15 points and 10 rebounds.
• China Team watched Durant lead USA Team to a 100-97 win over France, which restored their belief that they could compete with USA Team.
• Tang Tian encouraged China Team during practice, and the players rebuilt their morale before the game.
• China Team and USA Team announced their starting lineups, with China Team using a One Big Four Small lineup.

Tang Tian and the China Team stunned the USA Team with sharp shooting and aggressive play to take an early lead. The chapter left China ahead 11-6 after Tang Tian scored through contact and made the free throw.

• Tang Tian greeted Butler and Irving before Yi Jianlian won the opening tip for China.
• Tang Tian beat the opening double team and passed to Zhou Peng, who made a corner three.
• Tang Tian created another corner three for Zhai Xiaochuan, while Durant scored twice against Zhou Peng.
• Tang Tian lobbed the ball to Yi Jianlian for an alley-oop dunk, putting China ahead 8-4.
• Durant made his third consecutive shot, but Tang Tian answered with a layup through Butler's foul and a free throw to extend China's lead to 11-6.

China Team held a halftime lead over USA Team as Tang Tian's defense made Durant reluctant to attack. After Draymond Green inspired Durant to challenge him in the second half, Tang Tian blocked Durant's signature Eurostep layup, leaving their duel unresolved.

• USA Team's bench erased China Team's early lead, but Tang Tian scored against Durant and helped China Team rebuild a five-point advantage.
• Tang Tian guarded Durant, who avoided taking shots, as China Team went into halftime leading 46-41.
• Draymond Green urged Durant to keep attacking during halftime, restoring Durant's confidence.
• Durant opened the second half with a 2+1, but Tang Tian answered with his own 2+1 against Anthony.
• Durant drove past Zhou Peng and attempted a Eurostep layup, but Tang Tian leapt behind him and blocked it against the backboard.

China Team defeated USA Team 91-84 after Tang Tian dominated the game and scored 51 points. The victory ended USA Team’s eight-year Olympic unbeaten streak, while Tang Tian collapsed on the bench after giving everything he had.

• Tang Tian blocked Durant, stole the ball from him, and hit a chasing three-pointer to help China Team build a double-digit lead.
• Tang Tian scored 16 points in the third quarter and repeatedly answered USA Team’s baskets to preserve China Team’s advantage.
• USA Team cut the lead late, but Tang Tian made four crucial free throws after Durant’s three-pointer and China Team’s timeout.
• China Team won 91-84, with Tang Tian finishing 17-for-33 from the field and 12-for-12 at the line for 51 points.
• China Team celebrated the historic victory as Tang Tian slumped on the bench, and a burly Chinese fan watched with tears in his eyes.