Chapter Summaries

Tim Duncan’s jersey was retired after heartfelt speeches from Duncan and Gregg Popovich, and the Spurs rallied to defeat the Pelicans. As Duncan and Tang Tian celebrated with former teammates, FOX Sports published reports about Tang Tian’s past and influence on team decisions, setting off a social media uproar.

• Popovich praised Duncan’s character and their long relationship, and Duncan embraced him before delivering his own speech.
• Duncan thanked his fans, teammates, and coaches, joked about Tang Tian stealing Popovich’s carrot cakes, and credited Popovich as a father figure.
• The Spurs unveiled Duncan’s No. 21 jersey, then rallied in the second half as Ginobili hit key three-pointers to end the Pelicans’ nineteen-game winning streak.
• Duncan organized a bar gathering with Tang Tian, Parker, Ginobili, Diop, and Leonard after the game.
• FOX Sports reported that Tang Tian had played paid one-on-one games while at Connecticut, pushed for a two-year Spurs contract, influenced Pelicans front-office decisions, and advised against Whiteside’s contract; the reports became trending topics.

After FOX Sports published reports attacking Tang Tian, he calmed his worried assistant Carl and traced the smear campaign to Xiao Hua. Tang Tian resolved to retaliate against Xiao Hua and investigate the league’s ties to the media.

• Tang Tian learned from Fagan that FOX Sports had exposed old incidents and told him not to make a statement yet.
• Tang Tian reassured Carl that the accusations about his college career, contract negotiations, and Whiteside would not seriously damage him.
• Carl arranged statements from Jim Calhoun, Fagan, and Dempsey to counter the reports.
• Tang Tian told Carl that FOX Sports was likely acting for someone else, and they identified Xiao Hua as the person behind the smear campaign.
• Tang Tian explained that Xiao Hua had been forced to fine him after his public criticism and had turned to underhanded tactics to weaken his influence.
• Tang Tian declared that his fight with Xiao Hua had begun and vowed to gather evidence of his actions.

Carl persuaded Griv Jenkins to expose Xiao Hua as the source of the articles about Tang Tian, offering him eleven million dollars and recording his admission. Jenkins publicly revealed the deal, while the NCAA investigation into Tang Tian remained underway.

• Carl offered Jenkins ten million dollars, with a one-million-dollar deposit, to reveal who supplied the material about Tang Tian.
• Jenkins admitted that Xiao Hua had emailed him the material and said he had backups on his computer.
• Carl revealed that she had recorded Jenkins and warned him that he would receive the remaining money only if he followed through.
• Carl left the briefcase with Jenkins, and he agreed to the deal.
• Jenkins published a lengthy Twitter post that set social media ablaze while the NCAA continued its public investigation into Tang Tian.

Jenkins exposed an email showing that Xiao Hua had ordered her to publish damaging stories about Tang Tian, prompting Xiao Hua to deny involvement at a press conference. Jenkins then released a recording of Xiao Hua discussing the smear campaign and paying her, leaving his position as League President in jeopardy while Tang Tian and Carl watched from the manor.

• Jenkins posted an apology to Tang Tian and shared an email that appeared to show Xiao Hua had instructed her to expose Tang's past.
• Xiao Hua reacted to the public backlash by calling a press conference and denying that he had ordered the smear campaign.
• Xiao Hua claimed the email could have been forged, suggested Jenkins might have been coerced, and called for an investigation.
• Jenkins released a recording of her private conversation with Xiao Hua in which he discussed the scandalous material and a fifty-thousand-dollar payment.
• Tang Tian and Carl watched as the recording proved Xiao Hua's role in the smear campaign and bribery.

After Xiao Hua’s scandal and illness, Mark Tatum became Acting President and promised to restore the NBA’s physical, early-2000s style of play. The league introduced new officiating rules to broad support, and the story left off with the Pelicans and Warriors preparing to meet on Christmas Day.

• Fans argued over Xiao Hua’s scandal and the NBA’s future before Xiao Hua’s severe depression led the league to make Mark Tatum Acting President.
• Tatum announced plans to restore Stern Era rules and bring back more physical basketball, while Tang Tian and Paul publicly supported the reform.
• Players, retired legends, media, and fans broadly backed Tatum’s changes, while criticism of Xiao Hua’s tenure spread.
• A week after Tatum’s speech, the league introduced officiating standards that encouraged physical play and gave each team two challenges per game.
• After the new rules drew increased attention to NBA games, the Pelicans and Warriors prepared for their Christmas Day matchup, with the Pelicans at 31-3 and the Warriors at 28-7.

The Pelicans and Warriors began their Christmas Day showdown amid intense physical defense, with Tang Tian and Durant trading difficult baskets. The Pelicans led early, and Davis’s forceful dunk over Green earned him the game’s first foul and a chance at a three-point play.

• Green rallied Durant and the Warriors before the game, urging them to face Tang Tian and prove themselves.
• Tang Tian fired up the Pelicans, and both teams started with their regular lineups for the Christmas Day matchup.
• Tang Tian scored a fadeaway through the Warriors’ double-team, then helped Holiday make a fast-break layup for a 4–0 Pelicans lead.
• Durant answered with a contested fadeaway, while both teams struggled to score against the game’s heavy physical contact.
• Tang Tian passed through a double-team to Davis, who dunked over Green, drew the game’s first foul, and earned a chance at a three-point play.

Tang Tian and the Pelicans battled the Warriors through a physical first quarter, with Anthony Davis stepping up on both ends to preserve a 10-point lead. Davis’s growth delighted Tang Tian, while the Warriors began the second quarter by putting Pachulia back on the court.

• Tang Tian scored 12 points in the first quarter as the Pelicans built a 26-16 lead over the Warriors.
• Curry drew a three-point foul on Brogdon, then scored a reverse layup to help cut the Warriors’ deficit to five points.
• Davis scored on a putback, blocked Curry’s floater, and grabbed the rebound to answer the Warriors’ run.
• Davis drew a foul and made a bank shot for a 2+1, then made the free throw to restore the Pelicans’ 10-point lead before the quarter ended 31-21.
• Tang Tian hugged Davis and praised his mohawk, celebrating how much Davis had grown as a player.
• Stephenson and McCaw entered the game in the second quarter, and Cole sent Pachulia back onto the court for the Warriors.

The Pelicans and Warriors battled through a physical, closely matched game, with Tang Tian and Durant trading clutch baskets late in regulation. Durant tied the score at 96 on the final possession, sending the game into overtime.

• Davis struggled against Pachulia after repeatedly glancing down during their matchups, and the Warriors cut into the Pelicans' lead with fast breaks and outside shooting.
• Curry attacked Jokic with pick-and-rolls as the Warriors rallied, but the Pelicans led 56-51 at halftime and rebuilt a double-digit advantage by the end of the third quarter.
• Pachulia's defense unsettled Davis again, allowing the Warriors to rally until Green and Thompson helped tie the game at 90 with five minutes remaining.
• Durant put the Warriors ahead by two with a mid-range jumper, and Tang Tian answered by driving through contact to tie the game with 45 seconds left.
• After Durant missed a three, Tang Tian hit a fadeaway over a double-team to give the Pelicans a late lead.
• Durant beat Ariza in the air and scored just before the buzzer, tying the game at 96 and forcing overtime.

The Pelicans took control of overtime as Tang Tian defended Durant and the Warriors struggled to score. With one minute left, the Pelicans still led by six after Tang Tian blocked Durant’s jumper.

• Tang Tian volunteered to guard Durant, and Stevens put Brogdon in for Ariza as overtime began.
• Jokic tipped in Davis’s missed shot, then Tang Tian scored on a fast break to give the Pelicans a 100-96 lead.
• Tang Tian stole the ball from Durant, and Holiday finished the fast break to extend the lead to 102-96.
• Curry hit a three-pointer, but Brogdon answered with a three of his own to keep the Pelicans six points ahead.
• Tang Tian blocked Durant’s turnaround jumper, and Davis collected the ball with one minute remaining and the Pelicans still up six.

The Pelicans beat the Warriors 107-102 in overtime after Durant airballed a potential tying three, and Tang Tian sealed the game with a difficult fadeaway. At the postgame press conference, Tang Tian praised the Warriors as worthy opponents and said he did not know why Durant had missed.

• Durant shook free of Tang Tian but airballed his overtime three, and Jokic secured the rebound.
• Tang Tian hit a contested fadeaway to put the game away, and the Pelicans defeated the Warriors 107-102.
• Tang Tian led the Pelicans with 43 points, while Durant scored 33 points but went scoreless in overtime.
• Fans debated the thrilling game and speculated that Durant had developed a psychological problem against Tang Tian.
• At the press conference, Tang Tian called the Warriors worthy opponents and said he did not know what caused Durant's airball.

After the Pelicans celebrated their Christmas Day win, the chapter showed how the changed Referee's Whistle affected stars in the Rockets-Spurs game and reshaped All-Star voting. By mid-January, Tang Tian had passed two million votes, far ahead of the other Western frontcourt players.

• The Pelicans drenched Tang Tian with champagne after the game, then gave him a box of stamina supplements at Davis's suggestion.
• The Spurs defeated the Rockets as Leonard's offense and defense against Harden sealed the win, while Cousins dominated the paint and Harden struggled under the changed Referee's Whistle.
• The chapter compared how the new contact standards affected stars, with Paul, Jimmy Butler, and Cousins thriving while Harden, Love, and Curry struggled severely.
• The league announced the second round of All-Star voting, where James led the East and Westbrook and Paul led the Western guards.
• Tang Tian received more than two million votes, surpassing Durant and drawing credit from fans for the league's basketball reforms.

Westbrook set a season record with his 19th triple-double, while Tang Tian drew attention for his own triple-doubles and received a record 4.04 million All-Star votes. The All-Star starters and reserves were announced, and Tang Tian returned to China for an annual sports awards ceremony.

• Westbrook recorded a triple-double against the Trail Blazers, passing Magic Johnson's single-season record with 19.
• Tang Tian's ten triple-doubles and strong efficiency drew comparisons with Westbrook as fans praised him online.
• Tang Tian received 4.04 million votes, setting a new All-Star Fan Favorite record.
• The All-Star starters were announced, with Davis making a late comeback to join Tang Tian and Durant in the Western frontcourt.
• The All-Star event participants and reserve rosters were announced, leaving several prominent Western players out.
• Tang Tian returned to China to attend CCTV's annual sports awards ceremony in Shanghai.

Tang Tian attended the 2016 Sports Personality Awards with Olson, where he won Best Male Athlete and represented the China Men's Basketball Team as it collected the Annual Breakthrough and Best Team awards. The ceremony ended with the team leading the awards after three consecutive wins.

• Tang Tian and Olson arrived at the awards ceremony, where fans and Olympic champions welcomed them and asked for autographs and photos.
• Lang Ping won Coach of the Year, and Zhu Ting won Best Female Athlete.
• Tang Tian won Best Male Athlete and thanked the China Men's Basketball Team and Chinese fans in his speech.
• Tang Tian accepted the Annual Breakthrough award on behalf of the China Men's Basketball Team.
• The China Men's Basketball Team won Best Team, and Tang Tian joked that he was running out of words as he gave another speech.

Tang Tian won the 2016 Sports Personality of the Year Committee Grand Prize and honored all Chinese athletes in his acceptance speech. As the New Orleans All-Star Game began, he surprised Olson with a ship full of food for her birthday.

• Tang Tian accepted the Jury Grand Prize and dedicated it to all Chinese athletes, moving athletes and audience members to rise and applaud.
• Tang Tian held his promised fan meet-and-greet, then flew back to the United States ahead of his next game.
• The NBA moved the All-Star Game from Charlotte to New Orleans after North Carolina passed a controversial law, and Tang Tian became a hometown All-Star for the second consecutive year.
• Tang Tian secretly worked on the Mars Project for a week before the All-Star festivities began in New Orleans.
• Tang Tian watched the Rookie Game with Olson, then brought her aboard the Mars Project and revealed a huge spread of food as a birthday surprise.

The second day of All-Star Weekend ended with unexpected event winners, while Tang Tian hosted a party for the Brothers of Hard Work and learned what was troubling Walker and Butler. He encouraged Walker to consider leaving Charlotte and discovered that Butler was frustrated by Carlisle’s use of him.

• Porzingis won the Skills Challenge, Gordon won the Three-Point Contest, and Aaron Gordon captured the Slam Dunk Contest.
• Tang Tian held a private party for the Brothers of Hard Work, whose All-Star group included Tang Tian, Irving, Thompson, Butler, Walker, and Drummond.
• Tang Tian found Walker brooding over Charlotte’s poor season and suggested that he consider the Bucks or Knicks when his contract expired.
• Tang Tian learned Butler was unhappy that Carlisle had shifted him into a more off-ball role after Conley arrived.

Tang Tian turned down Jimmy Butler’s idea of joining him and urged him to focus on succeeding in Dallas. At the 2017 NBA All-Star Game, Tang Tian led the Western scoring while Durant was largely ignored by his teammates.

• Tang Tian reflected on Butler’s stubborn, win-driven personality and advised him to stay with the Mavericks rather than seek a trade to New Orleans.
• Butler accepted Tang Tian’s response after suggesting they play together with Kemba Walker, and Tang Tian encouraged him to become a superstar in Dallas.
• The All-Star Game began with Westbrook and Durant sharing the Western starting lineup, while Westbrook chatted with Tang Tian and ignored Durant.
• Antetokounmpo opened the scoring with a dunk, and both teams traded baskets in a defense-light first quarter.
• Tang Tian scored 15 of the West’s first 30 points as Westbrook repeatedly fed him and Durant managed only four points.

Tang Tian scored a record-setting 53 points as the Western Conference Team defeated the Eastern Conference Team and he earned his fourth consecutive All-Star Game MVP. After the All-Star break, trade rumors centered on the Pelicans’ plans to move Deron Williams or Stephenson and pursue Louis Williams before the Trade Deadline.

• Tang Tian scored 17 points in eight first-quarter minutes, and the teams combined for a record 174 points by halftime.
• The Western Conference Team defeated the Eastern Conference Team 200-185, setting records for combined and single-team scoring.
• Tang Tian broke his All-Star scoring record with 53 points after the Eastern Conference Team double-teamed him, achieving back-to-back 50-point games.
• Tatum announced Tang Tian as the All-Star Game MVP, giving him his fourth consecutive AMVP.
• As the Trade Deadline approached, rumors linked Deron Williams and Stephenson to possible Pelicans moves, while the team targeted Louis Williams to reinforce its backcourt.

As the 2017 NBA trade deadline approached, the Pelicans competed with several teams for Louis Williams and revised their offer. On deadline day, a flurry of trades reshaped the Eastern Conference, and the Pelicans acquired Williams in a three-team deal.

• The Clippers, Rockets, Mavericks, and Pelicans pursued Louis Williams, while teams across the league placed major players on the trade market.
• Dempsey told Tang Tian that the Pelicans’ offer of Deron Williams and a first-round pick was similar to rival offers, and Tang suggested adding a young player.
• The Knicks traded Derrick Rose, Skal Labissiere, and several draft picks to the Wizards for John Wall and Ian Mahinmi.
• The Raptors acquired Ibaka, the Cavaliers traded for Kyle Korver, and the Bucks exchanged Miles Plumlee for Hollis.
• The Pelicans added Joe Harris to their offer and traded Deron Williams, Harris, and a 2017 first-round pick to the Lakers for Louis Williams, while the Nets received Harris and a future second-round pick.

After the trade deadline, Louis Williams joined the Pelicans and quickly bonded with Bojan. The Pelicans traveled to Oakland to face the Warriors, but Ariza’s illness weakened their defense, and the game opened with Durant exploiting the matchup against Bojan.

• The Rockets traded Ennis and Daniels while targeting the buyout market, and the Mavericks acquired Noel and signed Ferrell.
• Louis Williams arrived at Pelicans practice, showcased his versatile offense, and became friendly with Bojan.
• Bojan told Tang Tian that Williams had two women who were both his partners and who coordinated their attention to him.
• The Pelicans flew to Oakland for their rematch with the Warriors, but Ariza was ruled out with a gastrointestinal infection.
• Bojan started in Ariza’s place as Durant scored over him, Tang Tian answered with a difficult fadeaway, and Green drew a foul after cutting to the basket.

The Pelicans lost 117–107 to the Warriors as Tang Tian scored 44 points but ran out of stamina while trying to contain Durant and carry the offense. After the game, he received news that Nike’s new-year dividends were about to be paid, and the sum would be substantial.

• Durant scored 14 points in the first quarter, and after Williams helped the Pelicans tie the game, Durant returned and exploited the wing mismatches to restore the Warriors’ lead.
• Stevens put Siakam in to defend Durant, but Durant scored repeatedly against the rookie and pushed the Warriors’ lead into double digits.
• Tang Tian volunteered to guard Durant, stopped him on consecutive isolations, and helped the Pelicans cut the deficit, but Curry adjusted his game and helped the Warriors regain control.
• Curry and Thompson caught fire, while Tang Tian continued carrying the Pelicans on both ends as they trailed 87–80 after three quarters.
• Tang Tian ran out of stamina in the fourth quarter, and the Warriors won 117–107 behind 33 points from Durant, 32 from Curry, and 23 from Thompson.
• Tang Tian scored a game-high 44 points, and after the loss he learned that Nike’s new-year dividends were about to arrive.