Recaps

Artest’s teammates bought all his unsold CDs and made him sign them, turning their teasing into a show of support. The locker-room celebration ended when Rick Carlisle sent Artest onto the court to guard Paul Pierce.

• Garnett and Pierce mocked Artest after his CDs spilled across the locker-room floor.
• Garnett bought more than thirty CDs, and Pierce, Rasheed Wallace, and the other teammates bought the rest, paying Artest to sign them.
• Artest told his teammates he had written a new song about the NBA Finals and planned to record it in Los Angeles.
• Raja Bell gave Artest markers, and the players lined up with their CDs for autographs.
• Rick Carlisle sent Artest into the scrimmage to guard Pierce’s elbow isolation, and Pierce drove inward as Carlisle blew his whistle.

Lin Qi reviewed the All-Star rosters and the backlash over several players being left off, while preparing for a tense All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles. The chapter left the twenty-four selected players gathered in a city stirred by rivalries, controversy, and heavy promotion.

• Vince Carter led the fan vote, while Yao Ming beat Shaquille O'Neal for the Eastern Conference starting center spot.
• Shaquille O'Neal criticized the voting after being relegated to the reserves, and Ben Wallace missed the roster despite his defensive performance.
• Boston reporters protested Ben Wallace's and Dwyane Wade's omissions, while Lin Qi saw Big Ben's exclusion as fuel for the Celtics' second half.
• Lin Qi reviewed the Western Conference roster as Los Angeles braced for All-Star Weekend amid broadcast restrictions and a marketing battle between Nike and Adidas.
• The twenty-four All-Stars gathered in Los Angeles as the city took on a restless, tense atmosphere.

Lin Qi used his private knowledge of Kobe’s frozen court case to expand Converse and Monster’s marketing while rival brands avoided him. As he arrived in Los Angeles for All-Star Weekend, he prepared for Wade to challenge LeBron James in the Rookie Challenge and kept his college-recruiting plans moving.

• Lin Qi reviewed the advertising map and recalled that he had arranged the long-term freeze of Kobe’s case, giving his companies an advantage over cautious competitors.
• Lin Qi’s Converse and Monster campaigns featuring Kobe drove strong sales and sold-out shipments.
• Lin Qi noted that Wade had been overlooked for the All-Star Game and would lead the sophomore team against LeBron James in the Rookie Challenge.
• Gary Payton had advised Wade to use physical defense against LeBron, helping Wade and Converse seize attention from Nike.
• Lin Qi checked on his planned North Carolina recruiting and publicity moves before the plane landed in Los Angeles.

Dwyane Wade led the sophomores in slowing the Rookie Challenge and stopping LeBron James’s fast breaks. After the sophomores’ defense forced a missed shot, Wade scored on a Eurostep and left the rookies struggling against their half-court defense.

• Gary Payton warned Wade not to let LeBron James dunk on him, while Wade organized the sophomores’ defensive plan before tip-off.
• LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony opened the game with fast-break dunks as the rookies took advantage of the early pace.
• Wade slowed the game, used a pick-and-roll to create space, and hit a midrange jumper over Chris Bosh.
• Tayshaun Prince, Wade, and Yao Ming contained LeBron James, who passed to Carmelo Anthony under pressure; Anthony missed a contested fadeaway.
• Yao Ming grabbed the rebound and passed to Wade, who used a Eurostep to evade LeBron James and score with his left hand.

Dwyane Wade exposed the rookies’ half-court struggles and outplayed LeBron James as the sophomores routed them in the Rookie Challenge. Wade won MVP, while his Converse celebration left nearby Nike executives visibly shaken.

• The rookies struggled to create shots, and Carmelo Anthony rebuked LeBron James for passing too late against the sophomores’ defense.
• Wade broke through a double-team, finished a contact layup, and drew a foul as Barkley contrasted his scoring ability with LeBron’s limited options.
• LeBron switched onto Wade, but Wade beat him with a step-back jumper, then stole the ball from him and finished a windmill dunk.
• Wade led the sophomores to a 142-118 victory, finishing with 32 points, nine assists, and four steals while LeBron committed six turnovers.
• David Stern gave Wade the Rookie Challenge MVP trophy, and Wade celebrated by patting his Converse shoes as Nike executives left early.

On the eve of the 2004 All-Star Game, former Lakers teammates Shaq and Kobe escalated their feud with public insults and threats. Their grudge match became the focus of All-Star Weekend as both prepared to face each other at Staples.

• After the Lakers traded O'Neal to Chicago and brought Kobe back from the Bulls, the former teammates continued their feud across the country.
• Kobe criticized O'Neal in an interview, saying he had won less because of poor discipline and weight gain.
• O'Neal fired back on a Chicago radio station, vowing to stop Kobe from winning All-Star MVP at Staples.
• At the Four Seasons Hotel, O'Neal mocked Kobe's All-Star shooting and promised to block every shot that came into the paint.
• Kobe dismissed O'Neal's comments and said his goal when he took the court was to win.

The 2004 NBA All-Star Game turned into a heated scoring battle between Shaq and Kobe, with Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett helping Shaq get the ball inside. Shaq’s feud with Kobe continued at the free-throw line as the chapter ended with Shaq missing his first attempt.

• Rick Carlisle sent Shaq into the game and instructed Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce to feed him in the low post.
• Shaq dunked over Brad Miller and taunted Jerry Buss, prompting Kobe to answer with a long jumper and a taunt of his own.
• Garnett and Pierce repeatedly helped Shaq score while Pierce needled Kobe, turning the exhibition into a head-to-head contest.
• Shaq slipped and fell during a fast break, drawing jokes from Charles Barkley and Gary Payton and a cutting insult from Kobe.
• Shaq dunked over Amar'e Stoudamire for an and-one, then Kobe answered with a three-pointer and fouled Shaq on a steal attempt.
• Kobe mocked Shaq’s free-throw shooting, and Shaq missed his first free throw amid the crowd’s boos.

Kobe led the Western Conference All-Stars to a 136-132 comeback victory over the Eastern Conference, earning MVP after a tense duel with O'Neal. O'Neal left the court in anger, and the rivalry between him and Kobe reached its peak.

• O'Neal scored inside against Stoudamire, but Kobe exploited O'Neal's fatigue to answer with a jumper and taunted him.
• O'Neal made one of two free throws while the Staples Center crowd chanted MVP for Kobe.
• Kobe hit a fadeaway over Pierce to put the Western Conference ahead 131-130 with just over a minute left.
• Ray Allen disrupted Pierce's pass, Kidd made both free throws, and Kobe secured a crucial rebound before making two more free throws.
• The Western Conference won 136-132, and David Stern presented Kobe with the All-Star Game MVP trophy.
• O'Neal stormed into the tunnel without joining the postgame handshakes as his feud with Kobe intensified.

Lin Qi, David Fincher, and engineer Duro listened as Ron Artest recorded a song for a basketball movie. Fincher stopped the take to question its boxing imagery, but Artest insisted it matched the roughness of Queensbridge basketball.

• Lin Qi, David Fincher, and Duro watched Ron Artest prepare to record in a Burbank studio.
• Artest asked Duro to raise the bass and began recording a song about champions, hard work, and basketball.
• Artest slapped his chest during the performance, and David Fincher stopped the recording.
• Fincher challenged Artest’s boxing lyrics, and Artest defended them as a reflection of rough basketball in Queensbridge.

Lin Qi oversaw Artest’s recording for Kingmaker and reprimanded him for eating candy before discussing the song’s potential awards. After Artest left, Sam Presti reported that Charles Paul had signed a restrictive Converse deal tied to Chris Paul’s future, and Lin Qi ordered a campaign to heighten tensions at Wake Forest.

• Fincher and Duro discussed how Artest’s song would underscore Kingmaker’s brutal NBA Finals sequence, then Fincher ended the recording session.
• Artest ate a Snickers bar, and Lin Qi warned him that exceeding the team’s body-fat limit could land him on the bench.
• Artest asked Fincher about his credits and whether he could wear a Celtics jersey to accept a Grammy, then left for the hotel gym.
• Presti told Lin Qi that Charles Paul had signed a Converse contract with financial incentives and penalties designed to steer Chris Paul toward entering the draft early.
• Presti reported that Coach Skip Prosser had reacted angrily to press speculation about replacing Paul, and Lin Qi ordered his PR team to spread rumors that ACC schools were preparing transfer options for him.

At an owners’ gathering during All-Star Weekend, Lin Qi considered the NBA’s financial troubles and heard how badly New York and Portland were struggling with bloated payrolls. Isiah Thomas and Bob Whitsitt asked him for advice, leaving Lin poised to respond.

• Lin Qi arrived at a private gathering of NBA owners and executives with Sam Presti.
• Lin Qi observed Wang Jialian and Jerry Colangelo as they reviewed their teams’ financial situations.
• Isiah Thomas and Bob Whitsitt approached Lin Qi and praised his success with Boston.
• Thomas explained that New York was burdened by injured players and a payroll nearing ninety-five million dollars.
• Whitsitt described Portland’s expensive long-term contracts and asked Lin Qi to show them a way forward.

Lin Qi advised Thomas and Whitsitt to stop competing for the Bobcats’ help with their unwanted contracts and wait until other teams had cap space after free agency. After they left, he went to meet Michael Jordan.

• Thomas and Whitsitt asked Lin Qi for advice on avoiding the luxury tax, explaining that Michael Jordan and Bernie Bickerstaff were demanding cash, a first-round pick, and a young starter to take a contract.
• Lin Qi denied rumors that he had privately arranged help for them through Jordan and David Stern, then explained that Charlotte had limited cap space and was using the teams’ desperation to raise its price.
• Lin Qi advised Thomas and Whitsitt to wait until after major free agents chose their teams, when other teams might be more willing to absorb contracts at lower prices.
• Thomas and Whitsitt thanked Lin Qi and left, while Lin told Sam Presti their troubles did not concern them and headed to meet Jordan.
• Presti stayed outside as Lin Qi entered the VIP room alone.

Lin Qi explained how Michael Jordan could use the Bobcats' expansion-draft privileges to take on other teams' costly contracts in exchange for cash and draft picks. Jordan agreed to follow Lin Qi's strategy and trusted him to turn the accumulated picks into players who could draw fans to Charlotte.

• Jordan described the Bobcats' financial and local television troubles and said he needed strong players to sell tickets and build excitement.
• Lin Qi explained that players selected in the expansion draft would not count against the Bobcats' payroll if waived before the regular season.
• Lin Qi advised Jordan to accept other teams' burdensome contracts only in exchange for draft picks and cash compensation.
• Jordan worried that collecting picks in a weak draft would not provide players who could help the Bobcats win or attract fans.
• Lin Qi promised to create a plan to turn the picks into star players, and Jordan agreed to follow his strategy.

With the trade deadline four days away, Lin Qi reviewed reports on Shaquille O'Neal's worsening conflict with the Chicago Bulls and considered the league's trade activity. The chapter ended as he opened a fax from the Los Angeles Times.

• Sam Presti told Lin Qi that more than thirty teams had asked about Boston players and that league trade rumors were spreading.
• Lin Qi read a Bulls report detailing O'Neal's absences, health problems, and friction with coach Scott Skiles and his teammates.
• Lin Qi recalled how O'Neal's need for status and control had contributed to past conflicts with Penny Hardaway and Kobe Bryant.
• O'Neal publicly criticized his Bulls teammates while showing off his Lakers championship ring, angering Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf and general manager John Paxson.
• Paxson quietly explored possible destinations for O'Neal while the Bulls rested him to protect his health and trade value.
• Lin Qi finished the Bulls file and picked up a Los Angeles Times fax.

Lin Qi reviewed trade rumors surrounding several struggling NBA stars and concluded that the Suns and Rockets might negotiate over Tracy McGrady and Steve Francis in the summer. He told Presti to focus on scouting and the Bulls’ second-half performance, since the rumored trades were unlikely before the deadline.

• Presti reported that Shawn Marion’s feud with Kobe had damaged the Lakers and could put Marion on the trade market in summer.
• Presti briefed Lin Qi on Allen Iverson’s injuries, strained relationship with coach Chris Ford, and Philadelphia’s private search for trade offers.
• Lin Qi learned that the incoming Suns ownership planned to keep Grant Hill and move Tracy McGrady, while the Rockets were shopping Steve Francis.
• Lin Qi predicted the Suns and Rockets would likely negotiate a trade in summer and noted that the current rumors were mostly testing the waters.
• Lin Qi told Presti to send scouting reports to Rick Carlisle, monitor teams’ contact with the Charlotte Bobcats, and focus on playing well in the second half.

The Boston Celtics overwhelmed the Chicago Bulls after Shaquille O'Neal sat out with lower back spasms. After Boston won 118-74, Lin Qi encountered O'Neal in the tunnel as he was leaving early.

• Bulls reporters questioned O'Neal's absence, while Rick Morrissey suggested Chicago was resting him to protect his trade value.
• Presti told Lin Qi that O'Neal was sitting and that Antonio Davis would start at center.
• Boston exploited Chicago's tired, disorganized lineup, and Wade scored twice on fast breaks as the Celtics built a 56-34 halftime lead.
• The Celtics cruised to a 118-74 victory after Rick Carlisle pulled his starters early.
• Scott Skiles defended O'Neal's absence at the press conference, and Lin Qi came face-to-face with O'Neal in the tunnel.

After Boston’s 44-point win, Lin Qi and O’Neal discussed Dwyane’s talent and imagined how many championships they might have won if O’Neal had joined Boston in 1996. O’Neal then hinted that he wanted out of Chicago, but Lin Qi said Boston had no interest in pursuing him.

• O’Neal praised Dwyane’s attacking ability and asked Lin Qi why Boston had never made an offer for him.
• Lin Qi explained that O’Neal had wanted Hollywood and a big-market team in 1996, while his agent had ignored Boston.
• O’Neal asked how many titles he and Lin Qi might have won together, and Lin Qi said they could have won more than six if O’Neal had stayed healthy and controlled his weight.
• O’Neal admitted his younger self would never have chosen Boston and recalled that Boston’s four straight championships had blocked the Lakers.
• O’Neal asked Lin Qi not to criticize him publicly if a team tried to trade for him from Chicago, but Lin Qi said Boston would not get involved.
• Sam Presti asked whether O’Neal had been testing the waters, and Lin Qi noted that Chicago would want a steep price for a thirty-two-year-old center earning twenty million dollars.

Boston exposed the Phoenix Suns’ dysfunctional lineup, defeating them 108-84 as Tracy McGrady’s ball-dominant play stalled the offense and Grant Hill’s efforts to share the ball went unanswered. The loss deepened the Colangelo family’s impatience with the team’s failed experiment.

• Rick Carlisle told Ron Artest to force Tracy McGrady left and disrupt his dribble, while Lin Qi watched the pregame discussion.
• Grant Hill opened the game with effective drives and passes, but McGrady’s isolation attempts stalled Phoenix’s offense and Ron Artest pressured him into missed shots.
• Hill continued trying to connect the Suns through ball movement, while McGrady failed to get back on defense and Kenyon Martin neglected a defensive rotation.
• Boston led 58-40 at halftime as Hill scored efficiently and McGrady struggled with 7 points and 3 turnovers.
• McGrady tweaked his lower back late in the third quarter and left for the locker room as Boston cruised to a 108-84 win.
• Hill exchanged greetings with Boston’s players after the game, while Martin left without speaking and Lin Qi watched Hill from the tunnel.

Lin Qi and Patrick Finneran met with Jerry Colangelo after the Suns’ loss and offered him a partnership that would ease his family’s debts while giving him a role in Phoenix’s real estate investments. Colangelo accepted their support, leaving Lin Qi and Patrick with a powerful ally as Colangelo prepared to take on a leadership role in USA Basketball.

• After the Suns lost by twenty-four points, Jerry Colangelo admitted to Lin Qi and Patrick Finneran that the team’s finances and his age had left him ready to step away from operations.
• Lin Qi suggested that Colangelo could lead USA Basketball after the Athens Olympics, but Colangelo explained that his family’s debts kept him from pursuing the role.
• Patrick presented Colangelo with a proposal for a Phoenix real estate fund that would make Colangelo and his family advisory firm senior partners.
• Lin Qi said he wanted Colangelo’s local influence as a friend and promised to help secure support from Wade and Kobe if Colangelo took charge of the national team.
• Colangelo recognized that the offer would leave him owing Lin Qi a major favor, but he accepted their support and promised to help them whenever needed.

Sam Presti scouted Chris Paul during Wake Forest’s ACC Tournament loss to Maryland, noting both his clever foul-drawing and his limitations and temper under pressure. Paul left the court in anger after Maryland eliminated Wake Forest by one point.

• Sam Presti watched Chris Paul and noted his skill at drawing a foul by exaggerating a light elbow touch against John Gilchrist.
• Maryland coach Gary Williams sent taller players to double-team Paul, and Paul struggled to pass or shoot over them as Wake Forest’s offense stalled.
• Paul berated Jamaal Levy after a defensive mistake, then committed several sneaky fouls and forced drives as Wake Forest fell behind.
• Maryland beat Wake Forest 87-86 after making two late free throws.
• Paul swatted away a Maryland player’s offered high five, threw down his headband, avoided Skip Prosser’s comforting hand, and hurried into the tunnel.

After watching Wake Forest lose, Presti witnessed Chris Paul's family confront Coach Prosser and reported their growing rift to Lin Qi. Lin Qi planned to publicize the conflict and expected Old Charles to push Chris to declare for the draft after Wake Forest's tournament exit.

• Presti watched Old Charles and C.J. Paul accuse Prosser of limiting Chris Paul's role and preparing to replace him with Rajon Rondo.
• Chris Paul emerged from the locker room and left with his father and brother, while Prosser punched a concrete wall.
• Presti told Lin Qi that Chris had shown strong professional skills but also had a short stature, a volatile temperament, and a habit of playing dirty.
• Presti reported that the Paul family distrusted Prosser and was unlikely to let Chris stay at Wake Forest for another year.
• Lin Qi instructed Presti to leak news of the rift to ESPN and predicted Old Charles would have Chris declare for the draft after Wake Forest was eliminated.

Lin Qi and Sam Presti evaluated Tony Allen as a potential draft pick, recognizing his defensive talent despite concerns about his shooting and temper. Lin Qi ordered Presti to track Allen’s workouts and ensure Boston acquired him.

• Presti showed Lin Qi Tony Allen’s scouting reports and explained his troubled college career and reputation.
• Presti replayed footage of Allen shutting down Brandon Mouton and described his intense behavior on the court.
• Lin Qi recognized Allen’s strength, quickness, and defensive potential as a matchup for Dwyane Wade.
• Lin Qi told Presti to follow Allen’s workouts and bring him to Boston, even if the team had to spend a first-round pick.

Lin Qi and Presti discussed Andre Iguodala’s draft prospects and concluded that his defense, passing, and athleticism made him an ideal fit for Boston. Lin Qi planned to acquire several mid-to-late lottery picks through Charlotte and ordered the scouts to stop tracking players so the team would not reveal its interest.

• Presti showed Lin Qi footage and scouting reports on Iguodala, whose all-around numbers contrasted with his unreliable jump shot.
• Lin Qi reviewed scouting assessments and judged Iguodala’s defense, passing, and intelligence valuable alongside Boston’s established scorers.
• Presti reported that Chris Mullin and Rob Babcock had watched Iguodala practice, and Babcock had criticized his shooting while favoring Rafael Araújo.
• Lin Qi and Presti identified several teams likely to hold mid-to-late lottery picks, while Lin Qi recalled Michael Jordan’s talks to obtain picks in salary-dump deals.
• Lin Qi ordered the scouts in Arizona to withdraw and stop following players until the June draft.

With All-Stars withdrawing from the Athens Olympics after the Madrid bombings, David Stern asked Lin Qi to help USA Basketball field marketable players. Lin agreed to release Dwyane Wade and proposed inviting Kobe Bryant, backed by a $20 million advertising deal, leaving Stern ready to complete their call-ups while Boston's starters stayed home.

• Sam Presti told Lin Qi that nearly all the players from the FIBA Americas Championship roster had withdrawn from the Olympic team, and USA Basketball was demanding Boston release key players.
• David Stern offered to protect Boston's core players from being called up but asked Lin Qi to let Dwyane Wade play so NBC could attract viewers.
• Lin Qi agreed to release Wade and proposed inviting Kobe Bryant, arguing that the Olympics could help rebuild Kobe's public image.
• Lin Qi offered a $20 million Converse and Monster Energy advertising package for NBC if USA Basketball formally invited Kobe and Wade.
• David Stern agreed to arrange Kobe and Wade's call-ups and told Lin Qi to send Boston's starters' injury reports so they could remain in Boston.

Lin Qi arranged for Boston’s injured starters to withdraw from the Athens Olympics while Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade accepted call-ups, turning Kobe’s participation into a chance to revive his endorsements. The announcement drew immediate praise for Kobe and criticism of Boston, while Lin Qi expected Wade to exceed the low expectations around him in Athens.

• Sam Presti prepared medical reports claiming Kevin Garnett, Chris Paul, Ben Wallace, and Rasheed Wallace could not play in Athens, while Lin Qi approved Dwyane Wade’s medical clearance.
• Lin Qi told Presti to contact Rob Pelinka and arrange Kobe Bryant’s press conference, then summoned Wade and David Blatt for a briefing.
• Lin Qi reflected that Kobe’s Olympic call-up could restore his appeal to sponsors and disrupt Nike’s plans for the Athens Games.
• USA Basketball announced that four Celtics frontcourt players would miss the Olympics and that Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade had accepted call-ups.
• Kobe pledged at Staples Center to help the United States win gold, while television hosts praised him and criticized Boston; Lin Qi watched the coverage and anticipated Wade proving himself in Athens.