Chapter Summaries

Michael Jordan played Game 5 on a badly swollen knee as Boston’s young players used punishing defense to try to stop him. Jordan’s taunts rattled them into reckless play, and Lin Qi chose to let the game continue as he sensed something was about to happen.

• Before Game 5, the Lakers’ doctor drained bloody black fluid from Jordan’s swollen knee and warned him not to make sudden stops.
• Boston’s Gary Payton, Ron Artest, and Stephen Jackson repeatedly fouled and harassed Jordan during the first half.
• After Stephen Jackson knocked Jordan to the floor, Jordan stood up, made both free throws, and taunted Boston’s players about being afraid.
• Pierce forced an isolation against Marion and lost the ball to Jordan, while Artest was called for charging on his next possession.
• Rick Carlisle tried to call a timeout, but Lin Qi stopped him and waited as Boston’s players continued forcing poor shots.

The Celtics rallied in the second half of Game 5, but the Lakers held on for a 101-98 victory and took a 3-2 series lead. Jordan stayed on the court after a punishing foul, and the series headed back to Boston for Game 6.

• Pierce calmed down and hit a midrange jumper, helping Boston regain its composure in the third quarter.
• Garnett and Grant Hill made key plays as Boston kept the score close.
• With the game tied at 91, Artest fouled Jordan hard, leaving him in pain on the court.
• Jordan refused help, stood up, and made both free throws after the flagrant foul.
• O'Neal grabbed an offensive rebound and Kidd hit a corner three as the Lakers won 101-98 and took a 3-2 series lead.

The Boston Celtics overwhelmed the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 6 of the NBA Finals, with Grant Hill attacking without hesitation despite his ankle injury and exploiting the space created for Boston’s stars. Boston took a 62-48 lead into halftime while Michael Jordan struggled with painful ribs and Gary Payton’s physical defense.

• Gary Payton stole the ball from Michael Jordan, aggravated his rib pain, and taunted him as Boston took possession.
• Grant Hill drove past Shawn Marion, drew a foul on Shaquille O’Neal, and scored a reverse layup before shouting at Marion.
• Hill’s aggressive drives forced the Lakers to collapse, giving Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett room to score.
• Jordan shot 3-for-11 for eight points in the first half, while O’Neal scored 17 points for the Lakers.
• Paul Pierce made a difficult midrange shot at the buzzer, giving Boston a 62-48 halftime lead.

The Boston Celtics overwhelmed the injured Los Angeles Lakers in Game 6, winning 108-89 to tie the series at 3-3. With the decisive Game 7 two days away, Lin Qi watched both teams leave the court knowing there was no retreat.

• Phil Jackson told the Lakers to feed Shaq and fight harder on defense, and O'Neal led an early third-quarter push that cut Boston's lead to eight.
• Kevin Garnett powered past Charles Barkley for a basket and a free throw, then told him that his era was over.
• Boston intensified its defense, and Jordan's injured ribs disrupted his shot before Big Ben's outlet pass led to Grant Hill's dunk and a fifteen-point lead.
• Pierce, Garnett, and Boston's defense widened the lead to nineteen by the end of the third quarter, and Pierce's fourth-quarter three stretched it to twenty-two.
• Phil Jackson sent in the Lakers' reserves, and Lin Qi and Rick Carlisle responded by removing Boston's starters as the Celtics won 108-89.
• The Celtics tied the series 3-3, and Lin Qi looked ahead to the deciding Game 7.

The Lakers and Boston fought through a bruising, low-scoring Game seven, with Charles Barkley and Kevin Garnett trading hard-earned baskets before Michael Jordan hit a painful buzzer-beater. The Lakers went into halftime ahead 41-39, while Jordan’s rib injury left him struggling to breathe in the tunnel.

• Big Ben won the opening possession for Boston, but both teams missed heavily as the score stayed tied at 4-4 through the first four minutes.
• Charles Barkley forced a rebound between Big Ben and Garnett, scored through contact, and made the free throw.
• Kevin Garnett answered by overpowering Barkley in the post and dunking against Shaquille O'Neal’s help defense.
• Grant Hill was knocked down on a drive, while Gary Payton relentlessly guarded the injured Jordan as Jordan focused on creating space for his teammates.
• With forty seconds left in the half, Jordan shook Payton with a fake and hit a fadeaway at the shot-clock buzzer to put the Lakers ahead 41-39.
• Jordan entered the tunnel after halftime began and leaned against the wall, gasping as his rib gear soaked through with sweat.

Boston and the Lakers traded late-game blows in Game 7, with Barkley appearing to hit a buzzer-beating three for Los Angeles. The referee ruled it a two because Barkley’s foot was on the line, tying the game 83-83 and sending it to overtime.

• Big Ben blocked Kidd’s floater, and Pierce converted a fast-break and-one to put Boston ahead 81-78.
• Garnett scored a turnaround fadeaway to give Boston an 83-78 lead with just over a minute remaining.
• Jordan hit a contested three to cut the Lakers’ deficit to 83-81 with 48 seconds left.
• Pierce missed a jumper, and O'Neal secured the rebound before Kidd brought the ball upcourt.
• Kidd passed out of Boston’s collapsing defense to Barkley, whose buzzer-beater initially appeared to win the game for the Lakers.
• The referee ruled Barkley’s shot a two because his foot was on the three-point line, tying the score 83-83 and forcing overtime.

Boston defeated the Lakers 89-86 in overtime of Game 7 of the NBA Finals, winning the championship after Grant Hill took control in the closing minutes. Michael Jordan’s final shot missed, leaving him alone as Boston celebrated.

• With the score tied at 85, Grant Hill drove past Shawn Marion and scored over Shaquille O’Neal to put Boston ahead.
• After Ben Wallace fouled out, O’Neal made one free throw, and Hill answered with a pull-up jumper to give Boston an 89-86 lead.
• Jordan drove against Gary Payton and missed a potential tying shot, and Kevin Garnett secured the rebound as time expired.
• Boston celebrated its championship as Paul Pierce sobbed, Garnett roared, and Hill stood with his teammates.
• Lin Qi watched Jordan stand alone amid the celebration and reflected that an era had ended.

Grant Hill won the 2002 NBA Finals MVP after the Boston Celtics defeated their opponents in Game 7, and he thanked his wife, Tamia, Lin Qi, and his teammates for helping him return from injury. The celebration took a tense turn when Stephen Jackson revealed on live television that Lin Qi had advised the players to buy stocks, prompting David Stern to order the footage archived and stare coldly at Lin Qi.

• David Stern named Grant Hill the 2002 NBA Finals MVP, and Hill accepted the trophy while limping from his injured ankle.
• Hill described his long recovery and thanked Tamia, Lin Qi, Rick Carlisle, and his Celtics teammates.
• Hill raised the trophy and roared that the Boston Celtics were champions as the arena erupted in celebration.
• Stephen Jackson told a live reporter that Lin Qi had advised the players to buy stocks and that his account had doubled.
• Brian Scalabrine tried to silence Jackson, but David Stern heard the broadcast and ordered Adam Silver to archive the interview footage.
• Stern turned and stared coldly at Lin Qi.

NBA Commissioner David Stern confronted Lin Qi over accusations that he gave Celtics players improper financial benefits and warned that the owners could force him to sell the team. Stern offered to suppress the charges in exchange for punishment and breaking up the Celtics’ dynasty, but Lin Qi asked for time to find another solution.

• Stern showed Lin Qi Stephen Jackson’s interview praising the owner’s stock advice and explained that the Knicks’ James Dolan had submitted accusations to the league’s disciplinary committee.
• Stern warned Lin Qi that the league’s owners might force him to sell the Celtics, then demanded that he trade Grant Hill and other key players to restore competitive balance.
• Stern offered to suppress the accusations in exchange for a one-year ban from team affairs, five years without the Celtics’ first-round picks, and a ten-million-dollar fine.
• Lin Qi watched the Celtics lead Panathinaikos 98–71 and asked whether Stern could suppress the accusations without breaking up his team.
• Stern refused and said he would announce the investigation’s findings and penalties on July 1, while Lin Qi asked for more time.

Lin Qi reviewed Boston's 66-win season, its championship roster, and the team's fourth consecutive title. He turned to the 2002 draft order, preparing to act before the penalties were announced on July 1.

• Lin Qi read the report on Boston's 66-16 regular season and the contributions of its players.
• The report recorded Boston's playoff sweeps through the Eastern Conference and its 4-3 NBA Finals victory over the Los Angeles Lakers.
• The season awards named Grant Hill Finals MVP, Ben Wallace Defensive Player of the Year, Rick Carlisle Coach of the Year, and Doc Rivers Executive of the Year.
• Lin Qi closed the report and noted Boston had won four consecutive championships.
• Lin Qi looked over the 2002 draft order and prepared to finish his tasks before the penalties were announced on July 1.

After celebrating the Celtics’ fourth straight championship, Lin Qi told the team the NBA had demanded that Boston be weakened, forcing him to trade or release some of its players. The chapter ended with the players and staff raising their glasses to the dynasty they had built.

• The Celtics celebrated their fourth consecutive championship at a private dinner hosted by Lin Qi.
• Lin Qi announced that the dinner was also a farewell and explained that David Stern had given him an ultimatum after pressure from other owners.
• Stephen Jackson worried his comments about stocks had caused the league’s action, but Lin Qi said they were only a pretext for the owners’ concerns about Boston’s dominance.
• Lin Qi revealed that the league could ban him from team affairs for a year, take Boston’s first-round picks for five years, and impose a record fine.
• Lin Qi told the team that Boston had to be weakened and promised to find departing players teams where they could get big contracts and starting roles.
• Garnett, Pierce, the other players, and the coaching staff raised their glasses to the Boston Dynasty.

Gary Payton asked Lin Qi to trade him back to Seattle, hoping to win a championship for his former city. Lin agreed to send Stephen Jackson with him, but warned Payton that Seattle’s new owner might not welcome him.

• Gary Payton told Lin Qi he wanted to leave Boston and return to Seattle to pursue the championship he had never won there.
• Lin Qi promised not to obstruct Payton’s trade and said Boston would retire his number 20 jersey, but refused to include Kevin Garnett, Rasheed Wallace, or Ben Wallace.
• Payton asked Lin Qi to trade Stephen Jackson, and Lin agreed that the troubled young defender could go to Seattle.
• Payton revealed that he had invested twenty million dollars in the stocks Lin had recommended and had doubled his money.
• Lin Qi warned Payton that Seattle’s new owner might not be willing to welcome him back.

Gary Payton learned that the SuperSonics’ new ownership saw him as an expiring contract, so Lin Qi proposed helping him build enough wealth to buy the team after retirement. Payton embraced the plan to secure a major contract in Seattle and someday return as the team’s owner.

• Gary Payton told Lin Qi that Howard Schultz viewed him as a short-term ticket-selling opportunity, not a franchise icon.
• Lin Qi suggested that Payton invest his money with Lin Qi Capital and aim to buy the SuperSonics after retirement.
• Lin Qi said Boston could include Stephen Jackson and help assemble a playoff-caliber roster to strengthen Payton’s pitch to Schultz.
• Lin Qi advised Payton to seek a four-year contract with a provision allowing Seattle to trade him if results and ticket sales disappointed.
• Payton resolved to pursue the contract and promised Lin Qi free coffee across Seattle if he eventually bought the team.

Lin Qi offered Rick Sund a trade that would send Gary Payton, Stephen Jackson, and Boston’s ninth pick to Seattle in exchange for Vin Baker and four unprotected first-round picks. He expected Seattle to accept, both to strengthen the team immediately and to set up a future opportunity to buy it cheaply.

• Rick Sund told Lin Qi that Seattle wanted to re-sign Gary Payton but lacked cap space and needed players who could help the team win.
• Lin Qi proposed taking Vin Baker’s contract and sending Seattle Gary Payton, Stephen Jackson, and the ninth pick to draft Amar'e Stoudamire.
• Lin Qi demanded Seattle’s unprotected first-round picks in 2003, 2005, 2007, and 2009, arguing that the deal would bring immediate revenue and playoff hopes.
• Rick Sund ended the call without answering, and Lin Qi gave him until five that afternoon to respond.
• Lin Qi anticipated Seattle would accept and hoped its weakened future would let Payton buy the team cheaply years later.

Lin Qi traded Grant Hill to the Phoenix Suns for Anfernee Hardaway and four unprotected first-round picks, while securing Jerry Colangelo’s political support. The deal weakened Boston in the short term but gave Lin Qi future assets and a powerful ally.

• Lin Qi called Jerry Colangelo and offered to trade Grant Hill to the Suns.
• Lin Qi agreed to take Anfernee Hardaway’s contract to help Phoenix match salaries.
• Lin Qi asked Colangelo to defend Boston at Board of Governors meetings and demanded Phoenix’s unprotected first-round picks in 2003, 2005, 2007, and 2009.
• Colangelo accepted the trade after several minutes of negotiation.
• Lin Qi locked the trade memorandum in his safe, knowing he planned to acquire the Suns in the future.

After Wang Jialian acquired the Nets, Lin Qi planned a sweeping roster overhaul to build a team around first overall pick Yao Ming. He outlined trades for Elton Brand, Joe Johnson, Andre Miller, and future draft picks, then left the final Boston deal for later.

• Wang Jialian completed his purchase of the Nets, appointed Mark Roberts, and saw the team win the first overall pick in the 2002 draft.
• Lin Qi told Roberts that Stephon Marbury should be traded to the Clippers for Elton Brand to pair with Yao Ming.
• Lin Qi proposed sending Kenyon Martin to Phoenix for Joe Johnson and involving a third team to secure at least two or three future first-round picks.
• Lin Qi directed Roberts to pursue Andre Miller from Cleveland using assets from the Martin trade.
• Lin Qi told Roberts to trade Keith Van Horn, Johnny Newman, Aaron Williams, Lucious Harris, and Kendall Gill for draft picks while keeping Richard Jefferson.
• Lin Qi told Roberts to bring the resulting picks to Boston for one final deal.

Lin Qi and Mark Roberts arranged a series of trades to rebuild the New Jersey Nets, turning Keith Van Horn and other players into draft picks and assets while acquiring Andrei Kirilenko and Wang Zhizhi from Boston. On the eve of the draft, the deals were announced, leaving the Nets with a new core built around Yao Ming, Elton Brand, and Andre Miller.

• Mark Roberts told Lin Qi that the Knicks had offered Marcus Camby, Mark Jackson, and the seventh pick for Keith Van Horn, and Lin Qi proposed expanding the deal into a three-team trade with the Suns.
• Lin Qi planned to send Camby and Kenyon Martin to Phoenix and have the Nets receive Joe Johnson, the Suns’ first-round pick, Mark Jackson, and New York’s seventh pick.
• Lin Qi asked Roberts to trade the seventh pick and second-round picks to Boston for Andrei Kirilenko and Wang Zhizhi, who would join the Nets.
• The Nets traded Stephon Marbury and multiple picks to the Clippers for Elton Brand and the twelfth pick, while also acquiring Andre Miller from Cleveland.
• The Knicks, Suns, and Nets completed their three-team deal, sending Van Horn to New York and Camby and Martin to Phoenix in exchange for picks and players.
• On the eve of draft night, the Celtics sent Kirilenko and Wang Zhizhi to the Nets for the seventh pick and multiple second-round picks.

Yao Ming's public workout dazzled NBA executives and confirmed New Jersey's plan to select him first overall. Afterward, Lin Qi identified Dwyane Wade as an overlooked prospect and resolved to acquire him as the 2002 NBA Draft began.

• Lin Qi told Mark Roberts that Yao Ming was destined for New Jersey despite Jerry West's complaints about the workout arrangements.
• Yao Ming impressed the league with strong midrange shooting, five consecutive three-pointers, and twelve-for-twelve free throws.
• Roberts realized Yao Ming's shooting and offensive intelligence made New Jersey's first overall selection clear.
• Lin Qi reviewed Boston's scouting report, saw that Dwyane Wade's draft stock had fallen, and decided to acquire him at any cost.
• Two days later, the 2002 NBA Draft officially began at Madison Square Garden.

On the eve of draft night, Lin Qi traded Boston’s seventh pick for Milwaukee’s thirteenth pick and Glenn Robinson, then moved Hardaway, Vin Baker, and Robinson to the Clippers to clear Boston’s contracts. Boston entered draft night with a healthier salary structure and a large collection of future picks.

• Boston traded Kirilenko and Wang Zhizhi to New Jersey for the seventh overall pick.
• Lin Qi agreed to trade the seventh pick to Milwaukee for Glenn Robinson and the thirteenth pick, provided Milwaukee also took Anfernee Hardaway.
• Lin Qi offered Vin Baker, Glenn Robinson, and the sixteenth pick to the Clippers, who agreed to absorb the contracts with their cap space.
• Boston completed the trades and awaited draft night with the thirteenth, twenty-first, twenty-eighth, and twenty-ninth picks, along with numerous future picks.

At the 2002 NBA draft, Yao Ming went first overall to the New Jersey Nets, while Lin Qi’s Boston Celtics selected Dwyane Wade thirteenth. Lin Qi knew Wade was healthy in this timeline and planned to develop him along a different path.

• David Stern announced Yao Ming as the New Jersey Nets’ first overall pick, and Yao accepted the selection in person.
• The Chicago Bulls selected Jay Williams second, the Golden State Warriors took Mike Dunleavy third, the Memphis Grizzlies chose Drew Gooden fourth, and the Milwaukee Bucks picked Nene seventh.
• David Stern announced that the Boston Celtics had selected Dwyane Wade with the thirteenth pick.
• Broadcasters questioned Wade’s size, college performance, and suspected injury problems.
• Lin Qi knew Wade had kept his meniscus intact through careful minutes management and decided to develop him differently.