Chapter Summaries

Mutombo's Kinshasa Hospital charity dinner began with the banquet hall nearly empty, but Lin Qi brought the Celtics and influential Boston executives, turning it into a packed, high-profile fundraiser. The chapter ended with Dwyane Wade attending the lavish dinner in a new suit while Gary Payton advised him on how to carry himself.

• Mutombo worried that few people had come to his charity dinner, but he refused to remove the empty tables.
• Lin Qi arrived with Rick Carlisle, Sam Presti, and all fifteen Celtics players, including Ron Artest carrying a bucket full of hundred-dollar bills.
• Gary Payton and Paul Pierce greeted Mutombo and explained that the team's flight to Detroit had been delayed so they could attend.
• Lin Qi welcomed Mutombo's arriving guests as Sean McGrail and executives from Fox Sports, State Street Bank, Fidelity Investments, and Boston Scientific came to the dinner.
• Boston executives made generous donations, filling the hall and prompting the hotel to add eight more tables.
• Dwyane Wade tugged at his new suit's tie until Gary Payton told him to sit up straight and dress to earn the respect of the bankers and television executives.

At a charity auction, Gary Payton took over as auctioneer and turned the bidding for a Celtics jersey into a public roast of Dikembe Mutombo’s disputed age. He offered to have Mutombo’s hair carbon-dated if the jersey sold for more than a hundred thousand dollars.

• The auction drew little interest until a signed Celtics No. 55 jersey worn by Dikembe Mutombo went up for bidding.
• Gary Payton took the microphone and urged the guests to bid more for the championship jersey.
• Payton joked that Mutombo’s birth tree had burned down and claimed Coach John Thompson had helped falsify Mutombo’s age to get him onto Georgetown’s team.
• Payton recounted Mutombo’s story about riding a motorcycle to the 1974 Rumble in the Jungle, arguing that it meant Mutombo was older than his official age.
• Mutombo protested that his older brother had taken him to the fight, while Payton bet he would send Mutombo’s hair for carbon-14 dating if the jersey fetched over a hundred thousand dollars.

The Celtics’ charity dinner raised $1.3 million, and Lin Qi, the club, Converse, and medical companies secured the funding and equipment needed for Mutombo’s hospital in Kinshasa. As the guests celebrated, Lin Qi set demanding terms for the Celtics’ next five-year local broadcast contract and left the rival networks scrambling to respond.

• Paul Pierce, Rasheed Wallace, Garnett, and executives bid on donated memorabilia, helping the auction raise $780,000 in forty minutes.
• Artest poured the Celtics’ November fine jar onto the auction table, and Gary Payton announced its $34,000 would support the charity effort.
• The dinner’s donations reached $1.3 million, then Sam Presti delivered news that the Celtics and Converse would match the total, Boston Scientific and General Electric Healthcare would supply hospital equipment at cost, and Lin Qi would cover the remaining $1 million shortfall.
• Mutombo thanked the guests and said that once someone wore Boston’s green jersey, they would never be alone.
• Sean McGrail offered $210 million for five years of local broadcast rights, while the Fox Sports vice president offered $220 million and a program for Coach Rick Carlisle.
• Lin Qi demanded $260 million over five years, fifteen percent of annual net advertising revenue, and retained arena advertising rights, giving the networks until Monday morning to submit signed contracts.

The Celtics practiced against a simulated Pistons defense before their road game in Detroit, and Gerald Wallace struggled to make the open shots and reads the defense gave him. After Carlisle criticized him and called Brian Scalabrine to warm up, Gerald was left facing greater competition for a place in the rotation.

• Rick Carlisle warned the Celtics that Detroit's defense would collapse into the paint and assigned the green team to imitate the Pistons in a scrimmage.
• Gerald Wallace entered the scrimmage and found Paul Pierce sagging off him to help protect the paint.
• Gerald rushed an open corner three, missed, then hesitated on his next open shot and lost the ball while trying to drive.
• Carlisle scolded Gerald for failing to take the open shot or make the expected outlet, then called Brian Scalabrine to warm up in his place.
• Carlisle warned the white team to get back on defense and said anyone who allowed another easy layup would sit out in Detroit.

During a tense scrimmage, Gerald Wallace collided with Paul Pierce, sparking a confrontation between the green and white teams. Lin Qi stopped the fight and set up a ten-minute, high-stakes game to settle their anger, leaving both sides ready to compete.

• Gerald Wallace blocked Paul Pierce's layup but crashed into him, sending Pierce sliding into the basket support.
• Pierce shoved Gerald, Garnett intervened, and Rasheed Wallace, Ben Wallace, Artest, and others joined the escalating confrontation.
• Carlisle ordered Gerald to leave practice and miss the trip to Detroit, but Lin Qi arrived and checked that Pierce's knee was fine.
• Lin Qi arranged a ten-minute game between the five green-team starters and six white-team players, with Tayshaun and Tyson allowed to rotate in.
• Lin Qi announced punishments for the losing team, including shuttle runs, paying for staff holiday gifts, carrying equipment bags, and giving up the charter's card table and couches.
• Rasheed rallied the white team while Payton teased the green-team starters, and the two groups prepared to play.

Rasheed Wallace changed the white team’s lineup strategy, using his and Okur’s three-point shooting to open the paint for Gerald Wallace. The reserves gained an early lead, but the starters fought back, and the white team later replaced Tyronn Lue with Tayshaun Prince.

• Garnett sent Pierce, Wade, Big Ben, and Raja Bell onto the court while Rasheed Wallace told Gerald Wallace to stay in the game and explained his inside-out strategy.
• Gerald screened Big Ben to free Okur for an open three, and Pierce answered with a turnaround jumper to make the score 3-2.
• Gerald screened for Tyronn Lue and rolled to the basket for an alley-oop dunk, extending the white team’s lead to 5-2.
• Rick Carlisle praised Rasheed’s adjustment, and Lin Qi said it would help against Detroit the next day.
• Garnett, Pierce, Wade, and Big Ben answered with post scoring, a driving bank shot, and a blocked layup as the scrimmage intensified.
• The white team replaced Tyronn Lue with Tayshaun Prince and left Artest to handle the ball.

Gerald Wallace’s late rebound, defense, and save helped the reserves beat the starters 22-21 in a scrimmage. After the starters accepted their punishment, Rick Carlisle added Gerald to the rotation for the next game against the Pistons.

• Pierce gave the starters a 21-20 lead with a midrange jumper, but Gerald grabbed Artest’s missed floater and put it back to put the reserves ahead.
• Gerald defended Pierce’s final shot with Prince, then dove out of bounds to slap the rebound back toward midcourt as the buzzer sounded.
• The reserves celebrated their 22-21 win, and Pierce told Gerald to treat his scrape and bring the same energy against Richard Hamilton.
• Garnett and the other starters began their two sets of seventeen sprints, agreeing to carry the reserves’ bags to the airport.
• Rick Carlisle added Gerald Wallace to the rotation for the next day’s game against the Pistons.

Lin Qi learned that Kingmaker would open nationwide on Christmas Day, while the Celtics traveled to Detroit and faced the Pistons’ plan to stop their fast breaks and leave Ben Wallace open. The chapter ended as Ben caught the ball at the free-throw line and Larry Brown ordered his team to let him shoot.

• Gary Payton filmed Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and other Celtics starters carrying the reserves’ bags onto the chartered plane.
• Sam Presti told Lin Qi that Kingmaker would open in 2,400 theaters on December 25 and outlined its trailer and critics’ screenings.
• Lin Qi instructed Presti to keep part two’s material secret and release the story behind Brad Pitt’s character after the December 5 screenings.
• The Pistons packed the paint and hurried back on defense to shut down Boston’s fast break in their game at The Palace of Auburn Hills.
• The Pistons trapped Dwyane Wade on a screen and left Ben Wallace open at the free-throw line, prompting Larry Brown to shout, “Let him shoot!”

The Celtics struggled against Larry Brown’s defense, which left Ben Wallace unguarded and used his weak offense to clog the paint. Kevin Garnett’s fourth-quarter scoring could not overcome the deficit, and Boston lost to Detroit 100-105 for its second defeat of the season.

• Elden Campbell left Ben Wallace open at the free-throw line, and Wallace missed a jumper before the Pistons scored to take a 2-0 lead.
• Campbell continued to ignore Wallace, blocking his drive and forcing misses as Detroit built an 8-0 lead and Rick Carlisle called timeout.
• Carlisle replaced Wallace and Raja Bell with Mehmet Okur and Gerald Wallace, whose play helped the Celtics cut the halftime score to 52-54.
• Larry Brown restored the five-against-four defense in the fourth quarter, and Kevin Garnett scored 14 points against double-teams while the Celtics fell behind 98-101.
• With four seconds on the shot clock, Wallace missed a late fifteen-foot jumper, and Hamilton’s free throws sealed Detroit’s 105-100 win over Boston.

The Celtics struggled as opponents exploited Ben Wallace’s lack of shooting range, while Kevin Garnett carried the offense and became the MVP favorite. Lin Qi promised to develop a new system for Wallace and urged the staff to manage Garnett’s minutes, as a Hollywood movie craze began distracting the media from Boston’s troubles.

• NBA coaches copied the strategy of leaving Ben Wallace open and doubling the Celtics’ ball handlers, causing Boston’s starting lineup offense to collapse.
• Kevin Garnett posted extraordinary numbers during the Celtics’ eight-game stretch, but the team went 4–4 as Wallace struggled to score.
• Sports Illustrated and ESPN praised Garnett as the MVP front-runner while criticizing Wallace’s effect on Boston’s spacing.
• Lin Qi and Rick Carlisle watched Wallace practice alone, and Carlisle said conventional pick-and-rolls could not solve the problem.
• Lin Qi told Carlisle to keep Garnett’s minutes under control and said he would work with the staff on a new system for Wallace.
• A Hollywood moviegoing craze began shielding Boston from mounting media criticism.

After Kingmaker’s advance screenings and a report revealed that its two leads represented different sides of the real Lin Qi, the film’s advance sales soared. As Nike and Converse battled for Christmas sneaker sales, Lin Qi chose to keep Kobe Bryant’s controversial ad campaign running and increase its exposure during the Lakers’ game against the Pacers.

• Kingmaker’s screenings drew standing ovations, and a Boston Globe article revealed that the real Lin Qi had performed the deeds attributed to Brad Pitt’s character, sending advance ticket sales past five million.
• Nike launched LeBron James’s first signature shoe while Converse promoted shoes endorsed by Kevin Garnett, Dwyane Wade, and Kobe Bryant.
• Nike-aligned media urged parents to boycott Kobe’s shoes over his suspended legal case, and protesters gathered outside the Lakers’ Indianapolis hotel before their game against the Pacers.
• Converse CEO Gregg asked Lin Qi whether to pull Kobe’s ad during the national broadcast and replace it with Kevin’s promotion.
• Lin Qi told Gregg to keep Kobe’s ad, buy all remaining flexible fourth-quarter ad slots, air the full version after the game, and send overnight restocking notices to Foot Locker stores.

Kobe Bryant overcame hostile Indiana fans and a double-digit deficit to win the game for the Lakers with a buzzer-beating three, then silenced the crowd and appeared in a Converse commercial. The play sparked a nationwide buying frenzy for his black-and-white signature shoes.

• Kobe struggled against Al Harrington and Reggie Miller in the first quarter as the Lakers fell behind the Pacers, 18-27.
• Kobe recovered in the second half, scoring 15 points in the third quarter and making three straight pull-up jumpers in the fourth to bring the Lakers within one point.
• With 6.4 seconds left, Kobe escaped a double-team and hit a leaning three-pointer at the buzzer, giving the Lakers a 99-97 win and finishing with 44 points.
• Kobe gestured for the Indiana fans to be quiet, and a Converse commercial featuring him played immediately after the broadcast went black.
• Lin Qi and other players in Boston watched the game, while the winning shot and commercial replayed across sports broadcasts and stirred interest among young fans.
• The next day, shoppers lined up at sneaker stores across the United States, and Converse sold out its 250,000 stocked pairs of Kobe signature shoes by Sunday evening.

Lin Qi created the Wallace Screen to help Boston counter opponents’ deep drop coverage, using Ben Wallace’s positioning in the paint to open driving lanes for Dwyane Wade. After two days of closed-door practice, the players began to develop the timing and coordination needed to run the new play.

• Rick Carlisle explained how opponents were leaving Ben Wallace open and packing the paint to limit Boston’s offense.
• Lin Qi drew up a variation on the Boston Pick-and-Roll in which Ben would use his lower body to establish position and keep Yao Ming behind him near the basket.
• Carlisle and Lin Qi explained how Wade could attack the opened lane or pass to Ben for a finish, and Lin named the play the “Wallace Screen.”
• Ben Wallace and the other big men practiced the play while Wade adjusted his dribbling and timing, with Carlisle stopping scrimmages to correct their execution.
• After repeated adjustments, Ben sealed his defender behind him and Wade finished a drive with a floater, while Rasheed Wallace and Okur joined extra practice sessions.

On Christmas Day, Kingmaker (Part One) drew record crowds as Lin Qi and the Celtics prepared for a showdown with the New Jersey Nets. The Nets exploited Boston’s shooting struggles to take an early 10-2 lead, forcing the Celtics to call timeout.

• Kingmaker (Part One) opened to packed theaters, and Paramount projected a Christmas Day gross above $24.6 million.
• Lin Qi watched the Celtics face the Nets at the New Garden alongside Kingmaker stars and Boston fans, while Matt Damon worried about Boston’s recent shooting struggles.
• Hubie Brown predicted that Byron Scott would have Yao Ming drop into the paint and dare Ben Wallace and Wade to shoot.
• Yao Ming scored on a hook shot after Ben Wallace missed an open midrange jumper on Boston’s first possession.
• Wade and Ben Wallace missed several more shots as Andre Miller, Kirilenko, and Joe Johnson helped the Nets build a 10-2 lead and force a timeout.

The Celtics used Ben Wallace’s strength to seal Yao Ming under the basket and open driving lanes for Dwyane Wade, scoring twice with the tactic. Lin Qi called it the “Wallace Screen,” and the Nets faced a game whose rhythm had shifted.

• Rick Carlisle told Ben Wallace to stop taking midrange jumpers and use the move they had practiced.
• Ben Wallace rolled after screening for Wade, boxed out Yao Ming, and let Wade score a floater.
• The Celtics ran the play again, and Wade drove through the open lane to dunk.
• Yao Ming complained to referee Dick Bavetta, who ruled that Wallace had established legal position.
• Al Michaels and Hubie Brown discussed how Wallace’s box-out doubled as a screen, and Lin Qi explained the tactic to Matt Damon and Ben Affleck.

The Celtics used Ben Wallace’s screens and a redesigned pick-and-roll to dismantle the Nets’ defense and build a decisive lead. Boston won 112-91, with Garnett, Wade, and Ben Wallace leading the way.

• Yao Ming moved in front of Ben Wallace to stop Wade’s drive, but Wallace turned the screen around and caught Wade’s lob for an alley-oop that put the Celtics ahead 16-14.
• Rick Carlisle used Tyson Chandler, Rasheed Wallace, and Mehmet Okur to sustain Boston’s screening and outside shooting, and the Celtics led 58-45 at halftime.
• Byron Scott pushed the Nets’ defense outward after halftime, but Pierce cut along the baseline and dunked off Garnett’s lob after Ben Wallace screened Yao Ming away.
• Boston’s pick-and-roll attack overwhelmed the Nets, and the Celtics won 112-91 as Garnett recorded 29 points, 14 rebounds, and 9 assists, Wade scored 22 points, and Ben Wallace had 10 points and 16 rebounds.

NBA trade rumors spread ahead of the February deadline, and Lin Qi decided his team would avoid the market and preserve its strong frontcourt rotation. He left to watch practice while Sam Presti and Rick Carlisle prepared to monitor rival teams’ moves.

• Trade rumors linked Kobe Bryant with Tracy McGrady and Steve Francis with Allen Iverson, while teams pursued Erick Dampier and Dallas considered moving several players.
• Sam Presti told Lin Qi and Rick Carlisle that other general managers were asking whether their team would trade Mehmet Okur or Tyson Chandler.
• Lin Qi rejected the idea of trading any of their centers and said the team should keep its current rotation intact.
• Rick Carlisle agreed that the team should stand pat while Gary Payton recovered and Tyronn Lue and Dwyane Wade handled the backcourt.
• Lin Qi instructed Sam Presti, Daryl Morey, and Masai Ujiri to track rivals’ offers and report roster changes, especially among potential playoff opponents.
• Lin Qi, Sam Presti, and Rick Carlisle left the office to watch practice.

Lin Qi explained why he traded Chauncey Billups for Gary Payton and why Boston needed Payton to help Dwyane Wade become the centerpiece of a new dynasty. He appealed to Payton’s legacy and ambition, leaving Payton facing the prospect of guiding Wade rather than reclaiming his old role.

• Gary Payton complained that Lin Qi was keeping him out of action despite his medical clearance and making him practice five hundred three-pointers a day.
• Lin Qi reminded Payton that he had traded Chauncey Billups to bring him to Boston, even though Billups was a rising star and the trade had drawn criticism.
• Lin Qi said Boston could not build a dynasty with Billups controlling the ball and explained that Wade needed to lead the new offense.
• Lin Qi described how Payton and Kevin had helped power Boston’s four consecutive championships and said Wade would have to become a similarly dominant centerpiece.
• When Payton accused Lin Qi of wanting him to give up his starting spot, Lin Qi said he wanted Payton to become Wade’s godfather and pass on his Celtics legacy.
• Lin Qi invoked the four championship rings Payton wore in the Kingmaker post-credits scene and asked how Michael Jordan would react when the movie came out.

Lin Qi convinced Gary Payton to mentor Dwyane Wade by tying the role to Payton’s ambitions of surpassing Michael Jordan and eventually owning the Seattle SuperSonics. Payton joined practice and immediately began testing Wade’s ball-handling, leaving Wade to retrieve the ball and attack him again.

• Lin Qi argued that mentoring Wade and helping Boston build another dynasty could give Payton the championships and standing he needed to pursue ownership of the Seattle SuperSonics.
• Payton accepted the prospect of mentoring Wade and criticized his weaknesses, while Lin Qi urged him to start teaching.
• Payton entered the main practice court and challenged Wade’s decision-making after a drive ended in a deflected pass.
• Payton stripped Wade’s ball during a one-on-one pick-and-roll drill and demanded that the team keep practicing until Wade improved his footwork and ball protection.
• Wade retrieved the ball, lowered his shoulders, and drove at Payton again.

At the Auerbach Training Center, Gary Payton corrected Dwyane Wade’s tendency to take over the offense after getting hot, teaching him how to use his scoring threat to involve Kevin Garnett and his teammates. Wade listened and began to understand how to balance his own attacks with creating opportunities for others.

• Ben Wallace taught Tyson Chandler and Mehmet Okur how to establish legal position and use their hips and base in the paint.
• Wade scored on two early possessions, then forced a contested floater instead of passing to Garnett or Pierce.
• Payton stopped the scrimmage and criticized Wade for ignoring his teammates and losing sight of his role as point guard.
• Payton explained how Wade could use Garnett’s screens, handoffs, and post play to create chances for the team while keeping defenders focused on his own scoring threat.
• Payton demonstrated how Wade could maintain his dribble after a screen or post up smaller guards to draw help and find open teammates.