Chapter 1 NBL

NBL is China's secondary basketball league, equivalent to the NBA's G League in the United States.

However, unlike the G League, NBL teams are structured the same way as CBA teams, with 13 players plus two foreign players.

The level of foreign players in the CBA is weaker than that of the NBA, and the NBL is even more so.

But even this league has produced someone who will make a name for himself in the NBA in the future.

Hassan Whiteside.

Whiteside played for the NBL's Jiangsu Tongxi team this season and successfully helped the team reach the NBL Finals that season.

Because the NBL playoffs ended last October, he is now playing in the Lebanese league.

Tang Tian was thinking of him.

However, this was also a last resort that Dell Demps thought of after unsuccessful attempts in the trade market.

In history, Whiteside really made a name for himself next season.

Was it because he was not recognized for his talent?

No, he was ignored this season, and in the early part of the next season, he was signed and waived, and then signed again by the Grizzlies.

The reason was that he had attitude problems. Immaturity and low basketball IQ were his labels, and he even had a brawl with others in the D-League before.

Tang Tian didn't think that if the Pelicans gave him a chance, Whiteside would instantly become the great Whiteside of the future Heat, but there was no other way.

Trying is better than not making any changes.

"We will give him a tryout opportunity."

That was the answer Dell Demps gave.

In the eyes of various team general managers, Whiteside was a well-known problem player, and his strength was not that outstanding.

Demps gave this reply as a favor to Tang Tian.

Tang Tian asked about the tryout time, which was after the All-Star Game. He told Demps that he would also be there and then hung up the phone.

For a player like Whiteside, if you don't give him some motivation, he might mess up the tryout.

The next day, the All-Star Game was held at the New Orleans Arena.

The arena was packed, and fans were sitting in the stands, eagerly waiting.

Before the official introduction of the players, there was a singing performance.

The organizers made it very mysterious and even put up a curtain to block the singer.

But when the prelude melody came out, the cheers at the scene were completely unstoppable.

"Champion!"

"Hold your breath, the champion is coming."

When the first lyrics came out and Metta Sandiford-Artest's face appeared, the cheers at the scene were overwhelming.

An NBA player singing at the All-Star Game, probably only Metta Sandiford-Artest could do it!

Moreover, the organizers' arrangement was quite down-to-earth.

Tang Tian was waiting in the player tunnel with the other All-Stars at this time.

He didn't know that Metta Sandiford-Artest could sing beforehand, and he couldn't help but laugh when he heard the melody and voice.

Is this the Pelicans' championship declaration?

After the song "Champion" ended, the event entered the All-Star player introduction.

The substitutes were introduced one by one, followed by the starters of the East and West.

"Number 31, 2.03-meter small forward, Tang~~~ Tian!!!"

Tang Tian was the third to last to appear, ahead of James and Kobe.

When the host lengthened the tone, the cheers at the scene were overwhelming.

Tang Tian's popularity now, coupled with playing at home, made this crazy scene unique.

Durant, who appeared before Tang Tian, couldn't help clenching his fists when he saw this.

James and Kobe were the last to be introduced, the player introduction ended, and the All-Star Game followed.

The starters for the Western Conference were Curry and Kobe in the backcourt, Tang Tian and Durant in the frontcourt, and Griffin at center.

For the Eastern Conference, it was Irving and Wade in the backcourt, George and James in the frontcourt, and Anthony at center.

Durant and Anthony's jump ball.

Amid the cheers of the fans, Durant tipped the ball back to the Western Conference half, Kobe got the ball, and the All-Star Game began.

As soon as Tang Tian was in position, Kobe shouted at him and then passed the ball to him.

This was obviously not Popovich's arrangement.

No matter which coach it is, they won't deliberately arrange tactics for anyone on the All-Star stage.

This was Kobe's own intention.

Although he is competitive and stubborn, he is not petty. He is 37 years old and has won many MVPs, so he basically has no pursuit for this anymore.

He came to the All-Star Game to relax, shoot a few baskets and pass a few balls so that his fans wouldn't have nothing to watch. That was basically his idea.

So if he's going to pass the ball, why not pass it to the person he wants to pass it to?

Tang Tian, on the other hand, was the one who helped him win back Vanessa and solved the Lakers' predicament!

Tang Tian took the ball and faced George, a three-threat jab step.

George symbolically pounced on the defense.

On the All-Star stage, except for the final moments of victory or defeat, no one will really defend hard in the beginning.

"Swish!"

Tang Tian's first shot hit the net, scoring the first point for the Western Conference.

Cheers erupted at the scene.

Tang Tian is now the league's scoring champion, and he should take more shots in the All-Star Game!

In the Eastern Conference's offense, Irving scored a layup after a series of crossovers to get past Curry.

He was selected as an All-Star starter in his third year. If it weren't for Tang Tian's brilliance being too dazzling, Irving would be the league's most watched newcomer.

The Western Conference attacked again, and Tang Tian leaned against George and reached out for the ball.

Playing at home, he also had to satisfy the fans' wishes and play more.

However, Durant on the other side was also reaching out for the ball at this time.

Curry hesitated for a moment and still passed the ball to Tang Tian.

He was still counting on Tang Tian to let him into his training camp in the summer!

Durant was furious when he saw Curry pass the ball to Tang Tian.

After Tang Tian received the ball, he turned around and played against George. This time, he faked a fadeaway and then drove to the basket for a physical confrontation with George.

George didn't use his full strength either.

Tang Tian scored again after the confrontation.

Two for two at the start!

The cheers from the fans at the scene couldn't stop.

Tang Tian is going for the MVP!

And they could also see that Kobe and Curry were willing to pass the ball to Tang Tian.

Because the competition is not high in the All-Star Game, you must have the right to shoot if you want to get the MVP.

So how does the right to shoot come about? Of course, it comes from the guards!

Because the ball is in the hands of the guards, as long as they are willing to pass and you can shoot the ball in.

MVP?

Why not!

The Eastern Conference had a mistake in their coordination, Kobe intercepted the ball and directly threw it to Curry on the fast break.

It was a 2-on-0 in the frontcourt.

Curry drove to the frontcourt and glanced back, seeing that Tang Tian was following up, he didn't go up himself, but threw the ball on the backboard.

"Bang!"

The ball hit the backboard and bounced back.

Tang Tian entered the free throw line at this time. Seeing Curry's move, he jumped up, grabbed the pass off the backboard in the air, and slammed the ball directly into the basket with one hand.

"Boom!"

With a muffled sound, a powerful dunk!

A backboard dunk with Curry's assist!

The cheers from the fans at the scene instantly erupted.

Were they afraid that the fans didn't get enough of the dunk contest yesterday, so they continued to show off at the All-Star Game?