Chapter 1: I Became the Rockets' General Manager?
"We were just one step away from the playoffs last year. This season should be full of promise! Why are we hiring a rookie kid as the team's GM at a time like this?" The man speaking was Rick Adelman, a well-known NBA coach. This was his fourth year coaching the Houston Rockets.
"Rick, the Western Conference is stacked with talent right now. I don't need to tell you how good the Thunder—last season's eighth seed—are."
"Plus, Yao Ming just recovered from injury. His condition isn't what it used to be. How many games he can play this season is still a big question mark."
That was Rockets owner Leslie Alexander, speaking with a troubled look on his face.
"So you're planning to tank, is that it?"
Adelman had led the Portland Trail Blazers to the NBA Finals twice. He was a seasoned and respected coach. Nearing retirement, he didn't want to go through another long rebuilding phase.
"I have no choice. Daryl Morey died of a heart attack out of the blue. I needed to quickly find someone suitable to take over as GM."
"Shen Fei is a Harvard Business School graduate. His theoretical knowledge is excellent, and as a Chinese national, he also helps soften the blow of Yao's possible season-long absence."
Alexander patiently explained.
"Don't feed me that nonsense!"
"I get it now—you're just a businessman to the core!"
"You hired this kid purely to exploit the Chinese market and keep selling tickets!"
Adelman was so furious his mustache quivered.
"Today, I demand an answer!"
"Either you hire a seasoned veteran as GM..."
"Or keep him, and I walk!"
Adelman turned and looked angrily at the young Asian man sitting silently nearby.
Alexander was stunned for a moment, then slowly said, "Rick, you're an excellent coach..."
"But if you're forcing me to choose between the two..."
"I'm sorry."
He didn't say anything more. The look on his face said it all.
"Fine!"
"Great!"
"If that's your decision, then I'm out!"
With that, Adelman turned and stormed out of the office without looking back.
Before leaving through the door, he paused, cast one last resentful look at the young man on the couch, and grunted, "Hmph!"
That glare, filled with bitterness and hostility, left Shen Fei—who had just transmigrated into this world—speechless.
Only minutes ago, he had opened his eyes with great effort on the couch.
Before he could think clearly, a sharp pain in his head overwhelmed him.
A rush of memories told Shen Fei that he had traveled back in time to the year 2010—and was about to take over as General Manager of the Houston Rockets.
"Sorry about that, Shen. Hope it didn't leave a bad impression."
"From today on, you're our new GM."
"The team's full of young players now. We probably won't do too well this season."
"Don't stress. Focus on building team chemistry. When Yao Ming fully recovers, we'll plan our next moves."
Alexander gave the young Asian man a reassuring pat on the shoulder.
Shen Fei was speechless.
Wait for Yao Ming's return before making plans?
If he remembered correctly, Yao did come back this season—but played only a handful of games before retiring.
And with McGrady having just left the team the previous year, the Yao-Mac duo that fans had placed so much hope in was officially finished in less than a year.
Yao would go on to "retire from martial arts" and become the head of China's national basketball association.
McGrady, meanwhile, began a journeyman phase of his career and never returned to his peak. He even ended up in the CBA, playing for Qingdao and winning an award for "Outstanding Young Talent."
But only Shen Fei knew all of this.
Naturally, he didn't argue with Alexander.
Especially since the owner clearly wasn't putting much pressure on him in terms of results this season.
"I understand, boss. I'll manage the team well."
Shen Fei smiled.
If memory served, the 2010–11 season was a time of chaos and competition across the league.
In the West, the Lakers had just won back-to-back championships—but Kobe was worn down from three straight Finals runs.
The Spurs' legendary trio—Duncan, Parker, and Ginobili—were quietly regaining their form.
The young Thunder squad was on the rise.
Over in the East—
The Celtics' Big Three still had some fight left in them.
LeBron James was about to join forces with Chris Bosh in Miami, forming a new Big Three with Dwyane Wade.
Derrick Rose's Bulls and Dwight Howard's Magic were also forces to be reckoned with.
Of course, Shen Fei knew that if history stayed on course, this season's championship would go to Dallas.
At the start of the season, no expert had picked Dirk Nowitzki's Mavericks to win it all.
To put it simply: this year's NBA landscape was a chaotic mess!
And the poor Rockets had no real chance of contending.
[Let's just bide our time. Wait until Harden joins the Rockets to aim for anything serious.]
Shen Fei thought to himself.
"By the way, there are two things you need to handle right away."
"First, the draft is in four days. We've got the 14th pick in the first round—use it wisely."
"Second, with Adelman likely gone, we'll need a new head coach before preseason starts."
Alexander reminded him.
"Don't worry. I'll take care of it."
Shen Fei replied calmly.
He didn't have any ideas yet about who to hire as head coach.
But when it came to the draft, he remembered that this year's class had some real gems.
John Wall was the projected No. 1 pick, and DeMarcus Cousins was a potential future top center.
Then there were elite wing prospects like Paul George and Gordon Hayward.
And, of course, one special name stood out—Jeremy Lin.
Shen Fei recalled that Jeremy went undrafted this year.
"Let's start with the draft and build the foundation for the Rockets' rise."
"If there's still a chance to salvage Yao Ming's career, I'll try my best."
He muttered to himself.
Wasting no time, he asked his assistant to gather all the Rockets' senior staff for a meeting.
But just as Shen Fei was about to get to work, a cold mechanical voice suddenly echoed in his mind:
"Ding! Detected host beginning general manager duties. Binding 'Legendary GM System'..."
"...Binding complete! Now issuing main quest — 'Debut at the Peak'!"
"Mission: Lead the Houston Rockets to win the NBA Championship this season!"