Nike’s Fall From Grace.

(TL/n: Sorry for the missed updates. Life got a bit hectic the past two days. Good news is, I'm back on track, and the missed chapters will be dropping slowly throughout the day.)

As the free agency frenzy simmered down, the Lakers made a surprising move — they decided not to re-sign Jeremy Lin. Instead, they scooped up last season's Finals standout, Matthew Dellavedova, on a veteran minimum contract.

Dellavedova's decision to leave the Cavaliers was simple. In Los Angeles, he'd get more minutes and possibly even a starting role.

The Lakers' second-year guard, Jordan Clarkson, showed promise but was more suited for a sixth-man role. Meanwhile, Dellavedova's gritty defense and three-point shooting fit the Lakers' current needs perfectly.

In addition to Dellavedova, the Lakers kept stacking their roster with veterans. Richard Jefferson, one of the famed 'Nets Big Three,' joined the team. Perkins, who had previously played alongside LeBron James, also signed on. Even Amar'e Stoudemire and Seth Curry — Steph's younger brother — inked deals with the purple and gold.

The Lakers' offseason moves had fans reminiscing about the 2010 Heat. Once again, LeBron was building a superteam, plugging in experienced veterans to bolster their championship chances.

The new-look Western Conference was shaping up to be a brutal battleground.

The defending champions, the Warriors, remained a powerhouse. The Spurs had bolstered their roster by signing LaMarcus Aldridge. The Rockets welcomed back a fully healthy Chris Bosh. And, of course, the Lakers now boasted a superteam with their 'epic' Big Three.

These four juggernauts were in a league of their own. The West was no longer the chaotic, free-for-all battlefield it had been in the past. Instead, it was top-heavy, with a clear hierarchy.

Even the perennial playoff race would feel the squeeze. Gone were the days when the eighth seed in the West could notch 50 wins.

One Western team that did make waves, however, was the Kings.

Following Han Sen's advice, Rudy Gay signed a two-year, $24 million contract with Sacramento, with a player option for the second year. The Kings also picked up Rajon Rondo and paired him with their franchise centerpiece, DeMarcus Cousins.

Suddenly, the Kings had a roster that could cause trouble.

---

Over in the East, another team that quietly improved was the Toronto Raptors.

The Raptors poached DeMarre Carroll from the Hawks on a four-year, $60 million deal. They added depth by signing James Johnson, Luis Scola, and Bismack Biyombo to shore up their frontcourt. Combined with their All-Star backcourt of DeRozan and Lowry, the Raptors were a team to watch in the upcoming season.

Meanwhile, back in Cleveland, the Cavaliers continued to tweak their roster.

After Dellavedova left, the Cavs re-signed Delonte West to a one-year deal and filled James Johnson's departure by bringing in Han Sen's old teammate, Dahntay Jones.

As for Tristan Thompson? After some tough negotiations, the Cavaliers locked him in with a five-year, $70 million contract.

With their new rookie Norman Powell and veteran signing Tayshaun Prince rounding out the roster, the Cavaliers were locked and loaded:

Position: Starter, Back-up, Reserve

Point Guards: Kyrie Irving, Mo Williams, Delonte West

Shooting Guards: Han Sen, JR Smith, Norman Powell

Small Forwards: PJ Tucker, Mike Dunleavy, Dahntay Jones

Power Forwards: Tristan Thompson, Dante Cunningham, Tayshaun Prince

Centers: Kevin Garnett, Spencer Hawes, Nikola Jokic

---

While free agency settled down, the sneaker market erupted in chaos.

Klay Thompson became UA's newest ambassador, signing a six-year, $48 million deal. The move made Klay the third key figure in UA's growing roster.

The deal shocked the basketball world. After all, Nike had practically handed Klay the Finals MVP as a way to keep him in their stable. Yet Klay walked away, joining UA anyway.

And that was just the tip of the iceberg.

Top draft picks like D'Angelo Russell, Emmanuel Mudiay, and Devin Booker all chose not to sign with Nike.

Though not all of them signed with UA, it was clear that Nike's influence was waning. The days of players clamoring to be part of the Swoosh brand were over.

Years of playoff losses by Nike-sponsored teams, combined with questionable decisions like the Finals MVP vote, had visibly hurt Nike's reputation among players.

---

By late July, Han Sen's annual summer camp was underway.

Familiar faces like Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Zach LaVine, and James Harden arrived early to join the workouts.

However, notable absences like Russell Westbrook, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Carmelo Anthony stood out.

Nike had cracked down. The rivalry between Nike and UA had intensified, and those players were told to avoid anything associated with UA — including Han's camp.

But Kyrie Irving? He showed up anyway.

Han wasn't surprised. "Stubborn as ever," he joked.

"I'm not missing this," Kyrie said with a shrug. "It's my teammate's camp."

Jokic and Cunningham both joined Han at the camp, and it didn't take long for Jokic to steal the spotlight.

Over the past month, Grover had pushed Jokic hard, helping him slim down from 300 pounds (136kg) to 260 pounds (118kg). Still, the big man's frame remained hard to miss.

And it wasn't just his size that turned heads — it was his playmaking.

His passing instincts were uncanny. But, as Han observed during the summer league, Jokic's creativity often led to turnovers when his teammates couldn't catch his no-look dimes.

At the camp, however, things were different. Surrounded by better talent, Jokic's passes started connecting.

By the end of the first day, Curry couldn't hold back his curiosity.

"Yo, who's the big guy?" Curry asked during a break, pointing toward Nikola Jokic.

Han chuckled. "Our rookie."

Curry squinted at Jokic, watching him casually thread a behind-the-back pass to Zach LaVine for an easy dunk.

"Wait… that's your rookie?" Curry raised an eyebrow.

"Where'd you find him?"

"Serbia."

Curry shook his head in disbelief. "Man's got touch."

"That's not all he's got." Han crossed his arms, clearly proud. "Give him time."

Jokic quickly became a camp favorite. His awkward, almost goofy demeanor off the court contrasted sharply with his smooth, creative play on it. The veterans couldn't help but take notice.

During a scrimmage, Jokic tossed a no-look, over-the-shoulder pass to Harden, who barely managed to catch it before finishing at the rim.

"Where the hell did you get this guy?" Harden asked, wiping sweat from his face.

Han grinned. "Told you. Serbia."

---

On the second day of camp, the focus shifted.

During a scrimmage, Curry noticed something odd.

"Hold up," Curry shouted, halting mid-drill. "Since when do you shoot from that deep?"

Han grinned after nailing a shot from the logo. "Why not?"

Klay shook his head. "Bro, that's our thing."

Han laughed. "Well, I guess I borrowed it."

"Borrowed?" Curry shot him a look. "You mean stole."

Han shrugged playfully. "Guess we'll see how it works next season."

With camp over, most players headed back to their teams.

Before parting ways, Han and Curry shared one last conversation.

"Next season's going to be rough for you guys," Han remarked.

Both Splash Brothers were now UA athletes. Getting to the free-throw line would be a nightmare for them.

Curry, however, was unfazed. "You beat Miami last year, didn't you?"

Han chuckled. "See you in the Finals."

That was the goal.

Han hadn't forgotten how things ended last season.

And he wouldn't consider himself truly 'back' until he beat the Warriors and took the title.

---

After bidding farewell to the other players from the camp, Han Sen took Cunningham and the two Cavs rookies — Nikola Jokic and Norman Powell — on a stroll through a nearby shopping mall.

Passing by an NBA merchandise store, Han casually waved them inside.

"Go ahead. Pick whatever you want," Han said with a grin. "It's on me."

Both rookies lit up. They had just signed their contracts, and their bank accounts weren't exactly overflowing yet.

Han stayed outside, taking a seat near the entrance while they browsed. He wasn't in a hurry.

Jokic was the first to emerge, carrying a pair of Shaq Attaq retro sneakers, a vintage Orlando Magic All-Star jersey with O'Neal's name on the back, and a large duffel bag with the NBA logo.

Han glanced at the haul and chuckled. "Big Shaq fan, huh?"

"Who isn't?" Jokic shot back with a grin.

His English had improved significantly over the past month, and his confidence was starting to show.

A few minutes later, Powell stepped out, carrying only a basic basketball training outfit.

Han glanced at the price tag — $100.

"That's it?" Han stared at him, dumbfounded. "I said anything. And you grabbed the cheapest thing in the store?"

Powell scratched his head awkwardly. "Didn't want to go overboard…"

Han shook his head. "Man, you're killing me. You think I care about saving a few bucks?"

Powell grinned sheepishly but didn't say much.

Cunningham chuckled from the side and whispered something in Han's ear.

Once they were back in the car, Han reached into a shopping bag and pulled out a box.

"Here," Han said, tossing it to Powell.

Powell caught it, confused. "You need me to hold this?"

"Nah," Han said. "It's for you."

Confused, Powell opened the box — and his eyes immediately widened.

Inside was a pair of high-end basketball sneakers he had admired in the store earlier. He had picked them up, checked the $1,500 price tag, and quickly put them back.

"Coach won't like me eating ramen for a month," he had muttered to himself at the time.

Now, here they were.

His hands trembled slightly as he pulled the shoes out of the box. "I… Thank you, boss."

Han waved it off. "Don't mention it."

But seeing Powell's reaction stirred a memory in Han. He recalled the phone call he'd made to Powell after the draft, and the disbelief in Powell's voice when he realized who was on the other end.

Han shook his head, smirking. "And seriously, stop with that 'boss' stuff. Don't be like Dante."

Powell laughed softly, wiping at his eyes. "Got it."

Han glanced at the rearview mirror, noting Powell's red eyes.

Kid's got a good heart, Han thought.

---

With the camp wrapped up, Han and Anjali finally set off for their long-planned trip to Africa.

This wasn't a business trip like Han's previous visits to China. No press conferences, no brand launches. This time, it was just the two of them, taking a well-deserved break.

Their destination? Tanzania — one of Africa's top tourist spots, famous for its Serengeti National Park and the idyllic Zanzibar Island.

"I've wanted to come here for years," Anjali said as they landed in Zanzibar.

Han squeezed her hand as they walked toward their hotel. "Well, now we're here. Time to check it off the list."

Over the next few days, they soaked in the island's beauty. The beaches were pristine, and the ocean sparkled under the sun. Han, who had never been much of an ocean guy, found himself captivated by the underwater world during their first snorkeling trip.

"This is insane," Han said, coming up for air. "It's like a completely different planet down there."

Anjali laughed, brushing saltwater from her hair. "Told you! I knew you'd love it."

After their dive, they sat by a beachside shack, enjoying a fresh seafood feast — lobster, crab, fish, and clams, all caught that morning.

Han marveled at the abundance of natural resources. "No wonder they say this place produces lazy people. If I could catch dinner like this every day, I wouldn't hustle either."

Anjali rolled her eyes. "You're not exactly known for taking it easy."

"True," Han admitted. "But I could get used to this."

They took turns grilling a freshly caught grouper over an open fire. Han sprinkled salt, cumin, and Sichuan pepper onto the fish, listening to the sizzling sound as the spices hit the flames.

"You're really getting into this, huh?" Anjali teased.

Han grinned. "Hey, I'm a quick learner. Besides, nothing beats fresh food."

After Zanzibar, the couple visited Serengeti National Park. It was there that Han's attention was drawn to a playful lion cub. Unlike the others, this one wasn't shy or aggressive. It seemed genuinely curious about the humans nearby.

Han crouched down, meeting the cub's gaze. "This one's got personality."

Anjali smiled. "You thinking what I'm thinking?"

"Yeah," Han said, nodding. "Let's bring him home."

Before they left Tanzania, Han arranged for the cub's safe transport back to the U.S.

"Welcome to the family, Sefu," Han said as the cub playfully pawed at his shoe.

---

By the time Han returned to the U.S., it was early September. Although he didn't have any major overseas commitments this summer, his calendar quickly filled up with sponsorship events and commercial appearances.

It was during one of these events that TMZ dropped a bombshell — James Harden had been spotted on a date with Khloé Kardashian.

The revelation sent the media into a frenzy.

Khloé had filed for divorce from Lamar Odom back in 2013, but the paperwork had yet to be finalized. The timing of her new relationship with Harden was enough to stir controversy.

Reporters cornered Han at a charity event, eager for his take on the drama.

"I don't really know much about U.S. marriage laws," Han replied, dodging the question. But internally, he shook his head.

Harden's about to get locked up on defense.

The Kardashian curse was real, and only Tristan Thompson had managed to break through it.

However, it didn't take long for another headline to overshadow the dating drama.

ESPN broke the news: a massive Adidas truck had pulled up in front of Harden's Houston mansion, marking the official start of his 13-year, $200 million endorsement deal with the brand.

The news sent shockwaves through the league.

Adidas had made Harden their new face — and in doing so, they had poached him right from under Nike's nose.

For Nike, it was a devastating blow.

The Rockets were one of the three superteams Nike had banked on last summer. Now, with Harden switching to Adidas, Nike had effectively lost Houston as an ally.

In the West, Nike was down to just the Lakers.

And in the East?

Sure, the Heat looked stronger on paper. But could anyone guarantee they'd beat the Cavaliers?

After all, Cleveland had already knocked Miami out last season. And this year, their young core was only getting better.

With Klay Thompson's switch to UA and the growing trend of rookies signing with non-Nike brands, the writing was on the wall:

Nike's decline was no longer a question of if.

It was happening.

And if they failed to reclaim the championship this season?

The league might truly become a UA League.

-End of Chapter-