Chapter 15: The NBA Regular Season Begins – A New Era of Basketball

The preseason showdown between the Golden State Warriors and the Boston Celtics had just concluded, but the ripple effects were only beginning.

Across basketball forums, social media, and online communities, the game was the hot topic of discussion.

"That was the most exciting basketball game I've ever watched!"

"Five-a-side basketball is way more thrilling than three-a-side—there's so much more strategy and teamwork involved!"

"NBA basketball is at an insanely high level. Their offense and defense are both elite!"

"Can you believe this was just a preseason game? The players weren't even giving their full effort yet!"

"I don't care what anyone says—Wilt Chamberlain is my new idol. That guy is a beast!"

"Watching this game live at the stadium was unbelievable. The atmosphere, the action, the intensity—it's an experience I'll never forget!"

"There's another preseason game in Shanghai on the 18th—grab your tickets now!"

"Too late! The tickets for Shanghai are already sold out."

Online platforms like Weibo, Douyin, Station B, and major sports websites were flooded with discussions about the NBA.

Within days, China had fallen in love with this new form of basketball.

Even casual basketball fans wanted to try playing full-court basketball themselves, gathering friends for five-a-side games at local courts.

The NBA's impact was already massive, and it was only the beginning.

After the success in Beijing, the NBA preseason moved to Shanghai, where the Warriors and Celtics faced off in a rematch.

This time, the Celtics struggled to keep up.

Wilt Chamberlain dominated, putting up:

52 points

25 rebounds

8 blocks

5 assists

He was unstoppable.

With Chamberlain leading the charge, the Golden State Warriors crushed the Boston Celtics 120-93.

The two-game China preseason series ended in a 1-1 tie.

Fans in Shanghai were electrified by the experience.

Across China, millions who watched the game on TV and online platforms were equally captivated.

Quietly but surely, NBA basketball was taking over China.

After the China tour, both teams flew back to the United States to continue preparing for the NBA regular season.

At the same time, NBA President Nathan Cole returned to NBA Headquarters in New York.

Inside the president's office, Vice President Louis gave his latest report.

"Mr. Cole," Louis began, "we've sold out every single regular-season ticket for all 30 teams."

Nathan Cole smiled.

The preseason had clearly done its job—introducing fans to the NBA and building excitement.

Louis continued:

"All official preparations for the NBA season have been completed. The arenas, scheduling, security, broadcast arrangements—everything is in place."

Nathan Cole nodded.

The NBA wasn't just a sports league—it was an enormous business operation.

Everything had to be perfect.

He then asked, "How's the NBA Replay Center coming along?"

Louis replied, "The Replay Center in New Jersey is fully operational. It will assist referees throughout the season with game reviews."

Nathan Cole nodded again, satisfied.

The NBA was not just about basketball—it was about innovation.

With everything ready, all that was left was to begin.

Atlanta, Phillips Arena.

The 2020-2021 NBA regular season officially began.

The opening night game featured the:

Atlanta Hawks vs. New York Knicks

Phillips Arena, which seats 19,445 fans, was completely packed.

Unlike the preseason, where teams experimented with lineups, the regular season was different.

Every game mattered.

A team's record in the regular season would determine:

Playoff qualification

Home-court advantage in the playoffs

The pressure was on.

Sitting courtside, NBA President Nathan Cole and Vice President Louis watched eagerly.

Atlanta was a city with a deep sports culture, home to:

MLB's Atlanta Braves

NFL's Atlanta Falcons

MLS's Atlanta United FC

It had even hosted the Olympics.

But basketball in Atlanta?

It had always struggled.

The city had so many teams competing for fans' attention.

However, the Hawks had something special this season—Bob Pettit.

Nathan Cole believed that under Pettit's leadership, the Hawks would win games and capture fans' hearts.

The game began.

Immediately, Bob Pettit went to work.

With precise shooting and aggressive rebounding, he put the Hawks in control.

But the Knicks fought back.

Their star players, Ricky Gallon and Willie Knowles, were both explosive scorers.

The game turned into a back-and-forth shootout.

Neither team could pull away.

It all came down to the final minute of the fourth quarter.

With seconds left, Pettit took over.

He hit two clutch jump shots to seal the victory.

The crowd erupted.

"MVP! MVP! MVP!"

Over 19,000 fans chanted in unison, shaking the entire arena.

Final Score:

Atlanta Hawks 108 – New York Knicks 104

Bob Pettit's final stat line:

38 points

18 rebounds

A dominant performance.

From the stands, Nathan Cole watched with satisfaction.

The NBA in the 1960s wasn't as fast-paced as modern basketball.

There were no three-pointers.

But the great players of this era—like Pettit—could hold their own in any generation.

With opening night complete, all 30 NBA teams began their intense regular-season schedule.

New stars emerged.

Wilt Chamberlain was unstoppable, leading the league in:

Scoring

Rebounding

Oscar Robertson, "The Big O," was averaging a triple-double!

Boston Celtics and Atlanta Hawks led the Eastern Conference, while the Los Angeles Lakers and Sacramento Kings led the Western Conference.

Every day, fans could watch high-level basketball.

With TV broadcasts and streaming platforms, they could follow their favorite teams anytime, anywhere.

In China, the response was overwhelming.

China's national TV network aired NBA games four times a week.

Fuji Xun Sports provided full digital coverage.

Beyond just games, Fuji Xun added:

Guest analysts

Celebrity hosts

Female anchors for entertainment value

Even if fans missed the live games, they could watch replays anytime on the Fuji Sports app.

As the NBA season progressed, the league's popularity exploded.

Basketball fever spread across China.

More and more people became NBA fans.

More and more young players dreamed of making it to the league.

The NBA's influence grew stronger by the day.