The training camp officially began, and the Pelicans players were full of fighting spirit.

After a week of training, the results were significant.

Although the Pelicans had personnel changes in the new season, the core and rotation basically remained unchanged, and the tacit understanding was still there.

However, in the team's training content, shooting was rarely practiced.

It wasn't because their shooting was so good that they didn't need to practice anymore, but because their shooting coach, Tate, had an expiring contract with the team.

The two sides had been unable to reach an agreement on the renewal issue.

Tate's shooting training for Davis last season was very effective, and the Knicks poached him during the offseason.

People strive to go higher, Tate also had his own pursuits, and the Pelicans felt he wasn't worth the price.

Speaking of which, in the NBA offseason, it's not just the players who need to renew their contracts, but also the coaching staff and management team. Each season is a test.

When Tang Tian learned of this news, he took the initiative to find Demps and gave him a recommended candidate.

Steve Nash.

Nash announced his retirement during the offseason and should be enjoying time with his twin daughters right now.

But Tang Tian remembered from history that Nash had served as a shooting coach for the Warriors, and it was he who improved the shooting of the Splash Brothers by a level.

If the Pelicans could bring him in, the effect of Davis's training would definitely be better than when Tate was there.

Demps gladly accepted Tang Tian's suggestion.

Nash had an excellent reputation in the league, and his shooting ability was visibly outstanding. If they could bring him in as an assistant coach, that would be great.

Demps contacted Nash, and the Pelicans' training camp continued.

Davis's low-post offense was well-developed, Whiteside made significant progress in controlling fouls and low-post defense, and Holiday's three-pointers were more stable than last season. The strength improvement of the Pelicans' core lineup was visibly apparent.

However, it seemed that the few people who had just joined the team needed some time to adapt.

Ariza came to New Orleans from Washington, his defense had always been there, but his shooting package was a bit lost, and it would take some time to find it back;

It was about the same for Teletovic, his three-point shooting stability seemed to be much worse than Anderson's;

So was Dinwiddie, although he was very hardworking, his finishing ability after breakthroughs needed to be strengthened;

As for Jokic, his weight loss progress was very slow. With Europeans' tendency to gain weight easily, it seemed it would take time to lose it.

An NBA team is by no means just a pile of paper lineups. If the Pelicans want to reach a higher level, the integration of these new players is crucial.

Two days later, Demps returned, but this time he didn't bring back any good news.

Nash politely declined Demps's invitation. He had just ended his professional career and wanted to spend more time with his family.

After hearing the news, Tang Tian asked Demps where Nash was now and immediately had Carl buy a plane ticket to Toronto.

The shooting of these new players on the team hadn't found its feel yet. If Nash could be brought in, it would be of great help to the team.

Nash's place was in the suburbs of Toronto. When Tang Tian arrived, Nash was playing soccer with his twin daughters.

Nash dedicated his entire career to basketball, but his soccer talent was very good. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that he was the best soccer player among basketball players.

And he really seemed to dote on his two daughters.

When Tang Tian saw this, he couldn't help but think of the matter of having a son that he had talked about with his parents before.

But actually, having a daughter is not bad either. A father's little padded jacket.

Tang Tian waited for a while, and Nash asked the nanny to accompany his daughters and walked towards Tang Tian with a smile.

"Sorry to keep you waiting."

Nash was very gentlemanly and apologized to Tang Tian as soon as he came over.

"It's okay, your daughters are very cute."

Tang Tian replied with a smile.

The two had faced each other on the court before and weren't complete strangers.

After chatting for a few words, Tang Tian got straight to the point.

"I want you to help the Pelicans train their shooting."

After hearing this, Nash smiled and then turned to look at his two daughters.

"I've been playing basketball all the time and haven't had time to take care of my family. Now that I've retired, I just want to spend more time with Bella and Lola. They need me."

Nash said with a look of sweetness in his eyes.

He and his wife divorced in 2010. For him, these two daughters were his everything.

"You can just be our player development consultant."

Tang Tian nodded and then said.

The reason why he would specifically come to ask the same question a second time was not because he felt he had more appeal than Demps, but because he had a solution.

"Player development consultant?"

Nash looked at Tang Tian in confusion. He had obviously never heard of this position before.

"It means that if you have time, you can come to the team to guide. You don't have to treat it as a full-time job."

Tang Tian explained.

In layman's terms, this position is actually equivalent to a part-time job and extra money.

That's how the Warriors initially offered it, and that's why Nash accepted the invitation.

Nash hesitated. Obviously, for a player who had been playing for nearly 20 years, it would still be a bit reluctant to leave basketball all of a sudden.

But in the end, he turned to look at his two daughters again.

"Aren't you eager for a championship?"

Seeing Nash hesitating, Tang Tian then spoke up again.

Nash turned back and looked at Tang Tian in a daze.

Not eager for a championship?

How is that possible! He joined the Lakers to go for the final championship.

It's just that things didn't go as planned. Like Karl Malone, he ultimately failed to succeed there.

Seeing that Nash was tempted, Tang Tian pressed on.

"The Pelicans will definitely have a chance to win the championship in the next two or three years. You should be able to see this potential. And just being a player development consultant won't affect you spending time with your daughters. Oh, by the way, New Orleans is building a Chinatown now. Your daughters should like it there."

After hearing this, Nash smiled. He found that Tang Tian's eloquence was really good and that he had said everything that was on his mind.

"Okay, I promise. I will go to New Orleans."

Nash looked up at the sky when he spoke.

Toronto is cold most of the time. In September, the temperature is already only in the teens.

According to the usual practice, winter will begin next month and will continue until April next year.

Leaving this city of ice and snow with his daughters and going to the southernmost port city in the United States, they should be much warmer this winter.

Hearing this, Tang Tian reached out his hand.

Nash was stunned for a moment, and then he smiled and reached out his hand as well.

The two high-fived in the air.

Before, they could only compete on the court as opponents. Now, they can be teammates.

And Nash, after ending his career as a player, has the opportunity to win his first NBA championship in another capacity.