Li Chen

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Li Chen (李辰)
Species/Race	Transmigrated Earthling
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Los Angeles Clippers; New York Knicks; Chinese National Team
Occupation/Role	Professional basketball player; investor and businessman
Status	Active
First Appearance	Chapter 1

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
S-rank Tenacity	1	Passive talent obtained after he pushes his training beyond his limits.
Open Three-Pointer: D-rank → C-rank	8	Upgraded through hours of repeated shooting practice with Wang Zhizhi.
Miracle Shot	16	Begins practicing the newly acquired skill after a game.
Open Three-Pointer: C-rank → A-rank	24	Reaches A-rank through midnight training.
Rebounding Monster	28	Acquired after recording 56 rebounds and winning MVP.
Unrivaled	28	Purchased with a legendary point.
Multiple skills: C-rank → B-rank	47	Upgrades several skills during the All-Star break.
Miracle Shot and Clutch Shot: → B-rank	48	Improved using exclusive skill coins from his Anta endorsement.
The Zone	55	Can enter a heightened-performance state for about ten minutes; causes extreme fatigue afterward.
Duel Master	62	Earned after an MVP performance.
Assist Master	62	Acquired during the Clippers' victories over the Bucks and Hawks.
Iron Wall and Bronze Barrier	62	Defensive skill acquired during the same stretch of victories.
Mid-range King: → C-rank	78	Upgraded with 3,000 experience points after another double-double and MVP award.
Miracle Shot, Clutch Shot, and Divine Shooter: → A-rank	99	All three shooting skills reach A-rank.
Layup Master	100	S-rank skill that makes layups easier and improves his chance of drawing fouls.
Pull-up Jumper: maximum level	129	His Legendary Star Skill reaches its cap and unlocks a further reward.
Unrestrained	129	Obtained when Pull-up Jumper reaches maximum level.
Ankle Killer	143	Acquired during China’s FIBA Asia Championship game against Japan.
Surprise Attack	177	Obtained after a 50-point, 17-assist, 10-rebound performance against Minnesota.

Background / History

Li Chen is an Earthling who transmigrated into the novel’s world. Before securing a stable NBA role, he moved between teams on short-term contracts and used their training facilities to improve himself. On his final day with the Clippers, relentless training awakened his S-rank passive talent, Tenacity. He answered Lamar Odom’s racial insults by declaring that he would take Odom’s starting position through basketball rather than violence. 1

The Clippers subsequently signed him to a performance-based special contract: a first-year minimum salary of $500,000, bonuses tied to production, and the prospect of a $13 million rookie deal and later maximum contract. 7 He signed with the team after upgrading his Open Three-Pointer to C-rank, beginning his NBA career in earnest. 8

Li Chen rapidly became the Clippers’ central player, breaking records, accumulating skills, and earning league recognition. He won Rookie of the Year for the 2002–03 season with averages of 24.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, 9.7 assists, 2.2 steals, 1.8 blocks, 49.8% field-goal shooting, and 50% three-point shooting. 106 He later led China to the FIBA Asia Championship title and swept the individual awards: MVP, Best Scorer, Best Rebounder, and Best Assists. 143 144

After his Clippers tenure, the Knicks acquired him in a blockbuster trade involving Dwight Howard, seven future first-round picks, and multiple players. Owner James Dolan gave Li Chen a mansion upon his arrival in New York. 171 Li Chen became the Knicks’ defining star, later winning regular-season MVP with averages of 33 points, 15.8 assists, 6.8 rebounds, and 3.5 steals. 216

Beyond basketball, Li Chen invests heavily in technology and business. His ventures include investments in Google and Baidu, the acquisition of VX chat software, the launch of Pinduoduo, and plans for a logistics company. 99 189 190 204 216 He also plans to build schools in Taijiang County, GZ Province. 171

Personality

Li Chen is intensely self-driven. He repeatedly trains through exhaustion to raise his skills, even when others consider his regimen excessive. 1 8 78 He remains composed when provoked, particularly in his early conflict with Odom, and tends to answer criticism through performance rather than confrontation. 1 7

On court, he is highly competitive but values teammates’ confidence and growth. He reassures Elton Brand when Brand doubts his place on the Clippers, creates opportunities for teammates during difficult games, and uses speeches to rally the team. 86 99 172 His competitiveness with Kobe Bryant is persistent, but their rivalry also drives mutual improvement. 24 47 55

Li Chen is also ambitious and strategically minded off court. He negotiates aggressively with sponsors, pursues investments despite advice against them, and intends to become an NBA owner after retirement. 24 99 190

Abilities & Skills

Tenacity

An S-rank passive talent born from Li Chen’s extreme training.

• Enables exceptional persistence in training and skill development. 1
• Supports his willingness to repeatedly practice until a skill upgrades. 8 24
• Does not remove the physical consequences of overtraining; Bill Duffy warns that excessive practice may shorten his career. 78

Shooting

Li Chen possesses a broad scoring arsenal built through his skill system and training.

• Open Three-Pointer reached A-rank after progressing from D-rank to C-rank and then A-rank. 8 24
• Miracle Shot, Clutch Shot, and Divine Shooter all reach A-rank. 99
• Pull-up Jumper is a Legendary Star Skill that reaches maximum level. 129
• Mid-range King reaches C-rank. 78
• Layup Master improves layup ease and foul-drawing potential. 100
• Some randomly assigned S-rank skills are matchup-dependent, including Eagle Eye, Pick and Roll King, Causality, and Attack Weakness. 48 86 135 176
• Causality raises shooting accuracy at the cost of additional stamina. 135

Playmaking and Leadership

Li Chen can control an offense as both scorer and facilitator.

• Earns Assist Master during the Clippers’ winning run. 62
• Uses Pick and Roll King to generate scoring chances for teammates when the Clippers are fatigued. 86
• Recorded 33 assists in a game while breaking his own assists record. 28
• His 2005 All-Star Game MVP performance included 35 points, 25 assists, and 10 rebounds. 190
• Actively boosts teammates’ confidence through passing, encouragement, and motivational speeches. 86 148 172

Defense and Rebounding

Li Chen combines perimeter defense, rebounding, and opportunistic steals.

• Acquires Rebounding Monster after collecting 56 rebounds in one game, surpassing Chamberlain’s single-game record. 28
• Gains Iron Wall and Bronze Barrier as a defensive skill. 62
• Blocks Tony Parker’s layup during the Western Conference Finals, earning the fan nickname “Captain.” 135
• Steals the ball from Sam Cassell in the final seconds before sealing a Western Conference Finals win with a fast-break dunk. 163

The Zone

A temporary heightened-performance state.

• Lasts approximately ten minutes. 55
• Produces severe fatigue once it ends. 55

Equipment / Endorsements

• “Miracle” signature shoe series — secured through his Sketchers endorsement agreement. 24
• Sketchers endorsement — negotiated for a 3% company share after Li Chen initially demanded 10%. 24
• Anta endorsement — three-year deal worth $7 million. 48

Relationships

• Lamar Odom — Initially antagonistic toward Li Chen and threatened by his rise; their relationship improves after Li Chen saves Odom from thugs and later supports his decision to join the Heat. 1 42 142
• Wang Zhizhi — Chinese teammate and early training partner who helps Li Chen upgrade his shooting; their relationship later suffers tension when Li Chen refuses one of Wang’s requests, though Li Chen ultimately agrees to help with Wang’s contract. 8 135 184
• Bill Duffy — Agent who negotiates Li Chen’s Clippers contract and handles endorsements and investment discussions. 7 16 24 99
• Alvin Gentry — Coach who trusts Li Chen with major responsibilities and later becomes part of his Knicks plans; their relationship becomes strained by roster decisions and fan pressure. 9 176 204
• Kobe Bryant — Competitive rival and intermittent training partner; Li Chen’s rapid improvement and historic performance against Jordan intensify Kobe’s drive. 24 47 55
• Yao Ming — National-team partner and friendly rival who shares Li Chen’s desire to demonstrate China’s basketball strength. 142 143 160 175
• James Harden — Young player Li Chen employs and mentors, later arranging training support for him. 24 28 172
• DeMar DeRozan — Young player employed and mentored alongside Harden. 24 105 172
• Avril — Close companion and romantic partner whom Li Chen supports during her grandfather’s illness; they later travel together and reunite after major basketball events. 62 144 171 175
• James Dolan — Knicks owner who makes an enormous trade package for Li Chen, gives him a mansion, and strongly supports his role as the franchise centerpiece. 171 177
• LeBron James — Opponent who later calls Li Chen an idol; Li Chen also seeks his support in a major trade arrangement. 184 204

Story Role / Major Arcs

Clippers Rise

Li Chen enters the NBA through the Clippers, first winning a special contract and then earning a starting role despite positional doubts. 7 9 He becomes the team’s leader, breaks individual records, and carries the club through playoff competition. 28 106 163

Recognition as Basketball’s Successor

His matchup with Michael Jordan is dubbed the “Battle of Two Gods.” Jordan acknowledges defeat and identifies Li Chen as the next successor to the God of Basketball after Kobe. 55

Chinese National Team

Li Chen joins China’s national team alongside Yao Ming, dominates the 2003 FIBA Asia Championship, and leads China to Olympic gold after defeating the United States in the final. 142 143 144 172 175

Knicks Franchise Player

The Knicks acquire Li Chen for an unprecedented package centered on Dwight Howard and seven future first-round picks. 171 He transforms into the team’s focal point, wins MVP, and pushes for a unified roster under Alvin Gentry. 176 177 216

Business and Ownership Ambitions

Li Chen grows from athlete-investor into a major business figure through technology investments and acquisitions. 99 189 204 He refuses a Knicks contract renewal because he intends to own an NBA team after retiring, and later reaches a preliminary agreement with the Lakers to become the NBA’s first Asian owner. 190 204

Achievements

• NBA Rookie of the Year — 2002–03 season. 106
• NBA regular-season MVP — averaged 33 points, 15.8 assists, 6.8 rebounds, and 3.5 steals. 216
• 2005 NBA All-Star Game MVP — 35 points, 25 assists, and 10 rebounds in a 143–110 Eastern Conference victory. 190
• All-Star Weekend champion — won the Shooting Stars Competition, Skills Challenge, and Slam Dunk Contest. 155
• FIBA Asia Championship MVP, Best Scorer, Best Rebounder, and Best Assists. 144
• Olympic gold medalist — led China over the United States in the final. 175
• Single-game rebounding record — 56 rebounds, surpassing Chamberlain’s record. 28
• Single-game assists record — 33 assists. 28

Notable Quotes

“I like the number 118.” 143