Now, the records held by those "legends" had a new challenger.
Perhaps this season, fans would get the chance to see Chen Xi challenge Chamberlain's scoring record—and break it.
At least, judging by Chen's current form, he seemed to have a pretty good shot.
March 3 arrived.
The New York Knicks remained at home, ready to take on their next opponent.
This time, the team visiting Madison Square Garden was clearly a cut above the previous few opponents.
Nikola Jokic had led the Denver Nuggets to New York.
It was another head-to-head clash between the league's current number one player and its best active center.
Add in Chen Xi's four consecutive games with 45-plus points and Jokic's season-long triple-double average, and there were two more reasons to get excited.
The hype surrounding this game had gone through the roof well before tip-off.
By eight that evening, every seat in the arena was already filled.
The fans had filed in and taken their seats, brimming with excitement as they waited for the eagerly anticipated showdown to begin.
The lights in Madison Square Garden suddenly dimmed.
The New York Knicks' home-team introductions began.
At his booth, tonight's DJ and announcer introduced the home starters one by one, his voice as passionate as ever.
Derrick Rose, Isaiah Hartenstein, Obi Toppin, Paul George, and, coming out last, Chen Xi.
"Seven-time All-Star! Four-time MVP! Four NBA Championships! Three-time FMVP! From the University of California, Berkeley! Standing six feet six inches! Number three! Chris Chen! Chen Xi!!!"
Amid thunderous applause and cheers from the crowd, Chen Xi jogged out of the players' tunnel.
He high-fived the reserves lined up along his path, then approached the four starters already waiting for him. After completing a ritual-like handshake routine with each of them, he took his