That Was Neither His Pride Nor His Integrity! Li Fei arrived at the arena early and changed into his custom training gear.
The loose fit could not conceal his explosive proportions—broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and an upright posture.
Holding a basketball, he stood at the mid-range area, repeatedly refining the transitions between his pull-ups, post-ups, and fadeaways.
Swish, swish, swish—
The sound of the ball slipping through the net was crisp and clean, its rhythm unwavering.
As the league's unstoppable mid-range master, every one of his shots was textbook-perfect.
Accurate, consistent, and resistant to pressure—countless teams had racked their brains, yet none could contain his mid-range dominance.
Jeff Van Gundy stood at the sideline, quietly watching Li Fei train, his eyes filled with helpless admiration.
With Li Fei on the roster, the Knicks' floor would always be the league's ceiling.
As the whole team trained in an orderly fashion, the players' conversation quietly shifted toward yesterday's bombshell news.
The atmosphere was relaxed without the tension of an upcoming game, and everyone chatted while practicing.
Allan Houston, the team's shooting guard, was the first to start the discussion.
The league-recognized Mid-Range King put away his basketball and looked toward Li Fei, who was resting on the court.
"Li, did you see the news about Barkley? It really caught me by surprise."
"I was certain he'd come to New York. No one would turn down a contract that guaranteed a championship, along with the resources of a top-tier city."
Li Fei raised a hand to wipe the thin sweat from his brow and nodded faintly.
"Unexpected, but understandable. He's always valued loyalty above all else."
Madman Sprewell immediately leaned over, his tone full of regret.
"Honestly, I can't understand his choice."
"Four years for fifteen million. That averages out to less