Shaquille O'Neal flew into a rage, denouncing Michael Jordan for teaming up! In the depths of the New York night, the Knicks' Dynasty blueprint quietly fell into place.
The epic lineup formed by two kings joining forces officially locked in the landscape for the 1999-2000 season.
The front office's closed-door meeting had concluded, and its plan to reinforce the interior was steadily advancing.
All of Madison Square Garden brimmed with the towering ambition of chasing a fourth straight championship.
A thousand miles away in Los Angeles, the night was just as deep, but the atmosphere was entirely different.
The lights suddenly flared on inside a top-tier detached villa in Beverly Hills.
They shattered the stillness of midnight and tore apart the Lakers' offseason peace.
The luxurious living room was spacious and open, with Los Angeles's dazzling nightscape spread beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows.
But the man inside had no mood to appreciate the view.
Shaquille O'Neal sat bare-chested, his hulking, powerful frame exuding immense pressure.
His terrifying 147-kilogram body, packed with explosive muscle, filled the entire sofa.
He clutched a freshly updated NBA official news bulletin tightly in his hand.
The paper had been crumpled and warped by his immense grip, nearly torn to pieces.
The glaring crimson headline stabbed deep into O'Neal's eyes.
[Official Announcement: Michael Jordan officially signs with the New York Knicks, joining Li Fei in pursuit of a championship!]
That single line instantly filled the league's top center with fury.
O'Neal's chest heaved violently, his heavy breathing echoing through the living room.
The relaxed lines of his face had completely tightened, and his eyes were as vicious as an enraged beast's.
While everyone else in the league reacted to the signing with shock and apprehension—
O'Neal felt nothing but utter rage and unwillingness.
He knew Li Fei's