Meanwhile, a thousand miles away in New York, the atmosphere was entirely different.
The Knicks had just swept the Pacers, unlocking the legendary achievement of reaching the NBA Finals four years in a row.
The entire city of New York had erupted in celebration. The media lavished praise, fans debated fervently, and commercial interest skyrocketed.
Yet there was not the slightest hint of relaxation in the training facility at Madison Square Garden.
The joy of sweeping their way forward had lasted for only one brief night of rest.
After a simple break to relax their bodies and minds, every player immediately returned and assembled.
No one wasted time basking in the glory of victory. There was only ultimate self-discipline and relentless training.
All of this change stemmed from Michael Jordan's arrival.
The Breakfast Club, once famous throughout the league during the Bulls Dynasty, had officially taken root with the New York Knicks.
Jordan had brought over his decades of extreme self-discipline and obsessive training culture in full.
He had completely reshaped the training atmosphere and team foundations of this Eastern Conference dynasty.
At five-thirty in the morning, before dawn had broken over New York, the city was still shrouded in night.
Yet every light in the Knicks' private training facility was already on, illuminating the place brightly.
There were no media spectators in the vast gym, nor any noisy fans.
There was only the crisp, repeated sound of basketballs striking the floor.
Li Fei was the first player to arrive at the facility aside from Jordan.
His 2.24-meter frame stood straight as a pine at the mid-range spot.
He possessed the league's most elite talent, and his Titanium Alloy Physique feared neither injury nor fatigue.
Yet he had never coasted on talent. Instead, he was more hardworking and disciplined than