United States, October 15
Arizona State University hosted California-Berkeley, welcoming them to its home court.
"Let's hear what the crowd has to say, man."
NBC had sent out a star-studded commentary team to cover the game.
Former NBA regular-season MVP and 6-foot-11 Red Giant Bill Walton, alongside renowned commentator Marv Albert.
"Would you believe it? The name getting the loudest cheers is Li Fei's—and this is Arizona State University's home court."
Just as Marv Albert had said in his opening remarks.
This was clearly Arizona State University's home court.
Yet it seemed quite a few fans in the stands had come specifically to see Li Fei.
The reason was simple.
In the previous game, Li Fei had put up a monstrous stat line of nearly 50 points, 20 rebounds, and 16 blocks. His popularity in the Pac-12 had shot through the roof.
No one could resist a 7-foot-4 center named Showtime who could run endlessly, swat shots into the stratosphere, and make the highlights every single game.
Li Fei had even pulled off a series of ridiculous dunks during warm-ups, drawing repeated gasps from the opposing team's fans.
"I don't want to root for Li Fei, since he just beat my alma mater, UCLA. But my honest-to-goodness body made me put on his jersey!"
At the commentary table, Red Giant Bill Walton pointed to the number 91 on his jersey.
"I've been Mr. 91's number-one fan for ages!"
Bill Walton had been a successful player, winning both a championship and an MVP.
But he excelled outside the game, too. After retiring, he joined NBC and made a living with his gift of gab.
His commentary was full of humor, and audiences loved him for it.
"There's no suspense in this game. The biggest question tonight is whether Li Fei can get a 50-point triple-double with blocks."
The previous game had left plenty of fans with a serious case of frustrated perfectionism.
Li Fei had fallen just two points short of an unprecedented 50-point, 20-rebound, 16-block triple-double. Everyone was eager to see him set that record.
But tonight—
Bill Walton would be disappointed.
Not because Li Fei had suffered a major letdown.
The game had simply stopped being a contest within the first five minutes.
The guy Li Fei had randomly picked to knock down the draft rankings tonight was named Mario Bennett.
Standing 6-foot-10, he was skilled at Dreamy Footsteps.
But against Li Fei, those Dreamy Footsteps turned into blood-clot steps.
Li Fei guarded the paint, and the opposition missed or had their shots blocked on all of their first 15 attempts near the rim.
At halftime, California-Berkeley led 52–25, up by a whopping 27 points. Li Fei had an easy 28 points, 15 rebounds, five assists, and six blocks.
"We may not get to see Li Fei score 50 tonight. He'll barely play in the second half."
Bill Walton sighed. "But he gave us a 4-by-5 performance in the first half!"
"And he nearly had 30 points and 15 rebounds before the break."
Albert immediately asked, "Bill, did you ever put up numbers like that in college?"
"In college?" Bill Walton laughed. "I wouldn't even dare dream of it."
"The last player to put up numbers like these in a half was Li Fei's NBA draft comparison, the college basketball king Kareem Abdul-Jabbar."
When it came to college basketball royalty, the answer wasn't basketball god Michael Jordan or The Big Shark O'Neal.
There was only one college basketball king: Skyhook Jabbar.
Three straight championships, including a perfect 30–0 season.
Averaging 26.4 points and 15.4 rebounds!
A career-high 61 points in a game, a record no one in the NCAA had ever broken!
So it was no exaggeration to call Jabbar a god in the college game.
As for Li Fei—
Some might think that comparing him to Skyhook Jabbar was excessive praise.
But look at Li Fei's stats.
Across his first three games, he was averaging 35 points, 22 rebounds, and 12 blocks.
He was even more terrifying than Jabbar!
As the game drew to a close, Bill Walton felt there was still plenty left to discuss.
So he turned the broadcast into a discussion about Li Fei.
"Some people might say Li Fei came out of nowhere, and that no one knew anything about him. That's why his stats have exploded over the past few games. They might say his numbers will drop in the future."
"But judging by what we've seen so far, Li Fei will average at least 25 points, 15 rebounds, and five blocks. Even those numbers would put him right up there with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar."
"Li Fei's biggest enemy is his health. At 7-foot-4, with his physical style of play, I worry whether his bones can withstand the physicality of the NBA over the long term."
"That's also the most important concern in Li Fei's draft report."
"..."
Bill Walton's concern wasn't unfounded.
Li Fei's style of play and his East Asian background both raised questions about his long-term health.
At last, the game ended.
Li Fei's final stats were 28 points, 15 rebounds, five assists, and six blocks.
In reality—
His health wasn't the main thing holding back his stats.
The point differential was.
"Li, the newspapers are full of optimistic predictions about your draft position."
After the game, a reporter put the question to Li Fei. "Even Bill Walton says you're already good enough to play in the NBA."
"Fans want to know: will you enter the 1994 NBA Draft?"
Online, fans were busy speculating about Li Fei's draft position.
But Li Fei had never publicly said he would enter the draft this year.
The moment the question came up, everyone in the crowd waited anxiously for his answer.
"That's right."
Li Fei nodded, his expression earnest and serious. "I never planned to spend too long in the NCAA."
"When this season ends, I'll take my talent to the NBA!"
The announcement sent the whole arena into an uproar!
At the NBC commentary table—
"Kang Mang, that's the line I've been waiting for!"
Looking at Li Fei on the court, Bill Walton felt the same passion he'd known as a player. "A new storm is coming!"
"The 1994 draft is going to unleash a storm!"
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