One Month Later, 'Kobe-One' Sweeps the Entire World!

For Li Fei, who had returned to the five position, January's schedule was nothing less than a series of bloody personal-stat feasts.

While Sabonis recovered in peace, Li Fei led the Knicks onward at full steam, crushing every opponent in their path. The league's entire collection of big men seemed like cardboard backdrops in front of him.

When January's schedule came to an end and the league announced its Player of the Month awards, the result held no suspense.

Eastern Conference Player of the Month: Li Fei.

Over the course of January, Li Fei averaged 38.5 minutes per game and put up a monstrous 50.1 points, 18.3 rebounds, 6.2 assists, and 6.1 blocks per game on a terrifying 68.7% shooting percentage.

Because of Sabonis's injury, Li Fei had been forced to move back from the small forward position he had grown accustomed to and return to center, causing his rebounding and blocking numbers to explode.

It was as though the league had returned overnight to four years ago—to that age of terror ruled by a young center from the East.

Far away in the Western Conference, however, the Player of the Month honor was claimed by another energetic young man.

Western Conference Player of the Month: Kobe Bryant.

After the lockout ended, Kobe displayed a maturity and immediate impact utterly out of keeping with his age.

Throughout January, he averaged 31.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, 5.5 assists, and 2.1 steals per game.

With O'Neal's form fluctuating due to his offseason indulgences, Kobe carried the Lakers' banner forward with his unstoppable individual offense and obsessive defense.

Inside TNT's studio, an expert panel assembled specifically to discuss the two players with January's most explosive performances was in the midst of a heated debate.

Host Kevin Harlan turned the stat board toward the camera,