Li Fei Brand Officially Launched! 40 Billion Market Cap!

The next day, the front pages of New York's major sports media were dominated by a photo of Li Fei raising both arms in celebration. The New York Post ran an explosive headline—<48+16+19, the God of Basketball of a New Era Is Crowned at Madison!>.

Yet amid this chorus of praise, the Knicks' management was holding a stern internal meeting.

The general manager's office was hazy with smoke, the rich scent of cigars mingling with the bitterness of coffee.

General Manager Ernie Grunfeld gently slid a copy of a medical report to the center of the table. One name had been circled in red marker—Arvydas Sabonis.

"Knee contusion. Expected to be out for two weeks. The doctors say it's just another flare-up from chronic wear and tear. Nothing serious." Grunfeld's tone revealed neither pleasure nor displeasure.

Head coach Jeff Van Gundy frowned deeply, his arms crossed over his chest. "Two weeks... It'll disrupt our rotation, but it's still manageable. Donnyell and Larry can take on more minutes, and Stephen can slide to the four for stretches."

"That's not the issue, Jeff." Dave Checketts, the team vice president and one of the men truly in control of the franchise, flicked cigar ash away. His deep gaze swept across everyone in the room. "The issue is, how many times has this happened? We're not even halfway through the season, and Sabonis has already missed nearly ten games with one minor injury or illness after another. We all know those knees of his are like two ticking time bombs."

The office fell into a brief silence.

Everyone understood that Sabonis was an indispensable part of the Knicks' system. His lighthouse-like ability to facilitate from the high post, his soft shooting touch, and his immense deterrence in the paint were the foundation that allowed