When Did I, Michael Jordan, Ever Need Anyone's Pity?

The day after the game, sports media across North America erupted.

ESPN's website led with a striking headline: "The Changing of the Guard: A 22-Point Massacre and the End of an Era."

The accompanying image paired two photos. On the left, Li Fei roared after scoring through two defenders for an and-one, his muscles bulging. On the right, Jordan sat on the bench, staring blankly at the ceiling. His lonely figure stood in stark contrast to the frenzied chants of "MVP" around him.

The article read: "We may be witnessing history. Under the lights of Madison Square Garden, Michael Jordan, the God of Basketball, looked helpless for the first time. He could still hit those impossible fadeaways, but every basket felt like a lament for a fallen Dynasty.

"Meanwhile, 22-year-old Li Fei announced the arrival of a new king in almost savage fashion. Fifty-five points, 15 rebounds, eight assists, six blocks, and three steals: the stat line alone was a declaration of war against the old god. The Bulls' defeat wasn't merely a matter of tactics or form. It was a comprehensive, generational rout."

The comments section below was already flooded with tens of thousands of replies.

"Guys, I've watched basketball for 20 years, from Magic versus Bird to Jordan's two Three-Peats. I've never seen a monster play like Li Fei. He's built like a Titan from Greek mythology, but his skills are as precise as a Swiss watch. God, he's only 22!"

"Honestly, it hurt to watch Jordan give everything he had and still get knocked down again and again. He's 36 and still fighting like a young man, but he's up against a basketball robot from the future. It isn't fair, but that's sports."

"Stop saying 'if Jordan were ten years younger.' There are no ifs. We should