Two equally silent, equally great number 21s finally stood face-to-face after the smoke of the Finals had cleared.
There were no media, no spotlights—only two opponents who respected and appreciated one another.
Li Fei extended his hand, and Duncan did the same. They gripped each other tightly, then pulled into a firm embrace.
In that instant, Li Fei whispered into Duncan's ear in a voice only the two of them could hear, "The future is yours."
Duncan's body trembled slightly. He looked up and gazed deeply at Li Fei, his expression complicated, before finally giving a heavy nod. A thousand words went unspoken.
Then Li Fei walked over to David Robinson and gave the respected veteran an even more heartfelt hug. "You had a great series, Admiral."
"You did too, kid." Robinson patted Li Fei on the back, his voice slightly hoarse. "You deserve all of this."
Through the broadcast cameras, that scene was transmitted across the world.
The victor's humility and the loser's grace together formed the most moving image in competitive sports.
At TNT's commentary desk, the three announcers' voices shifted from impassioned excitement into a reflective summation laden with the weight of history.
"The game is over!" Marv Albert said with a touch of emotion. "108 to 98—the New York Knicks have defeated the San Antonio Spurs on the road and successfully defended their title, winning the series 4 to 1! A shortened season, a season full of doubts and challenges, has ultimately ended with the Knicks once again reaching the summit. They have proven to the entire world that no matter the schedule or the rules, true kings will always be kings!"
Kevin Harlan took over, his voice still unable to conceal his excitement. "Let's look at Li Fei's numbers tonight: 29 points, 21 rebounds, and...