Li Fei took the microphone, and the venue instantly fell silent. Everyone perked up their ears, eager to hear what this new king had to say.
"How do I feel? Of course I'm happy."
Li Fei's answer was brief and direct. After a pause, he continued, "The moment the ball left my hand, I knew it was going in. So at that moment, all I was thinking was that we could finally go back to New York. Los Angeles traffic is just too terrible."
The crowd erupted in good-natured laughter. That lightly humorous answer instantly dispelled the tense, solemn atmosphere from before. This was Li Fei's style—displaying an unhurried ease on the grandest stage.
"You scored 66 points tonight. Following your 61 points in Game 1 of the Finals, you've once again delivered an individual performance for the ages. Many people say you defeated the OK Duo all by yourself. What do you think of that statement?" a reporter from The New York Times asked.
Li Fei shook his head. His gaze swept over Allan Houston beside him and head coach Van Gundy, and his expression turned serious.
"I don't agree with that. Basketball is a five-man sport; it has never been about one person. I scored 66 points not because I defeated the OK Duo, but because my teammates created those opportunities for me."
He pointed to Allan Houston. "It was Allan. His relentless movement and accurate mid-range shooting stretched the floor for me and kept the Lakers from doubling me without restraint."
He then looked toward Coach Van Gundy. "It was Coach, who devised brilliant tactics that let us withstand Shaq's attacks again and again on the defensive end. It was Sprewell, whose drives tore at their defense. It was Sabonis, who used his body and experience in