After scoring, Iverson did not celebrate. When he landed, he turned and ran past Li Fei, who was retreating on defense.
As they brushed past each other, he said softly in a voice only the two of them could hear:
"The first step is to let mortals witness a miracle. The next is to make a god fall into the mortal world."
Li Fei did not slow in the slightest, his face still as calm as ever. He merely replied blandly, "Nice shot, Allen. Your shoes will sell another fifty thousand pairs this month."
Iverson's body abruptly stiffened. He turned and glared furiously at Li Fei's back, but Li Fei had already reached the frontcourt, set up at the high post, and held out a hand for the ball.
"Oh! What a brilliant response!"
Bill Walton shouted in the broadcast booth, "This is Allen Iverson! He humiliated Li Fei with the jump shot Li Fei was best at, and Li Fei answered in the most direct, sharpest way possible! He was telling Li Fei that this is a basketball court, not your boardroom office!"
Knicks possession.
Allan Houston safely lobbed the ball into Li Fei at the high post.
Defending Li Fei was the Philadelphia 76ers' starting center, the 2.13-meter white center Matt Geiger.
Geiger used all his strength to brace against Li Fei's lower body, raising both arms high as he tried to obstruct his vision.
He knew he could not stop Li Fei. He only wanted to make his offense a little more difficult.
However, he quickly realized that it was futile.
Li Fei did not even glance at him after receiving the ball. He merely felt out Geiger's defensive position and strength with his body. Then, he began to exert force.
Thump!
Li Fei's back muscles suddenly