Chapter Summaries

Li Fei planned to sign Allen Iverson and Kobe Bryant as future faces of his brand and pillars of a championship dynasty. As he prepared to approach them, Iverson trained in Virginia, inspired by Li Fei and determined to reach New York.

• Li Fei agreed to pursue a championship with Falk and considered how court victories could fuel his business empire.
• Li Fei watched footage of Allen Iverson and Kobe Bryant, deciding to make Iverson the king of the streets and Kobe the heir to the throne.
• Li Fei picked up the phone to ask Falk to approach Iverson and Kobe early.
• Allen Iverson practiced alone in Hampton, drawing strength from the doubters who had dismissed him.
• Iverson reread a Sports Illustrated cover featuring Li Fei and vowed to reach New York and prove he deserved to share the court with him.

Kobe Bryant and Allen Iverson watched Li Fei’s games and became fiercely determined to challenge him, while Li Fei ordered top-tier shoe deals for both prospects ahead of the 1996 draft. The chapter left Iverson’s admiration for Li Fei growing into something closer to devotion.

• Kobe Bryant studied Li Fei’s game footage and practiced incorporating his explosive style, imagining Li Fei as the rival he had to defeat.
• Li Fei reviewed 1996 draft prospects and instructed David Falk to prepare the best shoe endorsement contracts for Allen Iverson and Kobe Bryant.
• Allen Iverson watched Li Fei’s performance against the Orlando Magic and vowed to score on him in the NBA to earn his recognition.
• Kobe analyzed Li Fei’s decisions and practiced forceful drives and crossovers, unaware that Li Fei planned to sign and train him.
• Iverson reflected on his reverence for Michael Jordan and his deeper, almost devotional feelings for Li Fei.

The NBA playoffs opened with the Bulls beating the Knicks in overtime, the Rockets edging the SuperSonics, and the Pacers defeating the Cavaliers. As the Suns prepared to face the Lakers, Li Fei remained calm beneath a towel while Magic Johnson sensed his unsettling presence.

• Allen Iverson treasured a magazine featuring Li Fei and dreamed of becoming the first endorser of Li Fei's sneaker brand.
• Michael Jordan led the Bulls past the Knicks 118–115 in overtime after Patrick Ewing fouled out and Jordan hit a game-winning fadeaway.
• Hakeem Olajuwon passed to Robert Horry, whose corner three gave the Rockets a one-point overtime victory over the SuperSonics.
• Reggie Miller scored four consecutive fourth-quarter three-pointers after a Cavaliers bench player taunted him, helping the Pacers win 98–89.
• Li Fei watched NCAA highlights of Iverson and Kobe aboard his private jet instead of the three playoff game tapes before him.
• Magic Johnson and Kenny Smith introduced the Suns–Lakers playoff matchup as Magic watched Li Fei sit motionless beneath a towel.

The Suns controlled most of their game against the Lakers through patient offense, Barkley’s scoring, and Rodman’s rebounding while Li Fei focused on playmaking. After the Suns began their fourth-quarter “Harvest plan,” Li Fei shook Divac with a sharp change of pace and slammed home a one-handed dunk, leaving the arena stunned.

• Del Harris urged Nick Van Exel to wear Li Fei down and told Eddie Jones to attack the Suns’ defense.
• Li Fei helped the Suns take an early lead by feeding Barkley for a basket and setting up Nick Anderson on a fast break.
• The Suns maintained a five-to-ten-point lead through the third quarter as Barkley scored and Rodman dominated the rebounds.
• Divac scored through Barkley’s help defense and completed an and-one play, cutting the Lakers’ deficit to four points late in the third quarter.
• Westphal told the Suns to execute the “Harvest plan” in the fourth quarter, and Barkley moved to the perimeter to clear the paint.
• Li Fei beat Divac with a change of rhythm and crossover, then drove into the open paint and dunked one-handed.

Li Fei took over in the fourth quarter, leading the Phoenix Suns to a 118–92 playoff-opening victory over the Lakers. After the game, Del Harris admitted his team had fallen into Li Fei’s trap, while Li Fei said he chose when to turn up his play based on how he felt.

• Divac tried to score against Li Fei, but Bowen stole the ball and passed it to Li Fei, who hit a three-pointer to put the Suns ahead by 12 and force a timeout.
• Li Fei scored at will and passed out of double-teams, setting up Dennis Rodman for a basket that further shook the Lakers.
• Li Fei orchestrated more scores, including Bowen’s corner three, Barkley’s alley-oop, and Anderson’s fast break, as the Suns stretched their lead.
• With the Suns ahead by 25 and a minute and a half left, both teams pulled their starters, and the game ended 118–92 with Li Fei recording 39 points, 10 assists, 18 rebounds, and four steals.
• Del Harris said the Lakers had walked into a trap, and Li Fei told reporters he turned up his play when he felt like it.

The Phoenix Suns swept the Los Angeles Lakers 4–0 and advanced to the Western Conference Finals, where they were set to face either the Houston Rockets or Seattle SuperSonics. As Li Fei studied the potential opponents, news of the Chicago Bulls’ commanding playoff run dampened Charles Barkley’s excitement.

• Li Fei led the Suns to three more lopsided victories over the Lakers, completing a 4–0 sweep and sending Phoenix to the Western Conference Finals.
• Media outlets celebrated the Suns’ advance and debated Li Fei’s place among the greatest point guards, while observers noted the team’s increased size and physicality.
• Barkley, Dennis Rodman, and Li Fei watched the Rockets take a 3–1 series lead over the SuperSonics after Hakeem Olajuwon hit a late hook shot.
• Li Fei assessed the teams’ strengths and weaknesses, considering how the Suns could attack Seattle’s rotations and isolate Olajuwon against Houston.
• Li Fei changed the broadcast to sports news, which reported that the Pacers–Cavaliers series was tied 2–2 and that the Bulls led the Knicks 3–0.
• The Bulls’ latest blowout win and Michael Jordan’s image on the broadcast silenced Barkley and ended the room’s celebration.

Li Fei's teammates watched the NBA regular-season awards announcement, where Li Fei claimed four statistical titles and Damon Stoudamire was named Rookie of the Year. The chapter ended with the All-Rookie First Team being announced.

• After discussing Michael Jordan and the coming playoffs, Li Fei declared that the Suns would face the Bulls in the Finals after beating Houston in no more than six games.
• The next morning, Barkley asked Li Fei whether he was excited about the league's regular-season awards, and Li Fei treated the honors as inevitable.
• Barkley and a newly awakened Rodman watched the broadcast announce Li Fei as the scoring, rebounding, blocks, and steals leader.
• Ernie Johnson announced Damon Stoudamire as Rookie of the Year, then revealed the All-Rookie First Team.

The regular-season awards were announced, with Li Fei named to the First Team All-Defensive but ruled ineligible for Rookie of the Year. The All-NBA selections revealed Shaquille O'Neal had joined the Bulls, sharpening the Suns' looming Finals challenge, while the chapter ended before the First Team All-NBA names appeared.

• Rodman asked why Li Fei was not Rookie of the Year, and Barkley explained that winning Player of the Month disqualified him.
• Paul Westphal won Coach of the Year for the second consecutive season.
• Li Fei and Rodman made the First Team All-Defensive, and Rodman felt irritated but excited to have Li Fei as a rival.
• Barkley learned that Shaquille O'Neal had joined the Bulls alongside Jordan and Pippen, leaving him overwhelmed while Rodman welcomed the challenge.
• The Second Team All-NBA roster was announced, and the broadcast began revealing the First Team without showing its names.

Li Fei was named to the All-NBA First Team while the league delayed announcing his unanimous MVP and dominant DPOY results to build suspense before the Finals. As the Bulls prepared to face the Suns, Shaquille O'Neal exploded over his Third Team selection and vowed to reclaim control of the paint.

• Li Fei was named the All-NBA First Team center, prompting Michael Jordan, David Robinson, and Karl Malone to react with varying degrees of contempt and anger.
• David Stern discovered that Li Fei had won the MVP unanimously and claimed the DPOY by a wide margin, then ordered the announcements delayed under the pretense of a recount.
• Li Fei's teammates Charles Barkley and Dennis Rodman recognized Stern's attempt to tie Jordan to the MVP race, while Li Fei calmly focused on beating the Bulls.
• Shaquille O'Neal saw that he had been placed on the All-NBA Third Team alongside Juwan Howard and angrily struck a weight plate.
• O'Neal confronted Phil Jackson, rejected sacrificing his own role for the team, and declared that the paint belonged to him from then on.

Karl Malone demanded that the Jazz find him an All-Star big man or trade him, while the playoff fields took shape with the Rockets facing the Suns and the Bulls preparing to meet the Pacers. Reggie Miller led Indiana to a Game 7 victory over Cleveland, setting up a series against Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Shaquille O'Neal.

• Karl Malone told Larry Miller to acquire a tough All-Star big man or trade him, saying he would not finish his career without help.
• Hakeem Olajuwon praised Li Fei's quickness and unusual footwork but declared that anyone seeking a win in the paint had to get past him.
• Michael Jordan watched Reggie Miller hit a game-winning shot against Cleveland and ordered the Bulls to double their workload before facing Indiana.
• Reggie Miller celebrated Indiana's Game 7 victory over Cleveland and told Larry Brown that the team was not finished.
• Reggie Miller faced reporters and prepared for Indiana's next opponent, the Bulls.

Reggie Miller challenged the Bulls after the Pacers reached the Eastern Conference Finals, while analysts debated both conference matchups. In Chicago, Michael Jordan silently watched Miller’s taunt, leaving the Bulls’ response unresolved.

• Reggie Miller made a choking gesture toward the camera and shouted that the Pacers were coming to Chicago.
• Skip Carter predicted the Bulls would sweep Indiana, while Professor Peterson forecast a six-game series.
• Skip Carter backed Houston over Phoenix, but Professor Peterson said the Suns-Rockets series would go seven games, with Li Fei versus Sam Cassell as a key matchup.
• Michael Jordan watched footage of Miller’s gesture in the Bulls’ video room as Scottie Pippen and O'Neal sensed his anger.

Li Fei identified a possible weakness in the Rockets’ Olajuwon-Sabonis pairing and planned to disrupt their offense as the Suns began the series in Phoenix. The game opened with Li Fei helping the Suns score, but Olajuwon answered with a smooth post move.

• Jordan dismissed predictions that the Pacers could win a game and ordered the Bulls to practice a full-court press against Reggie Miller and Indiana.
• On the Suns’ plane, Li Fei reasoned that Olajuwon and Sabonis both needed the ball to initiate offense and devised a plan to keep it from them.
• The Suns and Rockets took the court at America West Arena, where the crowd roared for Olajuwon and the players faced off at center court.
• Li Fei tipped the opening ball and ran the Suns’ usual alley-oop play to score.
• Olajuwon answered on the Rockets’ first possession by using a Dream Shake to get past Rodman and lay the ball in.

Li Fei carried the Suns’ offense against the Rockets, scoring repeatedly while forcing their defense to run at a punishing pace. The Rockets led 88–85 after three quarters, but Sabonis was visibly exhausted as Li Fei prepared to exploit the opening.

• Li Fei slipped past Sabonis and Olajuwon to score the Suns’ first basket, then attacked Sabonis until he picked up two fouls and sat out.
• The Rockets led 30–28 after the first quarter, while Li Fei had scored 20 points and Westphal agreed to let him keep leading the offense.
• Li Fei continued scoring and passed to Nick Anderson and Bowen when the Rockets double-teamed him, keeping the game close through the second and third quarters.
• Li Fei’s fast attacks wore Sabonis down, and he drove past the tired center for a layup late in the third quarter.
• The third quarter ended with the Rockets ahead 88–85, and Li Fei had scored 52 points.

Li Fei took over the fourth quarter, leading the Suns to a 115–95 victory over the Houston Rockets and setting a new playoff record with 78 points. The Suns went up 2–0 in the series as Li Fei left the court after taunting commentator Skip Carter.

• Sabonis missed a hook shot as his stamina faded, and Rodman grabbed the rebound and launched Li Fei on a fast break for a layup.
• After Olajuwon missed under Rodman's pressure, Li Fei taunted Cassell, beat him, and hit a jumper to put the Suns ahead 90–88.
• Li Fei repeatedly exploited Sabonis's exhaustion, while the Rockets' offense and defense fell apart under the Suns' pressure.
• With the Suns leading by twenty and Li Fei on 76 points, he stayed in the game and hit a fadeaway at the buzzer to finish with 78.
• The Suns defeated the Rockets 115–95, and Li Fei left the court after meeting Skip Carter's gaze with a mocking smile.

Li Fei’s 78-point performance led the Phoenix Suns to a historic win over the Houston Rockets, leaving teammates, commentators, and fans stunned. The Suns celebrated as the online world erupted, while Rockets fans struggled to accept the loss.

• Li Fei told Charles Barkley and Dennis Rodman that he had gotten tired but the Rockets had fallen before he did, prompting the Suns locker room to erupt in celebration.
• Suns coach Paul Westphal said Li Fei’s 78 points were not part of the game plan and warned reporters that someone had provoked a sleeping dragon.
• Sports forums overflowed with reactions as fans argued over Li Fei’s record-breaking performance and his apparent glare at Skip Carter.
• In a Houston sports bar, Rockets fans stared at the 115–95 score while TNT analysts highlighted Li Fei’s 78 points and exceptional shooting against Hakeem Olajuwon.
• A young Rockets fan threw down his flag and demanded that the bartender turn off the television.

After Li Fei scored 78 points and sealed the Rockets’ defeat, Skip Carter struggled to defend his dismissive commentary on live television. Li Fei challenged Skip to entertain him, leaving the disgraced commentator speechless as Sherry took over the broadcast.

• Skip Carter tried to call Li Fei’s performance an impressive but unrepeatable first-game showing, but Sherry interrupted with breaking news.
• Sherry aired an interview in which Li Fei told Houston he had nothing to say to them, then challenged someone to entertain him.
• Sherry pressed Skip to respond to Li Fei, but Skip could not speak or defend himself on camera.
• Sherry mocked Skip as the birth of an “authoritative” commentator while calls flooded the network from executives, advertisers, and viewers.
• The director cut away from Skip and left Sherry on screen as Skip sat trembling and defeated.

The Bulls crushed the Pacers 118–85 to take a 2–0 series lead, and Michael Jordan challenged Li Fei to repeat his 78-point performance on the NBA Finals stage. Jordan’s words shifted the sports world’s attention toward a possible Suns–Bulls showdown, while the Rockets were treated as if they had already been eliminated.

• The Bulls overwhelmed the Pacers as Michael Jordan shut down Reggie Miller, Scottie Pippen pressured him when he got the ball, and Shaquille O’Neal dominated Rik Smits in the paint.
• The Bulls won Game 2 by 33 points, taking a 2–0 lead over the Pacers.
• A reporter asked Jordan about Li Fei’s playoff-record 78 points, and Jordan said he wanted to see Li Fei produce the same performance in the NBA Finals.
• Jordan’s challenge sparked nationwide debate and media coverage about a potential Suns–Bulls Finals matchup.
• Fans and analysts overwhelmingly favored the Bulls, while the Rockets were widely treated as though Li Fei had already eliminated them.

The Rockets entered Game 2 determined to counter Li Fei with a coordinated Twin Towers strategy and a three-man trap. The game began with Houston scoring through Sabonis and Olajuwon before the Suns’ first possession revealed the Rockets’ new defense.

• Tomjanovich rallied the Rockets by telling them to fight back after the media treated them as defeated.
• The Rockets arrived at America West Arena to hostile jeers, while the Suns received a loud welcome for Li Fei.
• Olajuwon tipped the opening jump ball to Cassell, who started Houston’s first possession.
• Sabonis passed from the high post to Olajuwon, who used the Dream Shake to score over Rodman and put Houston ahead 2–0.
• The Suns gave Li Fei the ball, and Olajuwon, Drexler, and Sabonis closed in to trap him.

Li Fei adapted to the Rockets’ double- and triple-teams by moving to the high post and creating chances for his teammates, helping the Suns take an eight-point halftime lead. He had 34 points, 11 rebounds, and 6 blocks, while an injured Sabonis insisted he could keep playing.

• Li Fei muscled in an and-one against Olajuwon and Drexler, but Sabonis answered with a jumper as the Rockets led 30–28 after the first quarter.
• Barkley urged Li Fei not to carry the Suns alone, while Sabonis concealed how badly the first quarter had aggravated his knees and ankles.
• Li Fei moved to the high post, screened for Nick Anderson, then caught Anderson’s pass and scored with an up-and-under move past Olajuwon.
• Li Fei passed out to the unguarded Bruce Bowen, whose three-pointer put the Suns ahead, then chased down Francis and blocked his drive.
• The Suns led 58–50 at halftime, and Tomjanovich told Sabonis to rest, but Sabonis insisted he could continue.

Li Fei dominated the fourth quarter as the Suns beat the Houston Rockets 115–95, taking a commanding lead in the series. After the game, Olajuwon acknowledged Li Fei, who believed the Rockets had exhausted their chances against him.

• Olajuwon persuaded Tomjanovich to keep Sabonis in the game as the Rockets fought back, ending the third quarter down 85–81.
• Sabonis returned for the fourth quarter exhausted, and Li Fei shoved past him for a two-handed dunk to open the scoring.
• Li Fei blocked Houston's drives and shots while scoring repeatedly against Sabonis, prompting Tomjanovich to pull him from the game.
• Without Sabonis, the Rockets lost control of the paint as Li Fei reached 20 rebounds and the Suns built a 20-point lead.
• The Suns won 115–95, with Li Fei finishing with 62 points, 20 rebounds, and 12 blocks.
• Olajuwon nodded to Li Fei after the game, and Li Fei returned the gesture, convinced the series was over.