Chapter Summaries

Team China held off Argentina in a tense finish, with Hu Weidong hitting the game-winning shot after Li Fei drew the defense. Team China won, and Li Fei finished with 65 points, 22 rebounds, 8 assists, and 5 blocks.

• Li Fei made two free throws after Scola fouled him, putting Team China ahead 81–77.
• Ginobili scored through contact and made the free throw, cutting the lead to one point.
• Li Fei passed out of Argentina’s double-team, and Gong Xiaobin hit a mid-range jumper to extend Team China’s lead.
• Ginobili made a late three-pointer to bring Argentina within one, and Team China called its final timeout with 32 seconds left.
• Wang Zhizhi handed the ball to Hu Weidong, who made the game-winning shot to put Team China ahead 88–85.
• Ginobili’s last-second heave missed after the buzzer, and Team China celebrated its victory as Li Fei’s final stats appeared on the scoreboard.

After Li Fei led China past Argentina, he received acclaim for his performance and humility. His Li-Fly shoes sold out worldwide, and Michael Jordan recognized Li Fei himself as a rival.

• Marv Albert and Ernie Johnson praised Li Fei for carrying China to victory over Argentina.
• At the postgame press conference, Li Fei credited the win to the whole team.
• Li Fei’s new red-and-gold “Domain” shoes appeared on the Li-Fly website and sold out worldwide within ten minutes.
• Michael Jordan watched Li Fei’s game replay and ordered designers to make the next Air Jordans surpass the competition.
• Jordan told his colleague that Li Fei, not Li-Fly, was his rival.

China celebrated its dramatic victory over Argentina, powered by Li Fei’s 65-point performance, and secured a place in the Olympic quarterfinals. The story then turned to the group-stage matchup with the United States and its Dream Team.

• Team China defeated Argentina to advance to the quarterfinals, sparking celebrations across China.
• Li Fei recorded 65 points, 22 rebounds, 8 assists, and 5 blocks, drawing widespread praise from fans and media.
• Chinese fans and commentators noted that Li Fei’s performance had carried the team while acknowledging gaps elsewhere in the lineup.
• Fans and media focused on China’s next group-stage opponent, Team USA, the Dream Team.
• The chapter ended with a reader celebrating Team China’s narrow loss to Australia and praising the team’s fighting spirit.

Team USA’s highly anticipated matchup with Team China became a global contest between Michael Jordan’s Air Jordan and Li Fei’s Li-Fly brands. Nike prepared a campaign proclaiming Jordan the sole god, while Li-Fly planned to answer after the game with an image of Li Fei shaking Jordan’s hand and the words, “Welcome to my domain.”

• Fans from the United States and China argued online about Li Fei and Team USA ahead of their group-stage matchup.
• Nike executives recognized Li-Fly’s rapid growth and decided the game had to be a decisive victory for Team USA and Air Jordan.
• Nike’s marketing director unveiled a poster proclaiming that the only god wore number 9.
• Li-Fly’s business partner dismissed Nike’s campaign as backward and proposed an after-game image of Li Fei shaking Jordan’s hand with the line, “Welcome to my domain.”

China's national basketball team prepared for its game against Team USA as coach Gong Luming reviewed the matchups and assigned strategies. Li Fei eased the team's tension by reminding them they had nothing to lose, leaving his teammates ready to play freely.

• Gong Luming told the team their goal against Team USA was to play their game, learn, and challenge themselves.
• Gong Luming outlined the difficult matchups for China's guards, wings, and forwards, and assigned Li Fei to face Team USA's star centers.
• Gong Luming explained how Li Fei could counter O'Neal, Olajuwon, and Robinson, and said the team's offense would depend heavily on him.
• Li Fei joked about Gong Luming's grim warning and reassured his teammates that Team USA faced greater pressure as the supposedly unbeatable side.
• Li Fei urged the team to enjoy competing against the world's best and leave the audience with a memorable performance.

Team China faced ridicule before its Olympic game against the Dream Team, but Li Fei answered the press with confidence and humor. As the players prepared to enter the packed Georgia Dome, he helped calm his nervous teammates.

• World sports media predicted a crushing defeat for Team China, and reporters questioned Gong Luming and Li Fei at the pregame press conference.
• Gong Luming said Team China had come to win, while Li Fei defended his teammates and challenged reporters to reconsider their predictions.
• Charles Barkley barged into the press conference and traded jokes and taunts with Li Fei, easing the tense atmosphere.
• The Georgia Dome filled with more than seventy thousand spectators, whose cheers for the Dream Team contrasted with boos and sparse applause for Team China.
• Hu Weidong, Wang Zhizhi, and Gong Xiaobin showed their nerves in the players' tunnel, and Li Fei approached them and patted their shoulders.

Li Fei led Team China into its game against Team USA, where the Dream Team stunned the crowd with an opening alley-oop before Li answered Shaquille O'Neal with a clever post move and a basket. The game remained underway as Li showed he could score against O'Neal.

• Li Fei rallied Team China before they entered the Georgia Dome and challenged them to play freely against Team USA.
• Li Fei provoked the American crowd with a quiet gesture, and Shaquille O'Neal mocked him from across the court.
• Li Fei tipped the opening jump ball, but Anfernee Hardaway took possession and led a fast break that ended with Scottie Pippen setting up O'Neal for an alley-oop dunk.
• Li Fei urged his stunned teammates to inbound the ball, then took a pass from Li Xiaoyong in the low post against O'Neal.
• Li Fei used a reverse spin to throw O'Neal off balance, avoided his block with an up-and-under, and scored off the backboard.

Li Fei embarrassed Shaquille O'Neal with Hakeem Olajuwon's footwork, then O'Neal answered with a punishing and-one dunk. The chapter left Li Fei calm but facing a personal battle with O'Neal.

• Li Fei used Dreamy Footsteps to score on O'Neal and quietly taunted him as he jogged away.
• Pippen recognized Hakeem Olajuwon's footwork, while Jordan warned that O'Neal would be provoked.
• O'Neal demanded the ball, backed Li Fei down with his strength, and dunked through his defense for an and-one foul.
• O'Neal told Li Fei, "Welcome to... the Olympic Games," and Li Fei realized O'Neal had meant to damage his confidence.

Team China answered O'Neal's three-point play with Hu Weidong's three-pointer, tying the game at 5–5. Team USA replaced O'Neal with Hakeem Olajuwon, who used the Dream Shake to score over Li Fei and put the Americans ahead 7–5.

• O'Neal completed a three-point play and gave Team USA a 5–2 lead.
• Li Fei steadied Team China and signaled Hu Weidong to run the Bee Sting play.
• Hu Weidong caught Li Xiaoyong's pass and hit a three-pointer to tie the score at 5–5.
• Lenny Wilkens substituted Olajuwon for O'Neal.
• Olajuwon used a feint and fadeaway jumper to score over Li Fei, putting Team USA ahead 7–5.

Team China stayed close to Team USA through a fast-paced first quarter, with Li Fei creating chances for his teammates and the score at 28–25. Michael Jordan opened the second quarter with a difficult layup over Li Fei, then taunted him about defending the paint.

• Li Fei drew Team USA's defense and passed to Wang Zhizhi, who used a Euro Step to tie the score at 7–7.
• Pippen drove past Sun Jun and passed to Reggie Miller, who made a three-pointer to put Team USA ahead 10–7.
• Team China and Team USA traded baskets, and Team USA ended the first quarter with a narrow 28–25 lead.
• Barkley and Jordan entered the game for Team USA as Gong Luming sent Gong Xiaobin and Wu Naiqun onto the court for defense.
• Jordan beat Hu Weidong with his first step, evaded Li Fei's block, and scored with a left-handed layup before taunting Li Fei about the paint.

Li Fei answered Michael Jordan’s scoring run with a powerful and-one, then led China through a tense exchange of baskets against Team USA. After an offensive rebound and putback dunk lifted his teammates, Li Fei kept attacking as the game’s physical intensity rose.

• Li Fei tricked Charles Barkley, drove into Hakeem Olajuwon, and scored through contact to make it 28–30 before sinking the free throw.
• Jordan tied his shoes, took the ball against Hu Weidong, and hit a fadeaway jumper to put Team USA ahead 32–29.
• Sun Jun missed a perimeter shot, but Li Fei grabbed the offensive rebound over Olajuwon and Barkley and dunked it to cut the deficit to one.
• Li Fei urged Sun Jun to keep shooting, and China’s bench erupted as Gong Luming recognized Li Fei’s leadership.
• Karl Malone scored over Gong Xiaobin, Hu Weidong answered with a three-pointer, and Gary Payton stole the ball from Li Xiaoyong for a layup.
• Li Fei answered with a one-handed tomahawk dunk after a spin move and drew Barkley’s second foul.

Team China went into halftime trailing Team USA by two points, then prepared for a tougher second half as Jordan and the Dream Team raised their intensity. Jordan opened the half by scoring over Li Fei, putting Team USA ahead 34–29.

• Barkley complained to the referee after being called for a foul, then asked Li Fei not to foul him out before Li Fei made his free throw.
• The first half ended with Team USA leading 52–50, shocking spectators and leaving the Dream Team players grim and concerned about Li Fei and China's sharp shooting.
• Team China celebrated its strong first half before Gong Luming warned the players that Team USA would increase its pressure and laid out defensive and offensive plans.
• Li Fei reassured his teammates, and Team China returned to the court for the second half.
• Jordan and Pippen intensified their defense while Olajuwon and O'Neal guarded the paint, making it difficult for Team China to move the ball.
• Jordan drove past Hu Weidong and evaded Li Fei's block with an up-and-under layup, giving Team USA a 34–29 lead.

Team China struggled against Team USA’s defense, but Li Fei steadied his teammates and repeatedly answered the Dream Team’s scoring. The chapter left the score at 42–38 after Li Fei hit a quick pull-up jumper over Jordan.

• Jordan opened the second half with a jump shot, extending Team USA’s lead to 36–29.
• Li Fei urged Li Xiaoyong and Team China to stay calm, then beat Jordan with a fake and crossover before scoring a floater.
• Jordan drew Li Fei’s defense and passed to Pippen for a layup, making the score 38–31.
• Li Fei scored a turnaround jumper over Olajuwon and later added a reverse layup as both teams traded baskets.
• Jordan assisted Pippen and O’Neal on Team USA scores, while Li Fei answered with a step-back jumper over Jordan to make it 42–38.

Team China rallied against Team USA, with Li Fei fouling Shaquille O'Neal out and helping tie the game before the teams traded leads. With 5.2 seconds left and Team China trailing 102:99, Li Fei launched a contested three-pointer, and the chapter ended before its result was known.

• Li Fei rebounded Shaquille O'Neal's missed hook shot and launched a fast break that Hu Weidong finished with a three-pointer.
• Li Fei drew O'Neal's fourth foul, sank two free throws, then drew his fifth foul with a dunk and made the free throw to tie the game 47:47.
• Jordan and the other Team USA stars traded baskets with Li Fei and Team China's shooters as the lead changed hands.
• With 30 seconds left, Jordan's jumper put Team USA ahead 100:96, but Sun Jun answered with a three-pointer to cut the deficit to one.
• Jordan made two free throws to put Team USA ahead 102:99, and Coach Gong Luming called a timeout with 5.2 seconds remaining.
• Li Fei took the inbound pass back from Li Xiaoyong and shot a three-pointer over Jordan as time ran out.

Li Fei dominated overtime as Team China defeated Team USA’s Dream Team 118–106. After the final buzzer, his teammates celebrated the historic victory, and Li Fei joked that he had wanted his shoes to stay on the Olympic stage a little longer.

• Li Fei opened overtime with a fadeaway jumper, then scored repeatedly as Team China built a lead over Team USA.
• Li Fei blocked shots by Ewing and Jordan and scored in the post, on jumpers, and at the rim, extending Team China's lead to 116–104.
• Barkley and Jordan scored for Team USA, but Li Fei answered with another dunk to make it 118–106 with one minute left.
• The final buzzer confirmed Team China's victory, and its players and Coach Gong Luming celebrated with Li Fei.
• Barkley congratulated Li Fei, who joked that he wanted his 'Li Fei I' shoes to spend more time on the Olympic stage.

Li Fei led Team China to a 118–106 victory over the Dream Team, scoring 75 points in a historic Olympic upset. As Team China celebrated and the stunned players and fans absorbed the result, Jordan congratulated Li Fei but vowed to meet him again in the knockout rounds.

• Team China players celebrated Li Fei's victory, and Coach Gong Luming embraced him on the court.
• Jordan and the other Team USA players reacted to their defeat, while Barkley praised Li Fei and joked about his sneakers.
• The official statistics confirmed Li Fei's 75 points, 22 rebounds, 10 assists, and 8 blocks, including 20 points in overtime.
• Team China's players celebrated their historic win as Atlanta fans and Team USA players struggled to believe the result.
• At the press conference, Jordan praised Li Fei's performance and said Team USA would seek a different result in the knockout rounds.

After Li Fei led China to a historic victory over the USA Dream Team, the win sparked celebrations across China and a worldwide buying frenzy for his sports brand. As Li Fei and his teammates looked ahead to the tougher games, he reaffirmed that their goal was Olympic gold.

• At the press conference, Li Fei and Coach Gong Luming celebrated the win but said China still had more to accomplish.
• American media and fans reacted to Li Fei's 75-point performance and China's defeat of the Dream Team.
• People across China celebrated the victory with broadcasts, street gatherings, and firecrackers.
• Customers in the USA and China rushed to buy Li Fei brand products, quickly emptying stores and warehouses.
• At the Olympic Village, Li Fei joked with Hu Weidong and Sun Jun before Coach Gong Luming warned him about Lithuania.
• Li Fei told his teammates that defeating the Dream Team was only the first step and that their goal was the gold medal.

After losing to China, the Dream Team vowed revenge and routed Argentina by 65 points. China’s Coach Gong Luming then refocused his players on their next group-stage opponent, Lithuania, and their goal of winning gold.

• Shaquille O’Neal erupted over the Dream Team’s loss to China while Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Charles Barkley reflected on Li Fei’s dominance.
• Lenny Wilkens ordered the players to put aside their past achievements, and Jordan promised they would crush China if they met again.
• The Dream Team overwhelmed Argentina 135–70, using the game to show that they had been provoked into fighting harder.
• Coach Gong Luming showed China’s players highlights of Lithuania and warned them not to become complacent after beating the United States.

Team China prepared to exploit Lithuania’s weaknesses in the final group-stage game, then began a tightly contested battle with Li Fei and Sabonis anchoring their teams’ offenses. The chapter ended with Li Fei powering past Sabonis and rising toward the basket.

• Gong Luming analyzed Lithuania’s teamwork and warned Team China about Sabonis and Marčiulionis.
• Li Fei identified ways to attack Lithuania’s slow center, height disadvantage, and passing game, and the team vowed to win the group.
• Team China faced Lithuania in a packed Philips Arena, with first place in Group A at stake.
• Lithuania scored first, then Li Fei facilitated from the high post to set up Sun Jun’s tying layup.
• Sabonis troubled China’s defense while Li Fei dominated the low post, pushing Sabonis aside and launching himself toward the basket.

Team China overwhelmed Lithuania after halftime and won 105–78, finishing the group stage 5–0 and claiming first place in Group A. Li Fei led the victory with 48 points and 25 rebounds, then looked ahead to the championship.

• At halftime, Gong Luming told Li Fei that Team China needed to raise the pace, and Li Fei agreed to show Lithuania “China speed.”
• Team China opened the second half with a full-court press, and Hu Weidong stole the ball before assisting Li Fei on a thunderous alley-oop dunk.
• Li Fei blocked Lithuania’s attack, grabbed the rebound, and scored a midrange shot as Team China seized control.
• Li Fei scored 20 points in the third quarter as Team China surged ahead 83–60, then Gong Luming rested the starters in the fourth.
• Team China defeated Lithuania 105–78, with Li Fei recording 48 points, 25 rebounds, 6 assists, and 5 blocks.
• China finished 5–0 atop Group A, and Li Fei looked beyond the celebration toward the golden podium.