Chapter Summaries

Li Fei chose the New York Knicks over the Boston Celtics, prioritizing his business ambitions and New York’s proximity to Wall Street. His signing was announced on July 15, 1997, as the Knicks prepared to let Patrick Ewing go to make room for him.

• Li Fei told Falk that he wanted to build his brand into a public company and chose a major city as his next destination.
• Ernie Grunfeld pursued Li Fei with a $25 million annual salary and a Cablevision endorsement worth $10 million per year.
• Li Fei chose New York over Boston and signed a four-year, $100 million contract, alongside a separate $40 million endorsement deal.
• The Knicks decided not to renew Patrick Ewing’s contract to clear salary space for Li Fei.
• ESPN announced Li Fei’s decision on July 15, 1997, sparking a frenzy among sports media and fans.

Li Fei’s four-year, $100 million contract with the Knicks sparked worldwide excitement and marked a new salary benchmark for the NBA. Commentators imagined him teaming with Arvydas Sabonis to form a towering frontcourt that could reshape the league.

• Fans and media reacted to Li Fei joining New York and Patrick Ewing leaving the Knicks without a farewell ceremony.
• Kevin Harlan and Marv Albert discussed Li Fei’s record-setting contract and the end of the NBA’s old salary era.
• Bill Walton highlighted the Knicks’ pairing of Li Fei at power forward and Arvydas Sabonis at center, predicting their size and skill would create a formidable duo.
• Harlan warned that Chicago, Los Angeles, Houston, and the rest of the league would have to prepare for the changes Li Fei could bring.

Li Fei introduced himself as the Knicks’ new cornerstone and promised to bring a championship to New York, while the Bulls watched and realized he would play power forward. The chapter left Karl Malone stunned at the prospect of facing Li Fei in the Eastern Conference.

• James Dolan and Jeff Van Gundy welcomed Li Fei at a packed Knicks press conference and spoke about the team’s championship ambitions.
• Li Fei honored Patrick Ewing’s legacy and promised to make the Knicks champions again.
• Scottie Pippen and Ron Harper discussed the problems Li Fei and Arvydas Sabonis would pose for the Bulls.
• Karl Malone learned that Li Fei would play power forward and turned to Phil Jackson in disbelief.

Jordan rallied the Bulls to embrace Li Fei and the Knicks as their championship challenge, while Knicks coach Jeff Van Gundy told Li Fei he would usually play power forward. Van Gundy hinted at a bolder plan for certain situations, leaving Li Fei waiting to hear what it was.

• Karl Malone panicked when he realized Li Fei had joined the Eastern Conference and would play power forward for the Knicks.
• Jordan told Pippen and the Bulls that defeating Li Fei would make their championship meaningful, then ordered the team to practice a way to stop the Knicks’ two towers.
• Li Fei trained his jump shot alone at Madison Square Garden until Van Gundy arrived to discuss the new season.
• Van Gundy assigned Li Fei to play power forward, and Li Fei agreed because he wanted to show he could thrive beyond the paint.
• Van Gundy began to describe a bolder plan for Li Fei against certain opponents, but had not yet revealed it.

Jeff Van Gundy proposed using Li Fei as a 2.24-meter small forward in a huge lineup with Allan Houston, Larry Johnson, Sabonis, and Charles Oakley. At the 1997 NBA Draft, Li Fei gave the Knicks a surprising target for their twenty-fifth pick.

• Van Gundy outlined a lineup built around Houston, Johnson, Li Fei, Sabonis, and Oakley, with Li Fei playing small forward in select situations.
• Li Fei approved of Van Gundy’s idea and looked forward to facing Scottie Pippen with the lineup.
• The 1997 NBA Draft began, and the San Antonio Spurs selected Tim Duncan first overall.
• At the Knicks’ draft meeting, Ernie Grunfeld invited Li Fei to suggest a pick, and Li Fei named Stephen Jackson.

Li Fei convinced the Knicks to use the 25th pick on Stephen Jackson, valuing his toughness and willingness to defend teammates. Jackson pledged his loyalty to Li Fei, and the chapter ended with Charles Oakley introducing himself over the phone.

• Li Fei persuaded Ernie Grunfeld to select Stephen Jackson, arguing that his hard-nosed personality would strengthen the Knicks.
• Ernie Grunfeld announced Jackson as the Knicks' 25th pick, surprising the draft venue and Jackson watching at home.
• Jackson's agent called to confirm the Knicks had not made a mistake, and Li Fei congratulated Jackson and explained why he wanted him.
• Jackson vowed to defend Li Fei and the Knicks, and Charles Oakley overheard the call and identified himself to Jackson.

Li Fei signed a record four-year, $100 million contract with the Knicks and a separate $25 million Cablevision endorsement deal. After learning the Knicks had moved on and his best offer was only $4 million, Patrick Ewing decided to contact Chicago and offer to join the Bulls.

• Oakley challenged Jackson for the role of Li Fei's bodyguard, and Li Fei welcomed Jackson to the team while saying they had enough protection already.
• Li Fei signed a four-year, $100 million contract with the Knicks at a press conference attended by James Dolan and David Falk.
• Dolan offered Li Fei a separate four-year, $25 million Cablevision endorsement contract, which Li Fei accepted.
• Patrick Ewing smashed a glass after watching Li Fei's signing and learned that the Lakers and SuperSonics had offered him far less than he expected.
• Ewing told his agent to contact the Bulls and offered to join Chicago to help stop Li Fei.

Patrick Ewing decided he wanted to join the Chicago Bulls to get revenge on Li Fei, despite the Bulls’ limited cap space. Jordan agreed to make up the gap between Chicago’s offer and Seattle’s, leaving the Bulls with a possible path to sign Ewing.

• Ewing told his agent David Falk that he wanted to join Chicago and that money was no object.
• Falk called Bulls general manager Jerry Krause, who told Phil Jackson that Ewing wanted a chance to defeat Li Fei.
• Krause explained that the Bulls could offer Ewing only a $3.5 million mid-level contract, less than Seattle’s $4 million offer.
• Krause gathered Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Karl Malone to discuss Ewing’s potential arrival, and Jordan asked what Ewing wanted.
• Jordan said the Bulls should offer $3.5 million and that he would privately pay Ewing the remaining $500,000.

Michael Jordan personally offered Patrick Ewing extra money to join the Bulls, and Ewing accepted, turning the former Knicks captain into Jordan’s teammate. The signing sparked outrage and celebration worldwide as fans awaited Li Fei’s response to Chicago’s formidable roster.

• Michael Jordan offered to personally pay Patrick Ewing $500,000 to join the Bulls and told Jerry Krause to tell Ewing he would be waiting in Chicago.
• After hearing the offer, Patrick Ewing accepted, believing Jordan still regarded him as a player capable of helping win a championship.
• On August 15, 1997, Adrian Wojnarowski reported that Ewing had agreed to a one-year deal with the Chicago Bulls.
• Sports media and fans reacted to the signing with celebration in Chicago and anger in New York, while Chinese fans debated Ewing’s choice and the Bulls’ star-studded lineup.
• Fans and commentators wondered how Li Fei would respond to the Bulls, and the story left the world waiting for his reaction.

Li Fei and Arvydas Sabonis made their Knicks debut against the Washington Wizards and overwhelmed Chris Webber and Juwan Howard with their size, passing, and scoring. At halftime, New York led by 26 points.

• Li Fei stayed out of the media spotlight and focused on practice and building chemistry with his Knicks teammates.
• On November 1, 1997, Li Fei and Arvydas Sabonis were introduced to a packed Madison Square Garden before the Knicks faced the Wizards.
• Sabonis passed to Li Fei for a backdoor-cut dunk on the Knicks' first possession.
• Li Fei blocked Chris Webber's shot after Webber tried to exploit Sabonis in the post.
• Li Fei and Sabonis repeatedly scored against the Wizards' defense, giving the Knicks a 68–42 lead at halftime.

Li Fei and Sabonis led the Knicks to a 125–90 season-opening win with a perfect-shooting 74-point combined performance, prompting debate over whether they were the greatest duo in NBA history. The Bulls answered with a 128–80 rout of the Suns, ending as Michael Jordan stole the ball and passed to Karl Malone on a fast break.

• Li Fei scored 42 points and Sabonis added 32 as the Knicks beat the Wizards 125–90, both leaving after three quarters with perfect shooting records.
• Fans, newspapers, and Inside the NBA celebrated the Knicks’ twin towers, with Bill Walton declaring that Li Fei and Arvydas Sabonis could become the NBA’s most powerful duo.
• The Bulls defeated the Suns 128–80, setting a record for the largest margin of victory in an NBA season opener.
• Michael Jordan stole Nick Anderson’s pass, raced down the court, and drew Rodman in with a pump fake before passing to Karl Malone in the restricted area.

TNT commentators debated whether the New York Knicks’ towering frontcourt or the Chicago Bulls’ speed and perimeter defense would prevail in a potential Eastern Conference Finals matchup. The teams’ first meeting was set for Christmas Day at Madison Square Garden, leaving fans eager for their clash.

• TNT commentators marveled at Li Fei and Sabonis going a combined 19-for-19 in the first half.
• The Chicago Bulls mounted a four-second defensive counterattack, ending with Karl Malone’s powerful dunk.
• Kevin Harlan asked Marv Albert and Bill Walton which team would win if the Knicks and Bulls met in the Eastern Conference Finals.
• Marv Albert argued that the Bulls’ pressure defense and fast breaks would disrupt the Knicks, while Bill Walton said Li Fei and Sabonis’ size would be nearly impossible to defend.
• Kevin Harlan concluded that the teams’ contrasting strengths made the outcome uncertain, and their first meeting was scheduled for Christmas Day at Madison Square Garden.

The Knicks’ Twin Towers dominated the Rockets in a heavily anticipated rematch, with Li Fei and Sabonis overwhelming Houston on both ends of the court. New York closed the first quarter ahead 35–18, and the Rockets’ attempt to speed up the game in the second quarter also failed.

• Sabonis disrupted Olajuwon’s opening post shot, and Li Fei took the rebound away from Barkley without being moved.
• Li Fei scored a fadeaway over Barkley after receiving Sabonis’s pass from the high post.
• The Knicks’ defense forced Olajuwon into difficult mid-range shots and shut down Barkley’s post game.
• Li Fei passed out of double-teams to Sabonis and Allan Houston, while Larry Johnson helped limit Drexler.
• The Knicks ended the first quarter leading 35–18, and Houston tried to answer with a faster attack in the second quarter.

The Knicks routed the Houston Rockets 125–88 as Li Fei and Sabonis overwhelmed their opponents, then continued their dominant season with Li Fei leading the league in scoring, rebounding, and blocks. The chapter left Li Fei and the Knicks preparing to face Michael Jordan and the Bulls on Christmas Day.

• The Knicks dominated the Rockets with their size and defense, winning 125–88 after leading 68–40 at halftime.
• Li Fei visited Charles Barkley after the game, and he promised to challenge Michael Jordan on Christmas Day.
• The Knicks reached a 25–3 record, while Li Fei averaged 42.3 points, 18.5 rebounds, 8.1 blocks, and 5.2 assists per game.
• Li Fei Brand expanded rapidly, surpassing Adidas in global sales and dominating the Greater China market.
• Li Fei and the Knicks prepared to face Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls at Madison Square Garden on Christmas Day.

Li Fei and David Falk pursued Allen Iverson as a new Li Fei Brand star, offering him a signature shoe line and a partnership. After Li Fei spoke with Iverson directly, Iverson said he needed a day to consider the offer.

• David Falk warned Li Fei that the brand relied too heavily on his fame and Charles Barkley's nostalgia boost, and proposed signing a new superstar.
• Li Fei and Falk chose Allen Iverson over Kobe Bryant because Kobe had signed with Adidas and Iverson was dissatisfied with Reebok's efforts to reshape his image.
• Li Fei proposed creating Iverson's signature shoe line, The Answer, and promised that Iverson could be himself and share in future sales.
• Li Fei called Iverson and argued that Li Fei Brand would treat him as a partner rather than a marketing tool.
• Iverson said Reebok had offered him a large contract but asked for time to think, and Li Fei gave him one day.

Li Fei faced Shaquille O'Neal in the Knicks-Lakers showdown at Madison Square Garden and dominated the opening exchanges with a jumper and a steal. After launching a fast break, Li Fei leaped over O'Neal to evade his chase-down block, leaving the outcome of the airborne maneuver unresolved.

• Li Fei scored over O'Neal with a mid-range jumper after using a crossover and sudden stop to create space.
• O'Neal backed Sabonis down in the post, but Li Fei anticipated his spin and stripped the ball.
• Li Fei gathered the loose ball and sprinted downcourt as O'Neal chased him from behind.
• Li Fei jumped near the free-throw line and rose over O'Neal's outstretched block.

Li Fei dominated the Lakers with a dunk over Shaquille O'Neal, a crushing block on Kobe Bryant, and an all-around performance as the Knicks won 115-92. After the game, Li Fei welcomed O'Neal to New York, leaving the Lakers center facing another defeat at his hands.

• Li Fei dunked over Shaquille O'Neal, stunning Madison Square Garden and humiliating the Lakers center.
• Kobe Bryant tried to answer with a drive to the basket, but Li Fei chased him down and slammed the ball to the floor.
• Li Fei and Sabonis contained O'Neal while Li Fei scored from mid-range and around the paint, helping the Knicks build a twenty-point lead.
• The Knicks defeated the Lakers 115-92, with Li Fei recording 42 points, 18 rebounds, 7 assists, 6 blocks, and 3 steals.
• Li Fei told O'Neal, "Shaq, welcome to New York," as O'Neal acknowledged another loss to the player standing in his way.

After Li Fei dominated Shaquille O'Neal, fans and commentators hailed him as the league's greatest power forward and viewed his pairing with Arvydas Sabonis as a tactical revolution. The Knicks then extended their undefeated run to ten games, with Li Fei and Sabonis overwhelming opponents on both ends of the court.

• ESPN and basketball commentators praised Li Fei's performance against O'Neal, while online fans debated his place among the league's greatest players.
• The Knicks began a dominant stretch after beating the Lakers, blocking Shawn Kemp and crushing Hakeem Olajuwon and the Rockets by eighteen points.
• New York defeated the Heat, Pistons, Pacers, and other opponents to reach a ten-game winning streak and remain undefeated.
• Sabonis organized the Knicks' offense from the high post, creating space for Li Fei to score with jumpers and cuts to the basket.
• Sabonis guarded opposing centers while Li Fei roamed as a mobile defensive sweeper.

Li Fei’s defensive partnership with Sabonis fueled extraordinary statistics and sparked debate about whether he could become the greatest player at two positions. He then told Allen Iverson that his signature shoe was already in development, leaving Iverson thrilled at the opportunity.

• During the Knicks’ ten-game winning streak, Li Fei averaged 48.7 points, 18.2 rebounds, 7.5 assists, 3.1 steals, and 8.6 blocks per game alongside Sabonis.
• Kevin Harlan, Bill Walton, and Marv Albert reacted to Li Fei’s statistics, and Albert asked whether Li Fei could become the greatest power forward as well as the greatest center.
• At the Philadelphia 76ers’ training facility, Iverson finished practice as his scoring average and popularity continued to rise.
• Li Fei called Iverson and told him that a signature shoe designed around his speed, change of direction, and street style was in development.
• Iverson thanked Li Fei excitedly and learned that Li Fei wanted him to represent the brand among guards.

Li Fei launched Allen Iverson’s “The Answer” signature shoe line to target young consumers and prepare his brand for a future IPO, prompting Nike to recognize the threat and intensify its Michael Jordan campaign. The story left Carl Malone practicing in Chicago, frustrated and helpless.

• Li Fei persuaded David Falk to launch Iverson’s signature shoe line, “The Answer,” and begin preparing financial reports for a future IPO.
• Nike’s marketing director showed Phil Knight research revealing Iverson’s strong popularity among young people and street-culture enthusiasts.
• Phil Knight ordered Nike to accelerate the Air Jordan 13 launch and double its promotional campaign around Michael Jordan.
• Carl Malone repeatedly practiced low-post backdowns at the United Center, feeling irritated and helpless.