Chapter Summaries

Karl Malone struggled with the prospect of Li Fei surpassing him as the greatest power forward, especially with the Knicks’ two-monster frontcourt. By the end of November, both the Knicks and Bulls were undefeated at 15–0, setting up a highly anticipated Christmas Day matchup.

• Malone grew angry as talk grew that Li Fei might already be the greatest power forward in history, and he asked Luc Longley to help double-team him against the Knicks.
• Longley explained that he could not leave Sabonis, whose passing and shooting made him difficult to defend, leaving Malone worried about facing the Knicks’ frontcourt.
• The Knicks and Bulls each finished November with a 15–0 record, establishing themselves as the league’s top championship contenders.
• Li Fei averaged 49.2 points, 18.0 rebounds, and 8.8 blocks per game, while Sabonis, Allan Houston, and Larry Johnson also posted strong numbers.
• Jordan, Pippen, and Malone led the Bulls with impressive statistics, and fans began anticipating the teams’ first meeting on Christmas Day.

Inside the NBA’s hosts marveled at Li Fei’s unprecedented statistics and discussed whether he could win a fourth consecutive MVP. They predicted that once Michael Jordan’s era ended, no player would be able to challenge Li Fei.

• Kevin Harlan introduced Li Fei’s historic November performance and asked Marv Albert whether he had seen a player like him.
• Marv Albert and Bill Walton praised Li Fei’s scoring, rebounding, and shot-blocking while discussing his chances of winning four straight MVPs and sweeping major awards.
• Kevin Harlan asked who could challenge Li Fei after Michael Jordan’s career declined.
• Bill Walton argued that Shaquille O’Neal, Tim Duncan, Kobe Bryant, and Allen Iverson could not match Li Fei.
• Marv Albert and Bill Walton described Li Fei’s rise as the start of an era dominated by him.

Li Fei and the Knicks matched Michael Jordan and the Bulls with 20-game winning streaks, setting up a high-stakes Christmas Eve showdown. David Falk seized on the rivalry to negotiate sponsorships and promote Li Fei’s sneakers.

• Jordan brushed off Li Fei winning Eastern Conference Player of the Month and told Pippen that his focus was on reaching the top in June.
• The Knicks and Bulls traded dominant wins in December as both teams extended their unbeaten starts to 20 games.
• The league and media built anticipation for the teams’ December 24 game at Madison Square Garden, where their winning streaks would meet.
• David Falk negotiated deals for the Christmas Eve game and ordered increased production of Li Fei III “Reign” sneakers.
• Barkley called Falk about the rival streaks, and Falk told him the teams’ success was boosting sales of their sneakers.

As the Knicks’ winning streak reached 25 games, anticipation built for their Christmas Eve showdown with the Bulls, but the San Antonio Spurs stood in their way. The chapter ended with analysts questioning whether Tim Duncan and David Robinson could hand the Knicks their first loss before the Bulls faced them.

• Falk discussed the commercial stakes of the Knicks’ Christmas Eve matchup with Barkley, who booked a flight to New York.
• The Knicks defeated the Indiana Pacers to extend their season-opening winning streak to 25 games.
• The Spurs’ 21-4 record and Tim Duncan and David Robinson’s dominant play established them as a formidable challenge for Li Fei and the Knicks.
• Kevin Harlan, Marv Albert, and Bill Walton debated whether the Spurs could break the Knicks’ streak before their meeting with the Bulls.

The Knicks faced the Spurs at Madison Square Garden, with Li Fei matched against rookie Tim Duncan in a much-anticipated battle of big men. Li Fei and Duncan traded baskets early, and Li Fei’s second score gave New York a 4–2 lead.

• TNT commentators Kevin Harlan, Marv Albert, and Bill Walton discussed the matchup between Li Fei and Tim Duncan before the game began.
• Arvydas Sabonis won the opening tip for the Knicks, and Charlie Ward passed the ball to Li Fei at the high post.
• Li Fei spun past Duncan and scored with a Half-Hook Jump Hook to put the Knicks ahead 2–0.
• Duncan answered with a 45-degree bank shot against Li Fei to tie the score at 2–2.
• Li Fei repeated his move against Duncan and scored again, giving the Knicks a 4–2 lead.

Li Fei and Arvydas Sabonis overwhelmed the San Antonio Spurs’ Twin Towers, building a 24-point first-quarter lead. In the second quarter, Li Fei blocked David Robinson, then leaped over Tim Duncan to finish a fast-break dunk.

• Li Fei and Arvydas Sabonis dominated Tim Duncan and David Robinson in the paint, scoring 20 points apiece in the first quarter as the Knicks led 48–24.
• The Spurs opened the second quarter with a quicker lineup, and Avery Johnson broke past Ward before passing to David Robinson for a layup.
• Li Fei rotated over and swatted Robinson’s shot into the second-level stands.
• John Starks collected the loose ball and threw a long pass to Li Fei, who sprinted toward the empty Spurs’ basket.
• Tim Duncan planted himself near the free-throw line to draw an offensive foul, but Li Fei leaped over him and dunked.

Li Fei soared over Tim Duncan and slammed home a dunk, capping a dominant first half in which he and Arvydas Sabonis scored 70 points together. At halftime, the Knicks led the Spurs 78–55 as fans and commentators celebrated the record-setting performance.

• Li Fei leapt over Tim Duncan and dunked, sending Madison Square Garden into a frenzy.
• TNT commentators replayed the dunk from several angles and praised Li Fei’s extraordinary leap.
• The first-half statistics showed Li Fei with 40 points and 18 rebounds and Arvydas Sabonis with 30 points, giving the pair a record 70 points together.
• The Knicks led the Spurs 78–55 at halftime, while media coverage and fans around the world celebrated their performance.
• Li Fei calmly drank an electrolyte beverage and wiped away his sweat in the Knicks’ locker room.

Li Fei dominated the offensive glass against the Spurs, grabbing five offensive rebounds in a single possession and setting up Sabonis for a dunk. The Knicks extended their momentum as Popovich called timeout, convinced the game was over.

• Sabonis warned Li Fei that the Spurs would collapse their defense and create perimeter opportunities, and Li Fei told his teammates to shoot while he pursued the rebounds.
• The Spurs opened the second half with a 12–2 run, prompting Jeff Van Gundy to urge the Knicks to steady the tempo.
• After Allan Houston missed, Li Fei tipped the ball out and then boxed out David Robinson to grab two offensive rebounds, setting up more Knicks shots.
• Li Fei beat Duncan and Robinson to three more offensive rebounds as the Knicks' perimeter players kept missing.
• Li Fei drew the Spurs' defense toward him and passed to Sabonis, who slammed the ball in as Popovich called timeout.

Li Fei led the Knicks to a 125–101 victory over the Spurs, extending their undefeated streak to 26 games and setting an NBA record with 91 combined points and rebounds. After saying he might reach 50 points and 40 rebounds in his next game, he set up a highly anticipated Christmas Day showdown with Michael Jordan and the undefeated Bulls.

• Li Fei grabbed five offensive rebounds during a crucial possession before assisting a score as the Knicks defeated the Spurs 125–101.
• Li Fei finished with 52 points, 39 rebounds, 7 assists, and 6 blocks, setting the record for most combined points and rebounds in an NBA game.
• David Robinson and Tim Duncan praised Li Fei's performance at the postgame press conference, while Sabonis joked about how easy it was to play alongside him.
• Li Fei told reporters that he might reach 50 points and 40 rebounds in his next game.
• The Knicks prepared to host Michael Jordan and the undefeated Bulls on Christmas Day, setting up a matchup between the league's two remaining undefeated teams.

Li Fei’s soaring FLY sales raised the stakes for his Christmas Day matchup with Michael Jordan, while Nike scrambled to protect the AJ brand. The chapter ended with Jordan preparing a defiant marketing campaign ahead of the game.

• David Falk told Li Fei that FLY sales had risen sharply and that investors had valued the brand at over one billion dollars.
• Falk urged Li Fei to defeat Jordan and fulfill his 50+40 declaration so FLY could capitalize on the attention and launch the FLY-3 campaign.
• Li Fei told Falk to have the money ready, then focused on facing Jordan, Pippen, and Malone.
• Howard White warned Jordan that FLY’s growth and Li Fei’s popularity were hurting AJ sales and drawing attention to Li Fei’s rebounding challenge.
• Jordan dismissed White’s explanations and ordered the marketing department to prepare an AJ-13 Christmas Day Game special colorway campaign.
• Jordan announced the campaign’s headline: “Welcome to my era, kid.”

Fans in America and China erupted over Li Fei’s promised 50-point, 40-rebound performance against Jordan, while Wall Street investors viewed the Christmas Day game as a test of his commercial potential. The chapter ended with investors preparing to back Li Fei’s FLY brand if he proved himself on the world stage.

• American fans debated Li Fei’s chances against Jordan, Pippen, and Malone, and some placed bets on the Knicks.
• Chinese media and fans celebrated the showdown as a historic challenge, with CCTV-5 and Titan Sports promoting the game.
• Solomon told fellow financial tycoons that the matchup would test Li Fei’s commercial value and the potential of his FLY brand.
• The investors prepared to move quickly to become shareholders in FLY if Li Fei won.

The Knicks and Bulls prepared for their Christmas Eve showdown as Michael Jordan and Li Fei faced mounting questions about who ruled the league. Jordan rallied his teammates to prove that there was only one king as both teams headed toward the court.

• Michael Jordan ignored reporters at the airport when they asked about Li Fei’s claim that he would score 50 points and grab 40 rebounds.
• TNT commentators introduced the Knicks-Bulls matchup, highlighting Li Fei, Jordan, and the Bulls’ additions Karl Malone and Patrick Ewing.
• Li Fei calmly prepared in the Knicks’ tunnel and told Larry Johnson that the Bulls were the ones who should be nervous.
• Michael Jordan addressed his teammates in the Bulls’ locker room, rejecting claims that his era had ended and urging them to prove there was only one king.

The Knicks and Bulls opened their highly anticipated Christmas Day game after Michael Jordan and Li Fei traded declarations about the throne. Li Fei began by overpowering Karl Malone in the post and attacking the rim.

• Jordan led the Bulls out to a hostile Madison Square Garden and said he would teach Li Fei a lesson.
• Li Fei told reporters he respected Jordan's past achievements but intended to take the throne from him.
• The crowd erupted as the game began, and Arvydas Sabonis tipped the opening jump ball toward Richard Ward.
• Li Fei backed down Karl Malone, spun past him, and drove toward the rim for a one-handed dunk.

Li Fei and Michael Jordan traded spectacular scoring plays in a high-intensity Knicks-Bulls duel. Jordan’s three-point play put Chicago ahead 33–32 with three minutes left in the first quarter.

• Li Fei poster-dunked over Karl Malone and Luc Longley, drew a foul, and made the free throw to give New York a 3–0 lead.
• Jordan answered with a mid-range jumper over Allan Houston.
• Li Fei dominated Malone in the post while Jordan scored repeatedly from the perimeter, keeping the game close.
• With three minutes left in the first quarter, Li Fei and Jordan had each scored 18 points and the Knicks led 32–30.
• Jordan hit a contested fadeaway through Houston’s foul, then made the free throw to give the Bulls a 33–32 lead.

Michael Jordan scored three consecutive three-point plays to give the Chicago Bulls a seven-point lead, but Li Fei answered with a spectacular three-point play of his own. At the end of the first quarter, the New York Knicks led 45:43, with both stars having scored 30 points.

• Jordan made three straight fadeaway shots while drawing fouls, completing each three-point play and putting the Chicago Bulls ahead 39:32.
• Li Fei ran the Knicks’ Fist-2 play, caught Ward’s return pass, and drove into the paint against Karl Malone and Luc Longley.
• Li Fei bounced the ball off Malone’s face and Longley’s forehead into the basket, drew a foul on Longley, and made the free throw.
• The first-quarter buzzer sounded with the New York Knicks leading 45:43, while Li Fei and Michael Jordan each had 30 points.

Li Fei and Michael Jordan traded historic scoring performances as the Knicks and Bulls fought through a brutal game. The third quarter ended tied at 98, with Li Fei at 56 points and Jordan at 52, setting up the final quarter.

• Ernie Johnson reacted in disbelief as Li Fei and Michael Jordan each scored 30 points in the first quarter.
• Fans and media across the United States and China celebrated Li Fei and Jordan’s extraordinary performances, especially Li Fei’s basket off a defender’s face.
• Li Fei and Jordan returned quickly from brief rests as the second and third quarters became a punishing battle.
• Arvydas Sabonis wore down Luc Longley until Longley fouled out in the third quarter.
• The third quarter ended with the Knicks and Bulls tied 98–98, as Li Fei had 56 points and Jordan had 52.

The Knicks and Chicago Bulls entered the fourth quarter tied, with Li Fei and Michael Jordan leading a historic showdown. Jordan’s Bulls held a narrow lead as Li Fei and Sabonis answered, leaving the game fiercely contested.

• Kevin Harlan and Bill Walton recapped Li Fei’s dominant performance and Jordan and Pippen’s scoring before the fourth quarter began.
• Jordan beat John Starks and Larry Johnson for an and-one, giving Chicago a 101:98 lead.
• Li Fei answered with a skyhook over Karl Malone to cut the deficit to one, then exchanged taunts with Jordan.
• Jordan drew the Knicks’ defense and passed to Scottie Pippen, who hit a corner three to make it 104:100.
• With three Bulls collapsing on Li Fei, he set a screen for Sabonis, who caught Ward’s pass and dunked to bring the Knicks within two.

Michael Jordan and Li Fei traded spectacular baskets in the closing minutes of a tied game, with both superstars reaching 70 points. The score remained tied at 110–110 as the final seconds approached.

• Jordan beat Li Fei with an acrobatic up-and-under layup to put the Bulls ahead 106–104.
• Li Fei answered against Karl Malone and Patrick Ewing with a turnaround fadeaway, tying the score at 106–106 and reaching 70 points.
• Jordan and Li Fei exchanged jumpers to bring the score to 108–108.
• Jordan banked in a hanging fadeaway, and Li Fei answered with a skyhook over Luc Longley to tie the game at 110–110.

With seconds left, Li Fei blocked Jordan’s fadeaway and raced downcourt for a last-second shot. The buzzer sounded as his shot arced toward the basket, leaving the game’s outcome unresolved.

• Phil Jackson called a timeout and drew up the Bulls’ final play, while Van Gundy ordered the Knicks to double-team Jordan and assigned Li Fei the final defense and rebound.
• Harper passed the ball to Jordan, who slipped past Allan Houston and Larry Johnson’s double-team and faced Li Fei near the basket.
• Jordan attempted a fadeaway jumper, but Li Fei timed his leap perfectly and blocked the shot toward the Knicks’ backcourt.
• Ward recovered the ball and launched it upcourt, where Li Fei caught it, sprinted toward the basket, and jumped for a shot as the buzzer sounded.

Li Fei blocked Michael Jordan’s shot and raced down the court to hit a buzzer-beater, giving the Knicks the win and sending fans around the world into celebration. The chapter left the crowd hailing Li Fei as the new ruler of basketball.

• Li Fei blocked Michael Jordan’s fadeaway and then scored a buzzer-beater to win the game for the Knicks.
• Knicks fans erupted at Madison Square Garden as commentators Marv Albert, Kevin Harlan, and Bill Walton praised Li Fei’s game-winning play.
• Chicago Bulls fans watching in a bar reacted with disbelief to Jordan’s blocked shot and the Knicks’ victory.
• Magic Johnson celebrated Li Fei’s performance with Larry Bird and predicted that Li Fei would rule the league.
• Fans across China cheered Li Fei’s victory in dormitories, breakfast shops, schools, and workplaces.