Chapter Summaries

The Bulls used Karl Malone at the high post in a small lineup to overcome the Knicks’ interior defense and build a halftime lead. Li Fei nearly brought New York back, but Malone hit the decisive fadeaway at the buzzer to give Chicago a 112:109 win in Game 4.

• Malone drew Li Fei out of the paint, allowing Michael Jordan to score on a cut and give the Bulls an early lead.
• Malone exploited Sabonis’ slower defense with mid-range jumpers, helping Chicago tie the score 26:26 by the end of the first quarter.
• The Bulls’ shooters capitalized on defensive help against Malone, and Chicago took a 58:50 lead into halftime.
• Li Fei attacked the Bulls’ interior and completed an and-one to cut the Knicks’ deficit to one point with two minutes remaining.
• Jordan passed to Malone for the final possession, and Malone hit a deep fadeaway over Li Fei as time expired to secure the Bulls’ 112:109 win.

The Bulls defeated the Knicks to tie their series 2–2, and Phil Jackson drew widespread praise for his tactical adjustment while Jeff Van Gundy faced criticism. In the Western Conference Finals, the Spurs also beat the Lakers to even their series at 2–2.

• Karl Malone scored 29 points and grabbed 11 rebounds as the Bulls beat the Knicks, despite Li Fei’s 55-point performance.
• Marv Albert and Bill Walton credited Phil Jackson’s lineup change and criticized Jeff Van Gundy’s slow response.
• Sports media and fans praised Phil Jackson and Malone while criticizing Van Gundy and arguing over the Knicks’ loss.
• With three minutes left, the Spurs double-teamed Kobe Bryant, forcing him into a missed shot.
• Gregg Popovich set up a corner three for Sean Elliott, extending the Spurs’ lead before they defeated the Lakers 98–91 to tie the series 2–2.

With the Eastern and Western Conference Finals tied at 2-2, the Knicks and Bulls prepared for the decisive Game 5 in Chicago. Li Fei rallied the Knicks after their Game 4 loss, while Michael Jordan urged the Bulls to defend their home court and take the series lead.

• Fans and Lakers executives criticized Harris's coaching, while Jerry Krause's longstanding conflict with Phil Jackson continued to strain the Bulls' front office.
• The Knicks, Bulls, Lakers, and Spurs turned their focus to winning Game 5 and claiming match point in their respective series.
• Before the game, Jeff Van Gundy studied ways to counter the Bulls' small-ball lineup as the Knicks prepared in a tense visiting locker room.
• Li Fei rallied his teammates, telling them to forget the previous loss and overwhelm the Bulls with relentless defense and offense.
• Michael Jordan warned the Bulls that the Knicks would come back hungry and urged his team to fight for victory on their home court.

Li Fei opened the game against the Chicago Bulls in an unstoppable scoring frenzy, scoring 38 points in the first quarter. The Knicks led 48–30 as the chapter ended.

• Li Fei stared into the broadcast camera with a chilling intensity before the game began.
• Li Fei hit two long pull-up three-pointers over Michael Jordan to give the Knicks an early lead.
• Li Fei drove through Jordan and Karl Malone for a basket and an and-one, reaching nine points in under two minutes.
• Li Fei continued scoring from three-point range, mid-range, and the post as the Bulls tried to double-team him.
• Li Fei scored 38 points in the first quarter on 15-of-22 shooting, helping the Knicks take a 48–30 lead.

Li Fei overwhelmed the Bulls with unstoppable scoring as Jordan refused to rest and fought to keep Chicago in the game. The first half ended with the Knicks leading 82:58.

• Phil Jackson urged Jordan to rest, but Jordan insisted on playing the second quarter.
• Jordan opened the quarter with a difficult fadeaway, but Li Fei answered with a three-pointer after spinning away from Jordan.
• Jordan scored a driving layup, while Li Fei kept widening the gap with threes and dominant post-ups.
• Phil Jackson called for a double-team, but Li Fei broke through Jordan and Harper, scored through Malone's foul, and completed the and-one.
• The first-half buzzer sounded with the Knicks ahead 82:58.

Li Fei scored 78 points as the Knicks crushed the Bulls 135–113 in Game 5, taking match point in the series. After the win, Li Fei and the Knicks remained grim at the postgame press conference.

• At halftime, Phil Jackson ordered the Bulls to double-team Li Fei whenever he received the ball.
• Li Fei answered the double-teams by passing to Larry Johnson and Allan Houston for open baskets, while continuing to score himself.
• Li Fei finished with 78 points, 15 rebounds, and 8 assists as the Knicks defeated the Bulls 135–113.
• Jordan scored 45 points and Karl Malone added 18 for the Bulls, but the Knicks took match point with the win.
• At the postgame press conference, Li Fei and the rest of the Knicks showed no joy over their victory.

After Li Fei’s 78-point performance gave the Knicks a 3–2 lead over the Bulls, he and Michael Jordan both insisted the series was not over. The Knicks returned to New York focused on finishing the job, while the Lakers and Spurs prepared for their tied Western Conference Finals series.

• Li Fei said the job was not finished, and Michael Jordan vowed that playing the next two games in New York would not stop him from winning.
• Sports media celebrated Li Fei’s 78-point game, and Knicks fans mocked the Bulls as Chicago faced a 2–3 deficit.
• The Knicks flew back to New York, where Li Fei rested with ice packs on his knees and remained focused on winning the championship.
• The Lakers prepared to host the Spurs in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals, with Shaq anxious and Kobe intensely focused.
• David Robinson stayed relaxed in the Spurs’ locker room while Tim Duncan quietly held a basketball.

The Spurs dominated the Lakers in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals, winning 105–90 to take a 3–2 series lead. With the Lakers facing elimination and the next two games on the road, the Spurs moved within one victory of the NBA Finals.

• Bob Costas and Doug Collins predicted the Spurs would win Game 5, comparing the Western series to the Knicks’ recent win over the Bulls.
• Tim Duncan exploited the Lakers’ defensive mismatch, while the Spurs’ twin towers contained Shaquille O’Neal and helped build a 28–18 first-quarter lead.
• Del Harris tried to revive the Lakers with timeouts, but Gregg Popovich’s defense and the Spurs’ patient offense kept the Lakers from mounting a lasting comeback.
• Tim Duncan scored 26 points and grabbed 14 rebounds as the Spurs beat the Lakers 105–90, taking a 3–2 series lead.
• Newspaper and television coverage criticized the Lakers’ performance, while Spurs fans celebrated and looked ahead to the NBA Finals.

After the Lakers fell behind 2–3, Kobe rallied his teammates aboard their flight to San Antonio and exchanged a defiant text with Li Fei, who doubted the Lakers could overcome the Spurs. Meanwhile, Li Fei prepared for the Knicks’ Game 6 against the Bulls as his brand’s Fifth Avenue flagship store drew a massive crowd and sold out of popular shoes.

• Kobe stood up on the Lakers’ flight and urged his teammates to keep fighting for the series.
• Kobe texted Li Fei that he would meet him in the NBA Finals, and Li Fei replied, “Go get them.”
• Li Fei considered the Spurs’ strength and doubted the Lakers could win two straight road games, then toasted his ambition to build a Knicks dynasty.
• Fans formed a three-block line outside Li Fei Brand’s flagship store hours before the Knicks’ do-or-die Game 6 against the Bulls.
• Customers snapped up Li Fei Brand shoes while the nearby Jordan flagship store drew comparatively little attention.

The Knicks defeated the Bulls 118–96 in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals, eliminating them 4–2 and advancing to the NBA Finals for the second straight year. Li Fei dominated the game, while Michael Jordan’s struggles marked the end of the Bulls’ run.

• Li Fei Brand’s market capitalization rose to $42.5 billion as the Knicks moved closer to the NBA Finals.
• Jordan struggled against the Knicks’ defense, while Li Fei overpowered Malone and scored inside against the Bulls.
• Sabonis exploited Longley in the post as the Knicks built an eighteen-point lead by the end of the third quarter.
• Li Fei blocked Jordan’s layup and led the Knicks to a 118–96 victory, finishing with 52 points, 22 rebounds, and 10 blocks.
• The Knicks eliminated the Bulls 4–2 and advanced to the NBA Finals for the second straight year.

Li Fei led the Knicks to defeat Jordan and the Bulls and win the Eastern Conference finals for the second straight year, but he made clear that the team’s goal was the championship. In the defeated Bulls’ locker room, Jordan confronted his decline and uncertainty about what to do next.

• Jordan congratulated Li Fei after the Knicks won, and the two embraced before Jordan left the court.
• The Bulls, including Karl Malone and Harper, left without giving interviews as the Knicks received the Eastern Conference trophy.
• Li Fei told reporters the Knicks would save their smiles for the championship podium, then led his team away.
• In the locker room, Jordan recognized that Li Fei had widened the gap between them and wondered what he should do next.
• Karl Malone cursed after his poor performance, then remembered winning the championship with Chicago the previous season.

After the Bulls lost to Li Fei’s Knicks, Jerry Krause pushed for a rebuild, while Karl Malone and Patrick Ewing faced uncertain futures. Li Fei’s victory sent his brand’s sales soaring as the Bulls’ collapse loomed and the Western Conference Finals continued.

• Karl Malone reflected on his championship and weighed whether to stay in Chicago as his contract neared its end.
• Patrick Ewing mourned his failed bid for a title after the Knicks had eliminated the Bulls in consecutive seasons.
• Jerry Krause urged Jerry Reinsdorf to replace Phil Jackson and let Malone go, proposing a rebuild around Michael Jordan.
• Reinsdorf postponed the decision until the season ended, leaving Krause uncertain as the Bulls’ dynasty appeared headed for dismantling.
• Li Fei’s Finals-bound victory sparked huge crowds and surging sales at Li Fei Brand stores, especially for Kobe Bryant’s Mamba II shoes.
• The NBA Finals awaited the winner of the Western Conference battle in San Antonio.

The Lakers defeated the Spurs 112-106 in overtime in Game 6, forcing a decisive Game 7 in San Antonio. Kobe Bryant and Li Fei traded taunts by text as Li watched from New York with Monica Bellucci, leaving the Western Conference finalist still undecided.

• Kobe Bryant missed a potential game-winner against the Spurs, sending Game 6 to overtime with the score tied at 98.
• Kobe scored eight points in overtime, and Shaquille O'Neal fouled out David Robinson as the Lakers won 112-106 and forced Game 7.
• Media and fans reacted to the Lakers' comeback, with the Knicks and Li Fei waiting to face the Western Conference champion.
• Kobe texted Li Fei that he planned to reach the Finals and take the FMVP trophy, while Li teased him about having to get past Tim Duncan first.
• Li Fei joked with Monica Bellucci about Kobe's energy and felt surprised by the Lakers' win.

Li Fei and the Knicks prepared for the NBA Finals while the Spurs and Lakers fought a decisive Game 7 in the Western Conference Finals. Kobe scored 22 points in the first half, leaving the teams tied at 50–50.

• Li Fei recalled the Spurs’ formidable Twin Towers and wondered whether Kobe could lead the Lakers past them.
• Jeff Van Gundy ordered the Knicks to prepare for either the Lakers or the Spurs, and the team trained intensely.
• Li Fei practiced in the low post against Arvydas Sabonis while Allan Houston, Sprewell, and the rest of the Knicks worked on their game.
• The Spurs and Lakers traded baskets in Game 7, with Tim Duncan scoring first and the Spurs double-teaming Shaquille O’Neal.
• Kobe Bryant scored 22 first-half points against Bruce Bowen’s defense, bringing the Lakers level with the Spurs at 50–50.

The Spurs used a lineup change and fast breaks to build a double-digit lead against the Lakers in Game 7, then held off their late rally. San Antonio won 102:98 and advanced to the NBA Finals.

• Popovich pulled David Robinson, moved Tim Duncan to center, and brought in Mario Elie to increase the Spurs' speed and spacing.
• Kobe Bryant kept forcing shots, and the Spurs turned his misses into fast-break baskets to take an 85:75 lead by the end of the third quarter.
• Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe led a Lakers comeback that cut the deficit to five points with three minutes remaining.
• Popovich called a timeout and reset the Spurs, who answered with a Duncan jumper and Avery Johnson's two free throws.
• The Lakers briefly cut the lead to four with intentional fouls, but Kobe's final three-pointer missed and the Spurs won 102:98.

The Spurs defeated the Lakers in Game 7 to win the Western Conference Finals, leaving Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe Bryant, and Del Harris devastated. At Lakers headquarters, Jerry West and Dr. Jerry Buss decided to seek a new coach and settled on Phil Jackson as their target.

• Tim Duncan and David Robinson celebrated the Spurs' Game 7 victory and said they were preparing to face Li Fei and the Knicks in the NBA Finals.
• The Lakers left San Antonio without speaking to the media after their loss.
• Jerry West blamed Del Harris for the Lakers' defeat and argued that his coaching had wasted the team's potential.
• Dr. Jerry Buss agreed that Harris was not suited to coach Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant and said the Lakers needed a masterful coach.
• Jerry West and Dr. Jerry Buss considered possible coaching candidates and chose Phil Jackson as their target.

Jerry Buss and Jerry West decided to pursue Phil Jackson as the Lakers prepared to move on from Del Harris after losing the Western Conference Finals to the Spurs. With the Knicks and Spurs set to meet in the 1999 NBA Finals, TNT began reviewing the conference finals and the decline of the Bulls.

• Jerry Buss told Jerry West to make bringing Phil Jackson to Los Angeles their only goal for the summer.
• The media praised the Spurs' Game 7 victory over the Lakers and reported that the Lakers' front office was dissatisfied with Del Harris.
• Fans and commentators anticipated the Knicks–Spurs NBA Finals as a clash between Li Fei's offense and San Antonio's defense.
• Kevin Harlan, Marv Albert, and Bill Walton opened a TNT roundtable to review the conference finals.
• Marv Albert said the Knicks' 4–2 win over the Bulls hid a wide gap between the teams and recalled Michael Jordan's standout performances before declaring the Bulls' era over.

The studio analysts discussed Chicago’s uncertain future, the Spurs’ upset of the Lakers, and the upcoming Finals between the Knicks and Spurs. They left the matchup framed as a battle between Li Fei and Duncan, with the analysts judging Li Fei to have the advantage.

• Bill Walton, Kevin Harlan, and Albert discussed the Bulls’ aging roster and the uncertainty surrounding Michael Jordan and Phil Jackson.
• Marv Albert credited Tim Duncan and David Robinson’s maturity, Gregg Popovich’s coaching, and Del Harris’s slow adjustments for the Spurs’ victory over the Lakers.
• Kevin Harlan predicted that the young Lakers and Spurs could develop a lasting Western Conference rivalry.
• Kevin Harlan introduced the Finals matchup between the defending champion Knicks and the Spurs, led by Duncan.
• Marv Albert compared Li Fei with Duncan and concluded that Li Fei surpassed him across the matchup’s key dimensions.

TNT analysts assessed the Knicks’ matchup against the Spurs and predicted New York would win the Finals in six games. The NBA then announced that Li Fei had won both the regular-season MVP and Defensive Player of the Year for the fifth consecutive year, just before the Finals began.

• Albert compared the frontcourts and perimeter units, concluding that the Knicks had the overall edge over the Spurs.
• Walton pointed out that Li Fei could play small forward, creating a mismatch that would force the Spurs to leave other Knicks players open.
• Walton predicted the Knicks would beat the Spurs 4–2 and win their third straight championship.
• David Stern prepared the league’s announcement of the final regular-season awards.
• The NBA named Li Fei MVP and Defensive Player of the Year for the fifth consecutive season, drawing widespread attention to his record-setting achievement and dominant statistics.

Li Fei won the MVP and Defensive Player of the Year awards for the fifth consecutive year, prompting extravagant praise and anxious reactions from fans and media around the world. TNT began comparing his record with past legends as the story left the discussion of his unprecedented dominance underway.

• The NBA announced that Li Fei had won both the MVP and Defensive Player of the Year awards for the fifth straight year.
• TNT, ESPN, The Times, and other outlets praised Li Fei's record and portrayed the upcoming Finals against the San Antonio Spurs as a clash with an era-defining player.
• Fans across the country celebrated Li Fei's achievements, while Spurs and Bulls supporters reacted with anxiety and conflicted feelings.
• A Lakers fan lamented that Li Fei might have changed the outcome of the Western Conference Finals against the San Antonio Spurs.
• Kevin Harlan and Bill Walton convened a TNT discussion and compared Li Fei's five consecutive MVPs with Bill Russell's three in a row.