Chapter Summaries

Li Fei and the Knicks celebrated their championship banner before opening the season against Michael Jordan and the Bulls. The game stayed close through the first half, but the Bulls’ lack of coordination became increasingly clear as the Knicks moved the ball more effectively.

• Li Fei accepted his championship ring and watched the Knicks’ 1998-1999 championship banner rise above Madison Square Garden while Jordan watched in anger.
• Sabonis tipped off the season opener, and Li Fei opened the scoring with a dunk over Longley after overpowering Malone.
• Jordan answered with a drive and reverse layup, setting up a close contest between him and Li Fei.
• Jordan and Malone led the Bulls’ offense, but Tim Floyd struggled to counter the Knicks’ zone defenses and double teams.
• In the third quarter, Cassell missed an open corner shot, while Li Fei passed out of a double team and Sprewell made a three, exposing the teams’ difference in coordination.

The Knicks routed the Bulls 118-92 in the season opener as Li Fei led a composed team against Chicago’s unraveling offense. Michael Jordan faced reporters after the loss, while the Bulls’ troubled season was just beginning.

• Tim Floyd brought Toni Kukoč into the game, but the change disrupted the Bulls’ offense and left Karl Malone feeling ignored.
• Li Fei led the Knicks on a 15-2 run as Chicago’s players struggled to work together, and the game became garbage time in the fourth quarter.
• The Knicks defeated the Bulls 118-92, with Li Fei recording 32 points, 16 rebounds, 11 assists, and 4 blocks and Michael Jordan scoring 38 points.
• Kevin Harlan, Bill Walton, and Marv Albert discussed the Knicks’ cohesion and the Bulls’ on-court disorder after the game.
• Reporters gathered around Michael Jordan in the mixed zone after he finished showering.

After the Knicks routed the Bulls, Jordan admitted the team had serious defensive and offensive problems but insisted he still believed they could beat Li Fei. Malone remained professionally detached, while Sabonis praised the Knicks’ teamwork and Li Fei credited their victory to executing as a unit.

• Jordan told reporters that the Bulls’ defense and offense were failing and that he and Karl needed their teammates’ support.
• Asked whether he still believed he could beat Li Fei and the Knicks, Jordan said he remained confident and left for the team bus.
• Malone described his reduced role as a tactical choice and said he would give everything to the Bulls until he left the team.
• Sabonis credited the Knicks’ defensive system with limiting Malone and said Li Fei made everyone around him better.
• Li Fei told reporters the Knicks won by following their style of play and combining the strength of all five players.

After the Knicks crushed the Bulls by 26, Li Fei defended New York’s stable lineup and declared that no team could beat them if they played without mistakes. The media portrayed Chicago as a fragile team with poor chemistry, while Bulls fans struggled to accept the defeat.

• A reporter asked Li Fei whether the Bulls had teamwork problems, and he declined to comment on another team while acknowledging their stars.
• Li Fei told a Sports Illustrated reporter that the Knicks’ unchanged core was still improving and declared that no team could defeat them if they avoided mistakes.
• Sports media across North America and Europe highlighted the Knicks’ 26-point win and reported on the Bulls’ apparent internal chemistry problems.
• A Sports Illustrated analysis argued that Jordan’s isolation style and Malone’s poor fit left the Bulls behind the Knicks’ team-based approach.
• At the Bulls Horn bar, Frank cursed the Bulls after watching the game highlights, and his friend urged him to calm down because it was only the first game.

After the Knicks crushed the Bulls by 26 points, Chicago fans feared that Michael Jordan and his team could no longer win. Li Fei returned home to find Monica Bellucci waiting for him, and the two reunited before she told him she would soon leave for Paris.

• Frank angrily blamed the Bulls' defense and offense for their heavy loss to the Knicks.
• A young fan told the bar that Bulls fans were blaming the front office, Phil Jackson, and Michael Jordan, while an older fan remembered the team's former glory.
• A tearful young woman asked whether the Bulls could still win, but no one answered.
• Li Fei arrived at his Long Island home and found Monica Bellucci waiting for him.
• Monica praised Li Fei's performance and told him she would go to Paris for a film festival the following week.
• Li Fei and Monica kissed and embraced on the sofa.

The Lakers opened their new Staples Center with a showdown against the Orlando Magic, showcasing Phil Jackson’s revamped team and its Triangle Offense. Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O'Neal, and Glen Rice immediately clicked, and the Lakers turned the game into a one-sided rout.

• Staples Center hosted its first regular-season game as the Lakers welcomed the Orlando Magic.
• The crowd roared as Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O'Neal, and new addition Glen Rice were introduced.
• Kobe Bryant calmly passed out of a double-team to Glen Rice, who opened the scoring with a three-pointer.
• Darrell Armstrong drove into the paint but missed after Shaquille O'Neal and Robert Horry disrupted his shot.
• O'Neal grabbed the rebound and launched an outlet pass to Kobe, who sprinted downcourt and finished with a 360-degree dunk.
• The Lakers took control, and the game turned into a one-sided slaughter.

The Lakers opened their season by crushing the Orlando Magic 128–76, with Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe Bryant, and Glen Rice combining for 89 points. As commentators cast the Lakers as the Knicks' strongest rival, Li Fei read their assessment the next morning and welcomed the increasingly competitive league.

• The Lakers used Phil Jackson's Triangle Offense to dominate the Magic, building a 40-point lead by the middle of the third quarter.
• The Lakers defeated the Magic 128–76, as O'Neal scored 35 points, Kobe Bryant scored 28, and Glen Rice scored 26.
• Kevin Harlan, Marv Albert, and Bill Walton praised the Lakers' strength and predicted a Finals showdown against Li Fei's Knicks.
• Bill Walton called the Lakers the Knicks' strongest and only opponent on their Road to Defense.
• Li Fei read the headline about the Lakers' 52-point rout at his Long Island manor, kissed Monica Bellucci, and started his day.

After the Lakers’ 52-point rout, Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe Bryant, and Glen Rice credited Phil Jackson’s Triangle Offense for their improved performances. Phil Jackson praised the team’s early play but said they still needed to improve before pursuing their championship goal.

• Mark Heisler asked Shaquille O'Neal how Phil Jackson’s Triangle Offense had changed his game, and O'Neal called it an evolution and a rebirth.
• O'Neal said the system freed him to receive the ball in his preferred position and credited Phil Jackson with designing the offense.
• Kobe Bryant said he had grown as a leader after Phil Jackson showed him how Michael Jordan used passing and trust to make teammates better.
• Kobe explained that he passed to open teammates when Shaquille O'Neal drew defenders and when Glen Rice got free.
• Glen Rice said Phil Jackson’s plays let him run into shooting opportunities and fit his skills perfectly.
• Phil Jackson said the Lakers still had problems with rotations and defensive communication and were focused on their goal for next June.

After the Lakers crushed their season-opening opponents by 52 points, Los Angeles celebrated the team as a revived championship contender led by Phil Jackson, Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe Bryant, and Glen Rice. The city’s fans looked ahead to a showdown with Li Fei and the Knicks.

• Major sports outlets praised the Lakers’ 128:76 victory and hailed Phil Jackson’s impact, the Triangle Offense, and the O'Neal-Bryant-Rice trio.
• The Los Angeles Times declared that the Lakers were back and named the Larry O'Brien Trophy as their goal, with Li Fei and the Knicks as their chief rivals.
• Los Angeles fans celebrated the victory at bars, on campus, and across the city, praising the players and calling for the Lakers to defeat the Knicks.
• Lakers merchandise and murals spread through Los Angeles as fans embraced the team’s championship hopes and cast Li Fei as the final obstacle to their new dynasty.

At Knicks practice, Arvydas Sabonis worried that his age, injuries, and the Lakers’ improved play could keep New York from defending its title. Li Fei reassured him that the Knicks could still win a third straight championship, and Sabonis left determined to prepare his body for the season.

• Li Fei finished a hundred free throws at the Knicks' training facility and joined Arvydas Sabonis on the sideline.
• Sabonis told Li Fei that the Lakers looked like a major threat and worried about the Knicks losing Larry Johnson and his own ability to stay healthy.
• Li Fei argued that the Knicks still had strengths in Sabonis’s passing, their new players, and Li Fei’s leadership, and said a three-peat was their destiny.
• Sabonis regained his determination and went to the weight room to work on his leg strength and core stability.

Li Fei led the Knicks to three straight wins and earned Eastern Conference Player of the Week, while the media began building a rivalry with Kobe Bryant. During a day of rest in Manhattan, Monica Bellucci visited Li Fei at his hotel, where their flirtation grew more intimate.

• The Knicks beat the Nets, Hornets, and Nuggets, with Li Fei delivering efficient performances across all three games.
• Li Fei was named Eastern Conference Player of the Week for the 35th time as Kobe Bryant received the Western Conference honor, prompting the media to stir up a rivalry.
• Li Fei stayed at the Four Seasons Hotel in Manhattan instead of returning to his Long Island estate.
• Monica Bellucci arrived at Li Fei's hotel room, and the two flirted as he kissed her hand.
• Li Fei asked Monica whether she was free the next day.

Li Fei took Monica shopping on Fifth Avenue, bought her jewelry and clothes, and found her an original Italian film poster before they watched Fight Club together. The next morning, he joined David Falk and LF Sports executives to discuss the brand’s product strategy, beginning with the LF 5.

• Li Fei and Monica went to Tiffany & Co., where he bought her the Lucida diamond rings and Victoria collection jewelry.
• Li Fei bought Monica clothes and accessories at Prada, Gucci, and Hermès.
• Li Fei found Monica an original poster for It's a Hard Life, which moved her deeply.
• Li Fei and Monica watched Fight Club at an AMC Theatres cinema in Times Square.
• Li Fei attended an LF Sports strategy meeting led by David Falk, who introduced the four signature shoe series and began with the LF 5.

Li Fei approved plans for four new signature basketball shoes as his company prepared to challenge Nike and Adidas. In Los Angeles, Kobe Bryant pushed through an exhausting training session, driven by fierce determination.

• The marketing director proposed making LF 5 lighter and more streamlined while preserving its stability and protection.
• The design team presented Flying Pig III as a heavy, heavily armored shoe aimed at streetwear fans and interior players, and Li Fei approved the concept.
• Falk and the design team outlined rebellious designs for The Answer II and streamlined Foamposite technology for Mamba II.
• Li Fei ordered the team to spare no expense on materials and technology for all four shoes.
• Kobe Bryant continued running suicides beyond his scheduled training, ignoring his trainer’s warning until he finished the final set.

Kobe tried the new Mamba II shoes from LF Sports and resolved to challenge Li Fei by leading the Lakers to the Finals and ending his dynasty. In Philadelphia, Allen Iverson continued training and received his own LF Sports package.

• Kobe received and opened a box of Mamba II basketball shoes from LF Sports.
• Kobe tested the shoes on the court and praised their fit, support, and springy cushioning.
• Kobe decided he would raise his scoring average, lead the Lakers out of the West, and defeat Li Fei in the Finals.
• Kobe called Shaq and told him their new season began immediately.
• Allen Iverson practiced his crossover at the 76ers' training facility and received a black LF Sports box.

Iverson and Kobe formed an alliance to challenge Li Fei, while Li Fei remained unaware and led the Knicks through a dominant start to the new season. The Knicks extended their winning streak with a string of victories.

• Iverson opened the box containing The Answer II, admired the shoes, and decided to challenge Li Fei.
• Iverson texted Kobe about joining forces against Li Fei, and Kobe replied, “Deal.”
• Li Fei considered expanding LF Sports while unaware that Iverson and Kobe had allied against him.
• The Knicks defeated the Raptors 115-92, with Li Fei scoring 32 points, grabbing 16 rebounds, and blocking six shots in three quarters.
• Li Fei scored 41 points and collected 22 rebounds in the Knicks’ 110-102 win over the Kings, then scored 38 points to lead them past the SuperSonics 105-95.

The Knicks extended their dominant start to 9-1 as Li Fei posted extraordinary numbers, then prepared to face the Miami Heat in a rematch of last season’s Eastern Conference Finals. While Miami promised revenge and special tactics, Li Fei dismissed the Heat as a major obstacle on the Knicks’ path to the championship.

• The Knicks routed the Nuggets and Hawks, with Allan Houston’s hot shooting and Li Fei’s eight blocks against Dikembe Mutombo helping them reach a 9-1 record.
• Li Fei averaged 35.8 points, 17.5 rebounds, 5.2 assists, and 4.8 blocks as November ended.
• Alonzo Mourning, Tim Hardaway, and Pat Riley declared that the Heat were prepared to avenge last season’s playoff defeat and had a plan for Li Fei.
• Li Fei told reporters that he respected Miami but did not consider the Heat a major opponent on the Knicks’ road to the championship.

Li Fei dismissed the Miami Heat as an inferior obstacle, fueling the team's and fans' anger ahead of the game. The Knicks opened against Miami in a hostile arena, and Alonzo Mourning defended Li Fei on the low block.

• Li Fei said the Heat could make things difficult but lacked the talent and strength to beat the Knicks.
• TNT commentators discussed how Li Fei's remarks would motivate Miami and predicted Alonzo Mourning would challenge him.
• Miami fans filled American Airlines Arena and booed Li Fei as the pregame montage replayed his comments.
• Li Fei calmly shot during warmups while Mourning focused on sprints and defensive slides, keeping his gaze on Li.
• Li Fei tipped the opening jump ball to Latrell Sprewell, and Tim Hardaway aggressively pressured him as the Knicks brought the ball up.
• The Knicks passed the ball to Li Fei on the low block, where Alonzo Mourning defended him.

Li Fei and the Knicks weathered Miami’s bruising defense, then used Sprewell and Sabonis to open up their offense in the second half. The Knicks held a six-point halftime lead as Stephen Jackson took charge of the second unit.

• Li Fei scored over Mourning with a fadeaway, then blocked his hook shot on the Heat’s next possession.
• The Heat battered the Knicks with physical defense, but New York led 48–42 at halftime, with Mourning having three fouls and Li Fei 16 points.
• Sprewell attacked more aggressively after halftime, exploiting the Heat’s focus on Li Fei.
• Sabonis punished double-teams with high-post passes to cutters and open shooters, helping Li Fei, Sprewell, and Sabonis power the Knicks’ offense.
• Stephen Jackson led the Knicks’ second unit as Pat Riley watched the matchup become more difficult for Miami.

The Knicks routed the Heat 118-94 in Miami, led by Li Fei’s dominant performance and a deep, fluid team attack. After the game, the defeated Heat players sat in silence until Pat Riley entered their locker room and told them to lift their heads.

• The Knicks widened their lead to 16 points by the end of the third quarter as their bench’s passing and movement overwhelmed Miami’s defense.
• Sprewell stole Hardaway’s pass and dunked on a fast break, putting the Knicks ahead 105-83 and prompting Pat Riley to call a timeout.
• The Knicks finished with a 118-94 road win, with Li Fei scoring 38 points and Alonzo Mourning fouling out after scoring 21.
• The exhausted Heat players returned to a silent locker room, where Mourning struggled with the loss and Hardaway questioned why their effort had not been enough.
• Pat Riley entered the locker room without berating the team and told the players to lift their heads.

After the Knicks defeated the Heat, Alonzo Mourning vowed to fight harder in their next meeting while Li Fei credited his teammates for the win. Watching the Knicks thrive without him, Larry Johnson wrestled with his decision to leave as he prepared to return to New York for his championship ring ceremony.

• Alonzo Mourning admitted the Heat had been outplayed by Li Fei and the Knicks, but promised to keep fighting when they met again.
• Li Fei praised Sprewell, Allan Houston, Sabonis, Stephen Jackson, and the bench for their roles in the Knicks' victory.
• Larry Johnson watched the Knicks' highlights and recognized that Sabonis and Sprewell had helped make the team stronger and more versatile.
• Larry Johnson reflected on leaving New York for Washington's lucrative contract, remembering his former teammates and the Knicks' championship celebrations.
• Larry Johnson learned that the Wizards would play the Knicks in New York, where he would receive his championship ring as an opponent, and realized he could not sleep.