Chapter Summaries

Larry Johnson returned to Madison Square Garden as a Washington Wizard to receive his championship ring, while the Knicks’ recent success without him fueled doubts about his decision to leave. After the ceremony, TNT reporter Craig Sager approached him for an interview.

• Larry Johnson struggled to sleep as the Knicks’ smooth offense and his upcoming return to New York occupied his thoughts.
• Sports media and fans debated the Knicks’ improved play and speculated about how Larry Johnson would feel returning to face his former team.
• The Knicks welcomed Larry Johnson before their game against the Washington Wizards, and he accepted his championship ring from NBA Commissioner David Stern and owner James Dolan.
• Larry Johnson watched his former teammates applaud and questioned whether leaving the Knicks for the Wizards’ five-year, $85 million contract had been worth it.
• Craig Sager approached Larry Johnson with a microphone after the ring ceremony.

Larry Johnson reflected on leaving the Knicks before facing Li Fei as a Wizard, and Li Fei dominated their opening matchup. The Knicks quickly built a 6–0 lead as Johnson realized how overwhelming his former teammate was as an opponent.

• Larry Johnson told Sager he did not regret leaving the Knicks and said he would focus on helping the Wizards.
• The Knicks won the opening tip, and Li Fei scored over Johnson with a fadeaway to make it 2–0.
• Johnson tried to drive past Li Fei but ran into his defense, and the Wizards missed their shot before Sabonis grabbed the rebound.
• Li Fei backed Johnson down and scored a hook shot, extending the Knicks' lead to 4–0.
• Li Fei caught Sabonis's pass after moving off a screen and hit a jumper to put the Knicks ahead 6–0.

The Knicks routed Larry Johnson and the Wizards 125-95, while Li Fei and Larry shared an emotional conversation after the game. At the press conference, Larry described his feelings about returning to Madison Square Garden and the awe he felt facing Li as an opponent.

• The Knicks built a 17-point lead in the first quarter and controlled the game, winning by 30 as Li Fei scored 48 points and Larry Johnson managed 11.
• After the final buzzer, Li Fei embraced Larry Johnson and praised his defense, leadership, and contribution to the Knicks’ championship.
• Li Fei joked that the Knicks might have won by 40 if Larry were still on the team, easing Larry’s sadness before they said goodbye.
• Larry Johnson told reporters that his feelings about returning to Madison Square Garden had become more complicated and that facing Li Fei had left him in awe.

After Larry Johnson described how impossible Li Fei was to defend, the Knicks turned their attention to their Christmas Day Finals rematch against the Spurs. As commentators debated the game’s likely outcome, Li Fei calmly prepared Rolex gifts for his teammates.

• Larry Johnson told reporters that facing Li Fei had left him despairing and grateful he had been Li Fei’s teammate for most of his career.
• The Knicks moved on from their game against the Washington Wizards and prepared to host the Spurs on Christmas Day.
• Kevin Harlan, Marv Albert, and Bill Walton previewed the Finals rematch, with Albert favoring the Knicks and Walton predicting a narrow Spurs victory.
• Li Fei arranged more than a dozen Rolex gift boxes for his teammates and opened one containing a Submariner.

The Knicks exchanged personalized Christmas gifts in the locker room before their game against the Mavericks, strengthening the team's camaraderie. After coach Jeff Van Gundy rallied the players to defend their title, he asked Li Fei to speak before the game.

• Li Fei prepared custom Rolex watches engraved with each Knicks player's initials and jersey number, while Sprewell, Houston, Sabonis, Marshall, and Stephen Jackson prepared gifts for their teammates.
• On Christmas Day, Li Fei and the other Knicks arrived at Madison Square Garden with their gifts and exchanged them in the locker room.
• The players celebrated their gifts, and Van Gundy watched as the team's warmth and unity grew.
• Van Gundy rallied the Knicks to face the visiting Texans, reminding them of last season's championship victory and asking whether they were ready to fight.
• Van Gundy turned to Li Fei and asked him to say something to the team before the game.

The 1999 Christmas Day Game featured three marquee matchups before the Knicks faced the San Antonio Spurs at Madison Square Garden. The Bulls beat the Lakers, the Timberwolves defeated the Rockets, and the Heat-Magic game remained in a tense finish.

• Li Fei rallied the Knicks before they took the court at Madison Square Garden to face the San Antonio Spurs.
• Michael Jordan scored 35 points and hit the decisive shot as the Bulls beat Kobe Bryant and the Lakers 98–96; Jordan embraced Kobe afterward.
• Kevin Garnett posted 32 points, 18 rebounds, and 6 assists to lead the Timberwolves past the Rockets 105–95, despite Houston's veterans combining for 55 points.
• Tracy McGrady thrilled the crowd with a self-alley-oop, and Anfernee Hardaway made a contested floater late as the Heat and Magic battled in a close finish.

The Knicks prepared for their Christmas Day rematch against the Spurs as Li Fei gave his teammates Rolex Daytona watches in the locker room. The chapter ended with the Knicks entering Madison Square Garden to face the defending champions’ challengers.

• The Orlando Magic defeated the Miami Heat 101–99, led by Hardaway’s 28 points and 10 assists and McGrady’s 30 points.
• TNT commentators Kevin Harlan, Marv Albert, and Bill Walton introduced the Knicks-Spurs Finals rematch as a highly anticipated Christmas Day game at Madison Square Garden.
• The Knicks entered the packed arena to a deafening welcome, led by captain Li Fei.
• After Jeff Van Gundy finished his pregame speech, Li Fei gave his teammates Rolex Cosmograph Daytona watches as championship and Christmas gifts.
• Allan Houston admired the watch and told Li Fei that it was too expensive.

Before the Knicks faced the Spurs, Li Fei gave each teammate a Rolex, lifting the Knicks’ spirits while the Spurs quietly prepared for the game. Sprewell revealed the gifts during a pregame interview, and the broadcast crew marveled at their effect on team unity.

• Sprewell joked that he would use his new watch to wake up any teammate who slacked off, while Sabonis and Sprewell shared wine and headphones as gifts and Houston handed out books.
• Li Fei thanked Houston for the books, and the Knicks’ locker room filled with laughter and camaraderie.
• Popovich quietly told Duncan he knew what to do as the Spurs prepared to face the Knicks, still driven by their Finals defeat.
• David Robinson told Craig Sager that the Spurs were ready, while Duncan gave a brief answer and walked away.
• Sprewell revealed that Li Fei had given every Knicks player a Rolex Daytona, and the arena and TNT commentators erupted in surprise.

Li Fei opened the game against the San Antonio Spurs by overwhelming Tim Duncan with his speed and skill, then drawing David Robinson into help defense and assisting Donyell Marshall for a three-pointer. The Knicks took an early 3–0 lead as the commentators praised Li Fei’s development into an elite passer.

• Sprewell told reporters that Li Fei would provide the Knicks with assists as well as Rolexes.
• Li Fei beat David Robinson to the opening tip, giving the Knicks the first possession.
• Allan Houston passed to Li Fei, who used a spin move and crossover to get past Tim Duncan.
• David Robinson came over to help, and Li Fei passed beneath his arm to Donyell Marshall in the corner.
• Donyell Marshall made the three-pointer to put the Knicks ahead 3–0.
• Kevin Harlan, Marv Albert, and Bill Walton praised Li Fei’s passing and his transformation into an all-around leader.

The San Antonio Spurs repeatedly targeted Arvydas Sabonis’ slow defensive mobility, while Sabonis answered with strong scoring and playmaking. After David Robinson’s three-point play put the Spurs ahead 18–15, Jeff Van Gundy adjusted the Knicks’ defense to give Sabonis more help.

• Tony Parker and David Robinson used a high pick-and-roll to draw Li Fei away and score a mid-range jumper.
• The Spurs kept pulling Sabonis away from the basket, and Robinson hit a three-pointer to give San Antonio a 6–5 lead.
• Sabonis dunked after receiving Li Fei’s pass, then assisted Latrell Sprewell on a cut to help the Knicks retake the lead.
• David Robinson drew a foul from Sabonis while completing a layup, giving the Spurs an 18–15 lead with a three-point play.
• Jeff Van Gundy called timeout and adjusted the Knicks’ defense so Li Fei would provide more help on rotations.

The Knicks answered the Spurs’ pick-and-roll attack with Li Fei’s help defense and a putback dunk, but Sean Elliott’s buzzer-beating three gave San Antonio a 21–20 first-quarter lead. Knicks owner James Dolan and general manager Scott Layden watched Sabonis struggle to defend the Spurs’ speed and began confronting the problem.

• Li Fei blocked Parker’s shot, and Sprewell turned the rebound into a fast-break layup that brought the Knicks within one point.
• Li Fei passed out of a double-team, Sabonis secured an offensive rebound, and Li Fei dunked through Robinson’s foul to put the Knicks ahead.
• Sean Elliott hit a buzzer-beating three, ending the first quarter with the Spurs ahead 21–20.
• The broadcasters reviewed the Spurs’ attack on Sabonis and the Knicks’ adjustment of using Li Fei as a wider help defender.
• James Dolan and Scott Layden agreed that the Spurs were exploiting Sabonis’s lack of mobility with Robinson’s shooting and Parker’s speed.

The Knicks’ management questioned whether Sabonis’s declining defense justified his salary, while the Spurs exploited his weaknesses to take a five-point halftime lead. Li Fei encouraged Sabonis in the locker room, and the Knicks prepared to make their push in the second half.

• Dolan told Layden to reassess Sabonis’s value and consider reducing his role or replacing him if his defensive problems continued.
• Robinson and Duncan repeatedly attacked Sabonis as the Spurs widened the gap, and Parker stole one of his passes for a fast-break layup.
• The Knicks entered halftime trailing the Spurs 48–53, and Sabonis sat frustrated over his performance.
• Li Fei reassured Sabonis that he would handle the defensive burden and urged him to focus on positioning, rebounding, and passing in the second half.
• Sabonis regained his resolve and agreed with Li Fei that the Twin Towers could still turn the game around.

Li Fei took over on both ends as the Knicks opened the third quarter against the Spurs, tying the score with a dunk, a steal, and an assist. The chapter left the Knicks energized, while Scott Layden worried that Li Fei’s demanding play might drain his stamina.

• Van Gundy told the Knicks to focus on defense and rebounds, then trusted Li Fei to lead the second half.
• Li Fei backed down Tim Duncan and dunked over Duncan and David Robinson to open the third quarter.
• Li Fei left Duncan to block Tony Parker’s drive and strip the ball, starting a Knicks fast break.
• Li Fei passed to Allan Houston, who hit a three-pointer to tie the game at 53–53.
• James Dolan praised Li Fei’s two-way dominance, while Scott Layden worried about the stamina his play required.

Li Fei took over in the second half, leading the Knicks past the Spurs 115-105 with 62 points, 21 rebounds, 9 assists, and 5 blocks. The win left the Knicks atop the matchup, while the commentators warned that the stronger Spurs could pose a greater threat in a playoff rematch.

• Li Fei scored and set up teammates as the Knicks erased the Spurs' lead and went ahead by six, forcing Popovich to call timeout.
• The Spurs began double- and triple-teaming Li Fei, but he passed out to Donyell Marshall for a corner three and scored through a foul when they hesitated.
• With the Knicks leading by four late in the fourth quarter, Li Fei hit a step-back long two over Duncan to restore a six-point lead.
• Li Fei continued scoring against Duncan and Robinson, and the Knicks defeated the Spurs 115-105 at home.
• The TNT commentators praised Li Fei's 62-point performance, while Bill Walton cautioned that a playoff rematch with the improved Spurs would be harder.

After Li Fei led the Knicks to a comeback win over the Spurs, Gregg Popovich identified Arvydas Sabonis’s defense as a weakness he could exploit in a playoff series. At the press conference, reporters questioned Li Fei about his first-half performance and his second-half surge.

• Gregg Popovich reviewed Li Fei’s second-half performance and concluded that the Knicks relied heavily on his individual heroics.
• Popovich recognized Arvydas Sabonis’s limited mobility as a weakness and considered how the Spurs could target him in a playoff series.
• At the press conference, Popovich credited Li Fei’s difficult shots and Jeff Van Gundy’s adjustments while concealing his concerns about Sabonis.
• A Sports Illustrated reporter asked Li Fei whether he had held back in the first half and surged later to cover for Sabonis’s defensive struggles.

After the Knicks' win over the Spurs, Li Fei defended Sabonis at a press conference and explained his second-half scoring surge as a team adjustment. Moved by Li Fei's support, Sabonis resolved not to run away, retire, or request a trade.

• A reporter asked Li Fei whether he had deliberately held back in the first half to protect Sabonis's reputation.
• Li Fei said Sabonis had been vital to the Knicks' first-half offense and explained that he attacked more directly after the Spurs disrupted their passing lanes.
• Sabonis read harsh online criticism of his performance and recalled feeling helpless and ashamed during the game.
• Sabonis watched Li Fei defend him at the press conference and remembered the ways Li Fei had supported him since he joined the Knicks.
• Sabonis stood by the window and decided that running away, retiring, or requesting a trade would be irresponsible.

Arvydas Sabonis recommitted himself to training for another championship, while Li Fei’s comeback performance sparked a surge in sales at the Li Fei Brand flagship store. The brand’s growing success showed it was gaining ground against Nike and Adidas.

• Arvydas Sabonis called the team nutritionist and strength coach to arrange a stricter diet and extra training.
• Arvydas Sabonis began lifting weights in his basement, determined to make another run at a championship.
• A crowd gathered outside the Li Fei Brand flagship store after Li Fei’s comeback and press conference drew attention.
• David received reports that several Li Fei Brand shoe lines were selling out, while online orders surged.
• The chapter described how Li Fei Brand’s Air Fly, Flying Pig, and Answer lines appealed to different players and fans.

After Li Fei’s victory sent sales of his signature shoe lines soaring, he spent a leisurely day at his Long Island estate with Angelina Jolie. They celebrated his success and enjoyed the estate’s amenities, ending their afternoon after a tennis match.

• Li Fei’s shoe sales surged after his game, and Stern told David Falk that servers were strained and stores were running low on stock.
• Angelina Jolie brought Li Fei a Valentine’s Day edition of the Air Fly VI and asked him to autograph it.
• Li Fei signed the shoe and joked with Jolie about her being his lucky goddess as they celebrated his success together.
• Li Fei and Jolie toured the estate, choosing a film to watch, relaxing in the sauna, and playing billiards.
• Li Fei and Jolie played tennis outdoors until Jolie called a break, and he handed her water and wiped the sweat from her face.

Li Fei shared an intimate evening with Julie, then arrived at Knicks practice energized before the team faced the formidable Sacramento Kings. The chapter ended by detailing the Kings’ Princeton offense and the players who powered it.

• Li Fei practiced shooting on his estate’s court while Julie watched, then Julie asked him to take her home.
• Li Fei and Julie spent the night together in his bedroom.
• Li Fei arrived at the Knicks’ training facility the next day, where Sprewell teased him about his energy.
• Li Fei casually sank a shot, and the team focused on its upcoming game against the Sacramento Kings.
• The chapter described how Chris Webber, Peja Stojaković, Vlade Divac, Doug Christie, Jason Williams, and Bobby Jackson drove the Kings’ high-powered offense.

The Knicks and Sacramento Kings traded baskets in a high-scoring first quarter, with Li Fei overpowering the Kings’ defense. After the Knicks took a 50–42 lead, Li Fei told his teammates that the Kings’ show was over.

• TNT commentators debated whether the Kings’ passing offense or the Knicks’ defense and Li Fei would prevail.
• The Kings opened with a fast passing sequence that ended in Doug Christie scoring at the rim.
• Li Fei answered with a solo drive and a jumper, then kept scoring as the Kings’ defense double-teamed him.
• The Knicks and Kings combined for 92 points in the first quarter, with the Knicks leading 50–42 and setting a franchise record.
• Rick Adelman urged Chris Webber and Vlade Divac to double-team Li Fei, while Webber admitted they could not contain him.
• Li Fei told his Knicks teammates that the Kings’ offense was interesting to watch, but its showtime was over.