Chapter Summaries

The All-Defensive and All-Rookie teams were announced, and TNT commentators described Li Fei as the force behind the Knicks’ historic defense. As fans celebrated Li Fei’s MVP and Defensive Player of the Year awards outside his Fifth Avenue store, the story left them waiting together amid a surge of excitement.

• ESPN reported that Li Fei led the All-NBA First Team, while Sprewell made the Third Team and Sabonis missed selection because he had not played enough games.
• Harlan, Albert, and Walton discussed Li Fei’s defensive impact on TNT, crediting him with making the All-Defensive First Team lineup historically strong.
• Fans debated whether Steve Francis or Elton Brand deserved Rookie of the Year, pointing to their statistics and teams’ records.
• Thousands of fans queued outside the Li Fei Sports Flagship Store and celebrated Li Fei’s sixth consecutive MVP and Defensive Player of the Year awards.
• The store manager told his companion that sales had surged again and said Li Fei had been right that the controversy would motivate people.

The Knicks prepared for the NBA Finals while waiting to learn whether they would face the Lakers or the Rockets. Li Fei urged his teammates to treat their shot at a third consecutive championship as a privilege, leaving them focused on proving they were the league’s best.

• Li Fei arrived at the training center and told Sprewell the Knicks would beat either possible Finals opponent.
• Van Gundy told Thibodeau he feared the pressure of pursuing a three-peat could make the team tense.
• Van Gundy reviewed the Knicks’ playoff losses and outlined defensive plans for the Lakers or Rockets.
• Li Fei told the team to ignore distractions and see their third straight Finals appearance as an opportunity.
• Li Fei said the Knicks had proved they were the best in the Eastern Conference and would now prove they were the best in the league.

Li Fei urged the Knicks to focus on the present and give their all as they prepared for the NBA Finals. Their intense practice sharpened the team’s play, while Sabonis showed renewed determination despite his age and injuries.

• Li Fei told the Knicks to focus on each possession rather than think about winning a three-peat, and the players rose to begin practice.
• Van Gundy ran a half-court scrimmage, correcting Li Fei’s finish against contact and the team’s offensive and defensive details.
• Li Fei blocked Jackson’s jumper and powered through the reserve defense for a two-handed dunk.
• After Van Gundy corrected Sabonis’s post defense, Sabonis held his position on the next possession and forced his opponent to pass.
• The exhausted Knicks finished practice as Li Fei continued shooting and Sabonis watched, driven by his desire to win despite his injuries.

Sabonis told Li Fei that he planned to retire after the season and wanted to win one last championship, and the two promised to give everything they had. Meanwhile, the Rockets beat the Lakers 96–90 in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals, cutting the Lakers’ series lead to 3–2.

• Sabonis told Li Fei that his body could no longer take another season and that he wanted to leave everything on the court for a championship.
• Li Fei and Sabonis shot free throws together, then clasped hands and promised to give everything they had to win.
• Van Gundy told the team to watch Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals the next morning before beginning matchup-specific training.
• The Lakers jumped ahead early in Game 5, but Barkley, Olajuwon, and Pippen rallied the Rockets to a seven-point lead after three quarters.
• Kobe and O'Neal led a late Lakers push, but Barkley scored a key turnaround jumper and Pippen made two free throws to seal Houston’s 96–90 win.

The Houston Rockets celebrated their road win over the Lakers and resolved to tie the series at home. Kobe acknowledged the Lakers’ mistakes after their loss and began urging the team to prepare for the next game.

• Barkley rallied the Houston Rockets after their 3–2 road win and said they would tie the series at Compaq Center.
• Olajuwon and Pippen agreed that the Rockets could force a Game 7 by winning at home.
• The Lakers sat in a stunned locker room as O'Neal, Fisher, and Horry reflected on their struggles and missed chances.
• Kobe said the Lakers had fought for only half the game and identified defensive and offensive mistakes that contributed to the loss.

Kobe rallied the Lakers after their loss to the Houston Rockets, insisting they had to win Game 6 in Houston. In Manhattan, Li Fei watched the Rockets take a 3–2 lead and began planning for the NBA Finals, leaving his focus fixed on pursuing a three-peat.

• Kobe told the Lakers that their problems were shared and that they had to play all 48 minutes to win Game 6 in Houston.
• Kobe scheduled a film session for eight the next morning, and O'Neal told the team that late arrivals would buy breakfast.
• Li Fei watched highlights of Houston's 96–90 win over the Lakers and discussed the series with Monica Bellucci.
• Li Fei said he would welcome either the Lakers or the Houston Rockets in the NBA Finals, though he would find facing his former teammates more interesting.
• Li Fei planned to use fast breaks and transition offense against either team and declared a three-peat his goal.

Sports media and fans reacted to the Rockets’ Game 5 win, while the Lakers arrived focused for Game 6 and took a 12-point lead over Houston after the first quarter.

• Sports outlets and online commenters criticized the Lakers’ lack of focus in Game 5 and debated whether they would recover in Game 6.
• The Lakers entered Compaq Center with renewed determination, led by O'Neal and Kobe.
• O'Neal scored over Olajuwon with a patient low-post hook, and Kobe answered Pippen with a post-up fadeaway.
• Glen Rice made all three of his first-quarter three-pointers as the Lakers built a 34-22 lead.
• The Rockets’ home crowd fell quieter as uneasy fans watched the Lakers seize control.

The Lakers crushed the Houston Rockets 108–82 in Game 6, eliminating them 4–2 and advancing to the Finals. Olajuwon, Barkley, and Pippen left the court to a respectful ovation as the Rockets’ future and the veterans’ careers remained uncertain.

• Barkley, Olajuwon, and Pippen tried to rally the Houston Rockets, but O'Neal, Kobe, and Fisher helped the Lakers extend their lead to 58–40 by halftime.
• O'Neal and Kobe dominated in the third quarter, and the Lakers entered the fourth leading 82–58.
• Tomjanovich benched Olajuwon, Barkley, and Pippen as the game turned into garbage time.
• The Lakers defeated the Houston Rockets 108–82, won the series 4–2, and advanced to the Finals.
• Compaq Center fans applauded Olajuwon, Barkley, and Pippen as the veterans walked into the players' tunnel.

After Houston’s season ended, Barkley, Olajuwon, and Pippen reflected on their injuries, age, and desire to keep playing. They left the locker room together to face the waiting reporters, each still unwilling to consider his career over.

• Barkley looked at his Game 6 stats, lamented that his aging body could no longer keep up, and said he still wanted to play.
• Olajuwon said he had no regrets about his Houston career but still wanted to play because he loved basketball.
• Pippen said he could not defend Kobe for a full game anymore, praised his potential, and vowed to keep playing.
• Barkley led Olajuwon, who used crutches, and Pippen out of the locker room toward the reporters.

After eliminating the Rockets, Shaq and Kobe looked ahead to facing Li Fei and the Lakers’ next challenge in the NBA Finals. Kobe declared that he had spent the year preparing to make Li Fei uncomfortable and that the Lakers would win.

• Olajuwon paused at a poster of the Rockets’ 1994 championship, and Barkley told him his best days were still ahead as long as he kept playing.
• The Lakers celebrated reaching the NBA Finals after routing the Rockets in Game 6.
• O'Neal praised the Rockets’ veterans and said the Lakers wanted the win more before declaring that he and Kobe would beat Li Fei.
• Kobe recalled his previous Finals matchup with Li Fei and described how he had studied Li Fei’s game and trained to defend him.
• Kobe told reporters he could make Li Fei uncomfortable with the Lakers’ team defense and said his only goal was to win the NBA Finals.

After eliminating the Rockets, the Lakers prepared to face Li Fei and the Knicks in the NBA Finals. In Houston, fans and headlines marked the possible end of the Rockets' veteran Big Three era.

• Fisher credited the Rockets' legends while saying the Lakers were ready to face the Knicks in the Finals.
• Horry questioned whether the Knicks' supporting players could keep up with the Lakers over a series.
• Jackson said the Lakers had studied the Knicks and would answer on the court in Game 1 at Madison Square Garden.
• Fans gathered outside the Compaq Center to honor Olajuwon after the Rockets' elimination.
• ESPN reported that the futures of Olajuwon, Barkley, and Pippen were uncertain, while TNT praised Pippen's final defensive effort.

After the Lakers eliminated the Rockets in Game 6, news outlets and fans celebrated the Lakers’ advance and reflected on the possible end of Houston’s Big Three. The story left with the NBA Finals between Li Fei’s Knicks and O’Neal and Kobe’s Lakers looming, set to begin June 7 at Madison Square Garden.

• Woj wrote that the Rockets’ season ended at Compaq Center after the Lakers’ star trio overwhelmed Houston in Game 6.
• The Los Angeles Times, Houston Chronicle, and New York Times covered the Lakers’ advance, the Rockets’ uncertain future, and the coming Finals.
• Fans online celebrated the Knicks-Lakers matchup and debated Li Fei against O’Neal and Kobe while honoring Houston’s Big Three.
• ESPN and other outlets began promoting the Finals, comparing the teams’ stars, experience, depth, and championship ambitions.
• Newspapers highlighted Li Fei’s bid for a third straight title and O’Neal and Kobe’s shared goal of winning the championship in New York.
• NBC announced that the Finals would begin June 7 at Madison Square Garden.

The Lakers defeated the Rockets and advanced to the NBA Finals against Li Fei’s Knicks, while American and Chinese commentators debated the matchup. The chapter ended with CCTV editors discussing Li Fei’s legacy as he pursued another championship and a three-peat.

• Kevin Harlan, Marv Albert, and Bill Walton debated whether the Knicks or Lakers would win the Finals and predicted how many games the series would last.
• Marv Albert named Li Fei the key player, while Bill Walton said Kobe would determine whether the Lakers won.
• The Lakers beat the Rockets 108–82 in Game 6, taking the Western Conference Finals 4–2 and advancing to face the Knicks.
• China Central Television reported that Li Fei could win his fourth championship and complete the Knicks’ first three-peat.
• CCTV editors compared Li Fei’s accomplishments with Jordan’s and debated whether Li Fei already ranked among the greatest players.

The Lakers prepared for the NBA Finals against the Knicks as Phil Jackson reviewed the matchup and laid out a strategy focused on exploiting the Knicks beyond Li Fei. The chapter left the team with clear instructions to draw Li Fei away from the paint and double-team him immediately in the low post.

• A Beijing schoolboy admired a Li Fei poster and murmured that a three-peat would happen this year.
• O'Neal worked through painful knee exercises while preparing to face Li Fei in the Finals.
• Kobe relentlessly practiced midrange jumpers, shooting until his fingers were raw.
• Phil Jackson reviewed the Knicks' strengths and weaknesses with the Lakers in the film room.
• Jackson told the Lakers to use pick-and-rolls to pull Li Fei from the paint and to double-team him without hesitation whenever he caught the ball in the low post.

The Knicks prepared for their third straight NBA Finals, with Van Gundy and Li Fei urging the team to focus on the Lakers and each possession rather than the pressure of a three-peat. Li Fei and Sabonis pledged to give everything on the court as Game 1 approached.

• At the Lakers' practice, Kobe asked who would guard Li Fei in the high post, and Jackson assigned the task to him.
• The Knicks warmed up in a relaxed but focused atmosphere as Li Fei practiced free throws and Van Gundy gathered the team after practice.
• Van Gundy reminded the players that the Lakers had O'Neal and Kobe and warned them not to lose focus.
• Li Fei called the three-peat an opportunity, urged his teammates to concentrate only on the present, and demanded their full effort on every possession.
• After conditioning, Li Fei and Sabonis clasped hands and promised to leave everything on the court.
• The scene ended on June 7 at Madison Square Garden, as the Knicks faced Game 1 of the NBA Finals.

Li Fei spent a quiet evening with Monica Bellucci on the eve of the NBA Finals, watching basketball footage and reflecting on his life in the sport. The chapter ended with them sharing a tender moment before he went into battle.

• Li Fei watched Lakers and Knicks footage while Monica brought him steak and asked about his practice.
• Li Fei told Monica that basketball was part of him and that he could not imagine leaving it behind.
• Monica encouraged Li Fei to keep playing for as long as he could.
• Li Fei and Monica watched an old Italian film together, then went to the bedroom and kissed.

On the eve of the NBA Finals, Kevin Harlan, Marv Albert, and Bill Walton debated the Knicks’ and Lakers’ strengths and predicted how the matchup would unfold. Albert picked the Knicks to win in six, with Li Fei finishing the series at home.

• Marv Albert backed the Knicks, citing Li Fei’s dominant performance against the Bulls and the Lakers’ lack of a one-on-one defender for him.
• Bill Walton argued that the Lakers’ star power, depth, and defensive system could overcome Li Fei and the Knicks.
• Kevin Harlan compared the starting matchups, giving the Knicks advantages at point guard and small forward, the Lakers advantages at shooting guard and center, and calling power forward even.
• Walton warned that the Knicks’ weaker bench could decide the series in the Lakers’ favor.
• Albert predicted the Knicks would win the Finals in six games, with Li Fei closing out the series at home.

As the NBA Finals approached, analysts weighed the Lakers’ depth and experience against Li Fei and the Knicks, while Li Fei prepared for the opening game. On Finals morning, fans lined up in Manhattan to buy the Li Fei I championship colorway, and a crowd also gathered at the Lakers’ store.

• Walton, Harlan, and Albert debated the Finals matchup, citing the Lakers’ OK Duo, Glen Rice, and Phil Jackson against Li Fei and the Knicks.
• Li Fei lay awake in his Manhattan mansion, reviewed the Lakers’ strengths, and felt ready for the next night’s game.
• Hundreds of fans lined up outside the Li Fei Brand flagship store on Fifth Avenue to buy the championship colorway.
• A young influencer livestreamed from the line and said he was buying one pair to wear and one to collect.
• Hundreds of fans also lined up outside the Lakers’ retail store wearing Lakers jerseys and Kobe sneakers.

Fans across China and abroad queued for the limited-edition Li Fei VI championship colorway and Kobe’s Mamba II as the NBA Finals approached. Their stories showed how Li Fei sneakers had become tied to family promises and personal milestones, and a college student prepared to wear his new pair while watching Li Fei pursue a Three-Peat.

• A line of fans gathered for Kobe’s Mamba II in Purple and Gold, discussing whether Kobe could avenge last year’s defeat by Li Fei.
• In Beijing, a boy brought his worn Li Fei I sneakers to buy a new pair, planning to keep the old ones as a reminder of their years together.
• In Shanghai, Wang delayed a work meeting to buy the limited-edition championship shoes he had promised his son after the college entrance exams.
• In Guangzhou, a girl livestreamed her wait for Li Fei’s championship colorway while her boyfriend queued for Kobe’s Mamba II.
• In Shenzhen, an old man waited overnight to buy shoes for his grandson studying in the USA, telling him he had ordered them online.
• In Chengdu, a college student recorded the milestones connected to his first five Li Fei pairs and looked forward to watching Li Fei win the Three-Peat in his new shoes.

As the NBA Finals between the Knicks and Lakers approached, fans shared what Li Fei’s shoes and career meant to them while NBA stars offered personal predictions about the series. Allen Iverson and Charles Barkley picked the Knicks, while Hakeem Olajuwon expected seven games but did not choose a winner.

• In Nanjing, a boy collecting every colorway of Li Fei’s shoes said he planned to open a museum after Li Fei retired.
• In Hangzhou, a girl bought Li Fei’s championship-colorway shoes for her long-distance boyfriend so he could feel close to her while watching the Finals.
• Allen Iverson predicted the Knicks would beat the Lakers because Li Fei could decide games on his own.
• Charles Barkley picked the Knicks in seven, saying Li Fei could withstand the pressure of pursuing a Three-Peat.
• Hakeem Olajuwon analyzed the teams’ matchups and predicted the series would last seven games, though he did not name a winner.