Chapter Summaries

The Knicks defeated the 76ers 105–78 as Li Fei and Michael Jordan led a dominant performance, while Allen Iverson scored 41 in the loss. After the game, Iverson acknowledged Li Fei’s advantage in the paint and thanked him for his endorsement deal before going to greet Jordan.

• Li Fei scored 36 points, grabbed 22 rebounds, and blocked six shots as the Knicks beat the 76ers, while Jordan added 28 points and Iverson scored 41.
• The TNT commentators praised the Fei-Jordan duo’s complementary play and described Iverson as an elite scorer whose teammates had not given him enough support.
• Iverson completed the postgame handshake line and embraced Li Fei at center court.
• Iverson admitted Li Fei had shut down his drives in the second half and thanked him for signing him and giving him a signature shoe line.
• Li Fei told Iverson he deserved the deal and urged him to keep his fighting spirit and be himself.
• Iverson left Li Fei and walked over to Jordan, whom he had idolized since his teenage years.

After the Knicks defeated the 76ers, Iverson respectfully challenged Jordan to meet again in the playoffs, while Jordan and Li Fei turned their attention to the Christmas Day Game against the Lakers. The victory sparked nationwide debate about the Knicks' dynasty, Iverson's rise, and Jordan's more comfortable role in New York as both teams intensified their preparations for the showdown.

• Iverson praised Jordan, then promised to lead the 76ers in a playoff effort to take the Eastern Conference throne from the Knicks.
• Jordan accepted Iverson's challenge, and he and Li Fei identified the Lakers as their next major opponent in the Christmas Day Game.
• Sports media celebrated Li Fei and Jordan's dominance while debating Iverson's performance and the changing of eras in the league.
• O'Neal watched Li Fei overpower opponents in the paint, while Kobe focused on Jordan's declining defense, and the Lakers increased their training intensity.
• Chicago Bulls fans lamented Jordan's physical decline but acknowledged that he had a more comfortable role with the Knicks than he had with the Bulls.

The Knicks opened the season with eight straight wins, dominating opponents by an average of 18.6 points as Li Fei and Jordan led a united, historically focused team. During a TNT discussion praising their statistics and title chances, Marv Albert raised a hidden concern about the team’s physical workload.

• Philadelphia media defended Iverson after the Knicks beat the 76ers, while public opinion praised the Knicks’ star duo and Iverson’s rise.
• The Knicks won four consecutive road games against the Pacers, Hornets, Celtics, and Heat, with Li Fei and Jordan leading the way.
• The Knicks beat the Wizards, Cavaliers, and Magic by at least 15 points to extend their season-opening winning streak to eight games.
• TNT commentators praised the Knicks’ team focus, league-leading statistics, and Li Fei and Jordan’s performances.
• Marv Albert presented a team workload report and warned the other commentators about a hidden danger.

TNT commentators warned that the Knicks’ relentless intensity could exhaust Jordan and Li Fei before the playoffs, but Van Gundy and the players refused to reduce their pace. With the Knicks at eight straight wins, Kobe and O’Neal looked forward to facing them on Christmas Day.

• Marv Albert, Kevin Harlan, and Bill Walton warned that the Knicks’ high intensity risked wearing down Jordan and Li Fei before the playoffs.
• The TNT discussion sparked debate among fans and climbed to second place on the United States sports trending list.
• The assistant coach brought the panel’s concerns to Van Gundy, but Van Gundy said he would not change the team’s condition.
• Li Fei and Jordan rejected rest and load management, insisting the Knicks maintain pressure through the Christmas Day Game.
• Van Gundy ordered the Knicks to keep their current style and intensity for the next game.
• Kobe and O’Neal dismissed the Knicks’ approach and vowed to crush them on Christmas night as the Knicks reached eight straight wins.

The Knicks extended their season-opening winning streak to fifteen games while outside observers worried about the team’s unsustainable workload. Before the Knicks’ highly anticipated matchup with Li Fei’s former team, Charles Barkley challenged Li Fei and Jordan publicly, and Li Fei calmly responded that he knew Barkley too well.

• The Knicks won their remaining October games and five more early-November contests, reaching fifteen straight victories with dominant margins.
• The Knicks’ upcoming game in Phoenix drew national attention as Li Fei prepared to face his former team, now struggling near the bottom of the Western Conference.
• Charles Barkley returned to the Suns as an aging veteran, then posted three statements promising to end the Knicks’ streak and challenge Li Fei and Jordan.
• Media across the country amplified Barkley’s declaration, making the matchup a major story ahead of the game.
• At a Phoenix press conference, reporters asked Li Fei about Barkley’s challenge, and Li Fei calmly replied, “I know Charles too well.”

Li Fei and Michael Jordan spoke about their roles on the Knicks before facing Barkley and the Suns. The chapter ended as Li Fei and Barkley prepared to battle in the paint in Phoenix.

• Li Fei said he respected Barkley but would give his all against his former teammate to protect the Knicks' winning streak.
• Jordan admitted that playing alongside Li Fei made his Knicks career more comfortable than his time with the Bulls, praising Li Fei as his perfect teammate.
• Jordan warned Li Fei that Barkley would bring relentless physicality, and Li Fei said he would meet him head-on.
• Barkley said he wanted a genuine battle with Li Fei and would accept even a crushing defeat if he gave everything he had.
• The Knicks and Suns entered a packed American Airlines Arena, where fans welcomed both Li Fei and Barkley with applause.
• Li Fei and Barkley faced each other at center court, exchanged smiles, and began their opening-tip showdown.

Li Fei dominated the paint against Barkley in the first quarter, then Jordan took over while Li Fei rested, giving each Knicks star 20 points in a quarter. At halftime, the Knicks led the Suns 68-53.

• Li Fei won the opening tip, overpowered Barkley for a layup, and blocked his reply at the rim.
• Li Fei scored 20 points with 9 rebounds and 3 blocks in the first quarter as the Knicks took a 36-18 lead.
• Jordan took control of the offense while Li Fei rested, scoring repeatedly to stop the Suns from mounting a comeback.
• Jordan scored 20 points and dished out 3 assists in the second quarter, and the Knicks carried a 68-53 lead into halftime.

Li Fei and Michael Jordan took turns dominating the Phoenix Suns as the Knicks won 118–89, extending their winning streak to sixteen games. After the game, Barkley congratulated Li Fei and admitted how far he had fallen behind.

• Barkley led the Suns' third-quarter push, helping cut the Knicks' lead to ten points before Li Fei returned to the court.
• Li Fei stopped the Suns' comeback with scoring, rebounds, blocks, and an assist, finishing the third quarter with 20 points and the Knicks ahead 94–66.
• Van Gundy rested the starters in the fourth quarter, and the Knicks finished with a 118–89 road win and their sixteenth consecutive victory.
• TNT's commentators announced that Li Fei and Jordan had set an NBA record by scoring 20 or more points in separate quarters for the same team.
• Barkley embraced Li Fei after the game, conceded that he could not reach Li Fei's level, and recalled winning a championship with him in Phoenix.

After the Knicks defeated the Suns, Li Fei and Jordan dismissed talk of tension and looked ahead to the Lakers, while the historic win intensified anticipation for their Christmas Day showdown with O'Neal and Kobe. Sports outlets celebrated the duo’s record-setting performance, leaving the Knicks’ undefeated run and the Lakers’ challenge as the season’s looming test.

• Barkley praised Jordan and offered him a handshake, and Jordan said the Lakers’ OK Duo would be the real challenge.
• Li Fei described his and Jordan’s 20-point quarters as a normal performance, while Jordan vowed the Knicks would face the Lakers undefeated and at full intensity.
• O'Neal grew grim and Kobe showed his determination after watching the interview at the Lakers’ training facility.
• Major sports outlets praised Li Fei and Jordan’s historic scoring, complementary roles, and efficient production after the Knicks’ sixteenth straight win.
• The Los Angeles Times and Lakers’ official media warned that the Christmas Day game at Staples Center would challenge the Knicks’ undefeated streak.

After the Knicks’ win in Phoenix, TNT’s commentators declared Li Fei and Michael Jordan the greatest duo in NBA history, citing their complete offense and elite defense. As the team prepared to return to New York, Li Fei dismissed the praise as empty fame and said the real test would be the Christmas Day Game against the Lakers.

• Kevin Harlan, Bill Walton, and Marv Albert compared Li Fei and Jordan with historic NBA duos and called them the greatest in league history.
• Marv Albert and Bill Walton praised Jordan’s perimeter defense and Li Fei’s interior defense as strengths that made the pair elite on both ends.
• TNT’s broadcast fueled online debate, while Knicks fans celebrated and Lakers fans waited for the Christmas Day Game.
• Li Fei and the Knicks packed to return to New York after their game in Phoenix.
• Jordan told Li Fei that the league was calling them the greatest duo in history, but Li Fei said the Christmas Day Game would be the real test.

The Knicks kept their starters playing through a punishing schedule, extending their season-opening winning streak to nineteen games and moving within one win of an unprecedented record. As public excitement rose, the team prepared for its next chance to make history and its looming Christmas showdown with the Lakers.

• Jordan and Li Fei dismissed media praise and said they wanted to face the Lakers at their peak, while Van Gundy vowed not to rest any starters.
• Kobe, O'Neal, and Phil Jackson responded to the Knicks' claims by intensifying the Lakers' training and preparing defensive tactics for Li Fei and Jordan.
• Li Fei reviewed reports showing his sneaker brand gaining ground, and he and Jordan teased each other about their rivalry in the sneaker market.
• The Knicks defeated the Hornets 121-92 and the Pacers 115-101, extending their winning streak to eighteen games.
• The Knicks beat the Bucks behind Li Fei's 36 points, 22 rebounds, and 6 blocks, earning their nineteenth consecutive win.
• Fans and media celebrated the Knicks' approach to the record, as the team moved one victory away from twenty straight wins to open the season.

Jordan asked Li Fei to announce the Knicks’ pursuit of a historic twenty-game winning streak, affirming Li Fei as the team’s sole leader. At the pregame meeting, Li Fei rallied the team to stay focused against the Mavericks as they aimed for their twentieth consecutive win.

• Jordan told Li Fei he wanted to reach twenty straight wins and asked him to announce the goal to the team.
• Jordan explained that the Knicks were Li Fei’s team and called him their only leader, then addressed him as “boss.”
• Van Gundy finished reviewing the Mavericks’ weaknesses and handed the floor to Li Fei at the pregame meeting.
• Li Fei reminded the Knicks they were undefeated through nineteen games and could make NBA history by beating Dallas.
• Li Fei warned his teammates not to underestimate the Mavericks and urged them to maintain full focus as they pursued the record.

Li Fei rallied the Knicks around a goal of breaking the Lakers’ record of thirty-three consecutive wins, beginning with their twentieth straight victory. Michael Jordan accepted his role as Li Fei’s second-in-command, and Li Fei invited him to address the team.

• Li Fei told the Knicks that their winning streak could continue beyond twenty games and that they could challenge the record of thirty-three consecutive wins.
• Li Fei said the team had the depth and ability to pursue the record, then demanded that everyone give their all in every game.
• The Knicks players stood and vowed to fight for the winning streak.
• Michael Jordan reflected on how he had let go of his old role as the team’s unquestioned leader and accepted being Li Fei’s dependable second option.
• Li Fei publicly honored Jordan’s accomplishments and invited him to share his experience and motivate the team.

Jordan steadied the Knicks before their game against the Mavericks, backing Li Fei’s goal of twenty straight wins and a challenge for the record of thirty-three. As the Lakers reacted to the Knicks’ declaration, the Christmas Day matchup grew more tense.

• Li Fei gave Jordan the final speaking slot, and Jordan urged the Knicks to ignore outside pressure and focus on winning each game.
• Jordan rallied the team to beat the Mavericks for twenty consecutive wins and then pursue thirty-three, while Li Fei and Jordan affirmed their partnership.
• Jordan told Li Fei he had let go of the pressure of being the team’s sole leader, and Li Fei said they would face the Lakers together on Christmas Day.
• Kevin Harlan reported the Knicks’ ambition to challenge the thirty-three-win record, while Bill Walton and Marv Albert discussed the team’s confidence and Jordan’s support for Li Fei.
• O’Neal, Kobe, and Phil Jackson reacted to the Knicks’ declaration at the Lakers’ training facility, with Kobe predicting the Knicks would lose on Christmas night.

The Knicks carried their renewed focus into a matchup with the Miami Heat and overwhelmed them with dominant offense and defense. They led 72-35 at halftime, leaving the game effectively decided.

• The Knicks intensified their practice and prepared to challenge the Heat during their winning streak.
• Li Fei won the opening tip and scored the Knicks' first basket against Alonzo Mourning.
• Li Fei blocked Mourning, secured the rebound, and sent Jordan ahead for a fast-break layup as the Knicks opened with a 6-0 lead.
• The Knicks dominated the first quarter and led 38-16, with Li Fei containing Mourning and the team shutting down the Heat's offense.
• The Knicks continued their assault in the second quarter as Jordan, Allan Houston, Sprewell, and Stephen Jackson added points.
• The Knicks entered halftime ahead 72-35 after extending their lead to 37 points.

The Knicks crushed the Heat 118-73 to secure their twentieth consecutive win and set a new record for the longest season-opening winning streak in NBA history. As the Knicks celebrated, the Lakers focused on ending the streak in their upcoming Christmas Day matchup.

• Li Fei and Jordan urged the Knicks to stay focused, and the team continued dominating the Heat through the fourth quarter.
• Van Gundy kept Li Fei and Jordan on the court until two minutes remained, when he began substituting out the starters.
• The Knicks defeated the Heat 118-73, with Li Fei recording 31 points, 19 rebounds, and 7 blocks and Jordan scoring 27 points.
• Li Fei and Jordan credited the team's effort after the victory secured the Knicks' twentieth straight win to open the season.
• O'Neal, Kobe, and Phil Jackson reacted grimly to the Knicks' record-setting victory, and Kobe vowed to end their streak on Christmas Day.

After the Knicks crushed the Heat by 45 points to claim their twentieth straight win, Alonzo Mourning acknowledged Li Fei’s superiority while vowing to keep challenging him. Li Fei dismissed the Heat’s chances of ever overturning the matchup, and Jordan was asked whether the Knicks would pursue a thirty-three-game winning streak.

• The Knicks celebrated a 45-point win over the Heat and their historic twentieth consecutive victory.
• Alonzo Mourning reflected on his defeat, accepted that Li Fei was a peak he could not surpass, and vowed to challenge the Knicks again.
• Mourning told reporters the Heat had lost without excuses and praised Li Fei, while insisting he would keep fighting as long as he wore a Heat jersey.
• Li Fei praised Mourning’s toughness but said the Heat’s roster and system meant they could not defeat the Knicks.
• A reporter asked Jordan if the Knicks would target a thirty-three-game winning streak after setting the record for a season-opening run.

After the Knicks secured their twentieth straight win, Li Fei and Jordan emphasized focus and prepared to keep winning before their Christmas Day clash with the Lakers. The Lakers studied the Knicks and vowed to end their streak, while Mourning accepted the loss but remained determined to fight next time.

• Jordan said the Knicks had overcome impatience and outside praise, and credited Li Fei as the team’s leader after their win.
• Jordan called the Lakers their only qualified challengers and said the Knicks would answer doubts on Christmas Day.
• Van Gundy announced that the Knicks would play their next five games at full intensity, and Li Fei and Jordan backed the plan to keep the streak alive.
• On the flight home, Mourning let go of his fixation on beating Li Fei one-on-one but promised to give everything in their next meeting.
• After watching the interviews, O'Neal, Kobe, and Phil Jackson prepared the Lakers’ targeted defense and vowed to end the Knicks’ streak on Christmas Day.

The Knicks swept a four-game road trip, defeating the Hornets, Magic, Pacers, and Cavaliers to extend their season-opening winning streak to a record twenty games. They left the trip undefeated, with Li Fei averaging 33 points, 22 rebounds, and 5 blocks across the four games.

• Li Fei and Jordan led the Knicks past the Hornets 107-92, earning their sixteenth consecutive win as Li Fei grabbed a season-high 22 rebounds.
• The Knicks defeated the Magic 112-94 behind Li Fei’s 35 points, 22 rebounds, and 6 blocks, extending the streak to seventeen games.
• The Knicks overcame the Pacers’ double-teams and tough defense to win 105-96, with Jordan scoring 11 points in the final quarter.
• Despite road fatigue, Li Fei focused on rebounding and playmaking as the Knicks beat the Cavaliers 109-97 and swept the road trip.
• The Knicks’ twentieth straight win broke the NBA record for the longest season-opening winning streak, while Li Fei averaged 22 rebounds per game across the trip.

After the Knicks completed a perfect four-game road trip and reached twenty straight wins, commentators praised Li Fei’s dominance at center and the team’s chances of breaking the 33-game record. Back in New York, Michael Jordan arranged a team dinner with families and partners to celebrate briefly and recover before the Knicks’ next push.

• TNT commentators Kevin Harlan, Marv Albert, and Bill Walton praised the Knicks’ teamwork, Li Fei’s 22 rebounds per game, and Jordan’s role in the twin-core lineup.
• The commentators said the Knicks could challenge the Minneapolis Lakers’ 33-game winning streak as fans and media celebrated their twentieth consecutive win.
• At the Lakers’ training facility, O'Neal, Kobe, and Phil Jackson discussed the Knicks’ streak and prepared for their Christmas Day matchup.
• The Knicks returned to Manhattan after going 4-0 on their road trip, while New York fans celebrated their historic run.
• Jordan proposed a team dinner, explaining that the brief celebration would help the players recover, and invited them to bring their families and partners.