Early February, at Lin Qi's residence in the suburbs of Boston.
On the coffee table in front of Lin Qi was the latest issue of Sports Illustrated All-Star Special.
On the magazine cover, busts of Michael Jordan, Shaquille O'Neal O'Neal, Grant Hill, and Kevin Garnett were spliced together, with the title boldly proclaiming. "Old Gods and New Kings: The Most Crowded Starry Sky."
On this day without games, the All-Star roster and the headlines of major media outlets are the most direct reflection of the power structure and the pulse of the times within the league.
Lin Qi flipped through the magazine, his eyes first landing on the final results of the All-Star starters vote.
" Western Conference starting point guard, Michael Jordan ( Los Angeles Lakers ) -- 1,634,210 votes. Western Conference leading vote-getter."
Looking at the number, Lin Qi gently swirled his coffee cup. The Los Angeles Times wrote in its column, "Last year's NBA Finals saw the Boston Celtics shatter the 'undefeated record' of the gods. Everyone thought Michael would retire, but he chose the most painful path of redemption. This Purple and Gold Legion, having undergone a summer of grueling training, is brewing the greatest revenge in sports history."
Lin Qi knew very well that Jordan was becoming more dangerous. This season's Lakers had shed their past impetuosity, and the Big Three of Jordan, O'Neal, and Kidd, after some time to gel, were playing more like a super team.
The gaze continued downwards, settling on the starting forwards of the Western Conference.
" Western Conference starting forward, Grant Hill ( Phoenix Suns ) -- 1,211,840 votes."
" Western Conference starting guard, Tracy McGrady ( Phoenix Suns ) -- 1,482,670 votes."
Upon seeing Grant Hill's name, Lin Qi's lips curled into a relieved smile.
This talented player, who spent two years recovering from injury in Boston and was ridiculed as "glass man," returned at the end of last season. He not only helped Boston win their fourth consecutive championship, but also shone brightly in the NBA Finals against Jordan, winning the Finals MVP trophy.
During the offseason, Hill, carrying the aura of NBA Finals MVP, moved to Phoenix, forming one of the most dazzling perimeter duos in the league with McGrady. So far this season, Hill is averaging 25 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists per game, with an impressive 41% three-point shooting percentage.
The Washington Post's sports section gave Hill high praise, "The all-powerful ' Jordan successor' is completely back. He not only overcame the curse of injuries in Boston, but also displayed the most beautiful offensive form in the sport in Phoenix. The Suns ' wing duo is another terrifying force in the Western Conference capable of upsetting the entire league."
The Western Conference is filled with epic narratives of "revenge" and "redemption," while the Eastern Conference's list is rife with intense clashes between the old and the new.
" Eastern Conference starting center, Yao Ming ( New Jersey Nets ) -- 1,298,640 votes."
When this 2.26-meter-tall Eastern rookie edged out a host of veteran centers in the league to secure a starting position, the entire North America media circle was in an uproar. An ESPN commentator bluntly stated on his program. "This is a huge shock to the NBA tradition from the global market. But putting votes aside, the twin Twin Towers of Yao Ming and Elton Brand in the paint with the Nets are quietly changing the landscape of the Eastern Conference's frontcourt."
The starting lineup is determined by fan votes, representing popularity and commercial value. The reserve roster, on the other hand, is selected by head coaches across the league based on players' actual tactical value and on-court performance, also through a vote.
At this level, the inclusion of Jermaine O'Neal ( Magic ) and Ben Wallace ( Celtics ) on the Eastern Conference bench demonstrates the coaches' preference for big men. O'Neal Jr. has averaged 20 points and 10 rebounds per game this season, becoming one of the most threatening offensive centers in the Eastern Conference.
But what the media and fans talk about most and what has been the subject of the most controversy is the name that took up the starting point guard position in the Eastern Conference.
" Eastern Conference starting guard, Kobe Brian ( Chicago Bulls ) -- 1,521,440 votes."
Kobe's playing style this season has been the biggest controversy in the entire league. He enjoyed unlimited shooting opportunities in Chicago, putting up spectacular stats, but it also plunged the team into a painful struggle. The game a few days ago, where he was crushed by Boston by 58 points and had zero assists, pushed him into the eye of the storm.
The Chicago Tribune's front-page headline was quite jarring. "The Lone Swordsman or the Arrogant Destroyer?" The article was filled with contradictory arguments. " Kobe's attempt to single-handedly fight against the Boston Celtics ' team basketball is moving in its almost obsessive classical heroism, but against a powerful team, this persistence is turning into a tragedy."
But in the face of fans' votes, this lone hero narrative still has a huge audience. Kobe's votes are his solid armor against external doubts.
Lin Qi put down his coffee cup and turned to the page about the Boston Celtics in the magazine.
" Eastern Conference starting forward, Kevin Garnett."
" Eastern Conference starting forward, Chris Paul Pierce."
" Eastern Conference reserve center, Ben Wallace."
In this star-studded Atlanta All-Star Weekend filled with revenge, rebirth, and controversy, the three Boston players stood out remarkably. They lacked the epic quality of Jordan's "Last Dance," the phoenix-like rebirth of Hill, and the controversial drama of Kobe.
Lin Qi closed the magazine and looked out the window at the falling snowflakes.
This is an unprecedented "golden moment" in NBA history.
The old gods of the 1990s ( Jordan, Gary Payton, Malone ) have not faded away; on the contrary, they are burning with their last and most intense desire to win.
The superstars of the middle generation ( O'Neal, Garnett, Kobe, Hill, Kidd ) are at their peak, both physically and mentally.
Meanwhile, a new generation of challengers ( Yao Ming and Wade ) have begun to emerge.
At the same time, the rules of this era are in a chaotic transitional period.
Since the league attempted to limit hand-checking in the 1999-2000 season, referees' officiating standards during the regular season have been fluctuating. On one hand, they want to encourage perimeter offense to improve the entertainment value, while on the other hand, the tough physicality of old-school defense persists. However, this fluctuation usually only applies to the regular season. Every year from January to April, the officiating in the playoffs instinctively tightens, and subtle pressure around the ball handler's waist and forearm shoving are still tacitly tolerated.
All the title contenders are adapting to this subtle shift in the scale...
I put down the magazine I was reading; the calendar on the coffee table had already turned to the first week of February 2003.
According to the league schedule, after the final round of the first half of the regular season on February 6, the entire NBA officially entered the All-Star break. After the Boston Celtics easily defeated the Pacers at home, Garnett, Pierce, and Big Ben did not stay in Boston for long and took a commercial flight directly to Georgia Atlanta.
David Stern's ban explicitly restricted Lin Qi from participating in any official league events. Even though the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Atlanta was filled with executives from all the broadcasters in the United States, general managers of various teams, and marketing directors from shoe giants, the Celtics owner who had stirred up a media storm across the country could only watch from Boston through the broadcast.