From the 16th to the 21st, the Knicks swept through their homestand, defeating the Magic, Suns, Bucks, and Nuggets to push their season-opening winning streak to 16 straight.
Something significant did happen in one of those interviews involving Lin that dominated the headlines for a while.
...
Bucks 90, Knicks 130
Post Game Interview:
The locker room was still buzzing when Lin Yi stepped up to the post-game podium. The Knicks had just crushed the Bucks at Madison Square Garden — another statement win, another triple-double for Lin.
The reporters were already leaning forward, recorders in hand.
"Lin, huge win tonight," one of them started. "Another triple-double at the Garden. How are you feeling after that performance?"
Lin smiled, adjusting the mic. "Honestly? I'm really happy. But more than that, I'm proud of how we played as a team tonight. Everyone contributed — it wasn't just me. We moved the ball, defended hard, and stayed focused from start to finish."
He paused for a second, his tone even and measured. "We just want to keep this run going as long as we can. Keep winning, keep improving. If everything lines up the way it should, I think we've got a real shot to go deep in the playoffs — maybe even all the way."
The room hummed as the next few questions came in. Reporters asked about the team's chemistry, his growing partnership with Klay, and how the Knicks were maintaining their energy through such a long season.
Lin answered them all patiently — a mix of calm professionalism and that grounded charm fans loved him for.
Then, as things began to wind down, he cleared his throat and leaned slightly toward the mic.
"Uh, before we wrap this up," he said, voice softening, "I wanna go a little off-script here."
The chatter quieted instantly.
"This isn't about basketball," he continued. "It's about something that happened recently. Some of you might've seen what went down with the paparazzi and my girlfriend."
He took a breath, his expression tightening slightly. "She was out having dinner with her sisters, and they basically harassed her — flashing cameras in her face, questioning her integrity, the whole deal. That's not right. I get it — I chose this life. I play basketball, I'm in the public eye. But she didn't sign up for that."
There was a murmur among the reporters, pens already scratching against notepads.
"I just want to say this: the paparazzi need to stop. That kind of behavior crosses the line. It made me really angry to see her treated that way."
Then Lin gave a wry smile, shaking his head slightly. "But hey, paparazzi will be paparazzi. I'm not expecting them to stop because I said so. So, I've taken my own steps. I've hired security — and if anyone tries that again, they'll be dealt with. Quickly."
A tense silence fell over the room. The reporters didn't even look up — everyone was scribbling, phones already lighting up with alerts.
Lin looked around, then gave a small nod. "Alright. That's all from me. Thanks, everyone."
Without another word, he stood, straightened his jacket, and walked off the stage — leaving behind a room full of stunned reporters, and the sound of writing on notepads was heard.
...
By the 22nd, the media buzzed with speculation about which team might finally hand them their first loss, and the paparazzi seemed to have gotten the memo and backed off.
Lin Yi and Olsen, on the other hand, quietly spent an unforgettable Chinese New Year's Eve together—away from the noise, just the two of them.
"Huh? Toyota wants me to endorse their cars?" Lin Yi asked, dumpling dough still on his hands as he balanced the phone between his ear and shoulder.
"Yeah," Zhong said casually. "They've got this sports car called the 86. Thought it'd be a fun fit, you know? With you making 86 points recently."
Lin Yi, half-listening to Zhong, went behind Elizabeth, who was looking serious in kneading the dumpling dough. He began to assist her by controlling her hands in the kneading process.
Liz, feeling Lin's presence behind her, decided to back into him and grind on him.
Lin could see her mischievous smile from his height. Feeling challenged, he leaned in to kiss her neck, which caused her to yelp.
After struggling to pay attention to the Toyota deal, since he was dealing with a boner and an unrepentant woman, he didn't take it. It wasn't out of arrogance—just instinct. Something about it didn't feel right.
Zhong didn't push. There were plenty of brands to work with anyway. Later that day, he sent Lin Yi another email. "Check your inbox. Nike's designer Caesar just finished your 86-point limited edition sneakers. Only 50,000 pairs will be released worldwide. Demand's insane—lottery only."
The collaboration between Lin Yi and Nike had been smooth so far. They were already planning to offer him a lifetime contract once his current deal expired—turning the Death line into something as iconic as Jordan's.
The sneakers themselves were stunning: bold yet clean, in red, blue, white, and black. Fans could even customize them to their taste. Lin Yi had no idea that, years later, those same shoes would become a collector's dream—nearly impossible to find.
The NBA didn't schedule a Chinese New Year's Day game that year, so the Knicks got two rare days off. Klay Thompson dropped by to visit and immediately started teasing.
"Bro, these dumplings are tiny! You sure they're not ravioli?"
Lin Yi's face twitched. "You've gotta be kidding me. The team chefs made buns, not dumplings. Don't blame me for their crimes!"
He also made time to call Yao Ming and Yi Jianlian to exchange New Year's greetings. Yi was having a solid season after tweaking his form—Nikola Vučević often asked him for shooting tips.
According to ESPN's advanced stats, John Wall averaged at least three assists per game that came off Yi's baskets. It proved that playing smart and consistently could go a long way in keeping a career alive.
Yao, meanwhile, was thrilled with how Lin Yi's show This Is Basketball had reignited passion for the sport back home. "Lin, your idea was brilliant," Yao said. "Basketball only thrives when there's a strong base. Our college leagues actually have a few great prospects too."
Lin Yi couldn't help but admire Yao's dedication. He remembered that Yao would later pioneer China's 3-on-3 basketball system—recruiting players straight from grassroots competitions. Whether they'd win the Asian Games or not, Yao was right: without a mass foundation, no sport can last.
By the time Forbes released its 2011 Asian Celebrity List, the top three spots were all Chinese: Lin Yi, Yao Ming, and Yi Jianlian. Basketball fever was everywhere. Agencies were making young idols learn to dribble, and celebrities were flooding Weibo with gym selfies and jump shots.
Basketball had become more than a sport in China. It was the culture now—and Lin Yi had played a big part in that.
...
Please do leave a review and powerstones, helps with the book's exposure.
Feel like joining a Patreon for free and subscribing to advanced chapters?
Visit the link:
[email protected]/GRANDMAESTA_30
Change @ to a