This year's All-Star Game had everything—drama, fireworks, and a familiar ending. When Lin Yi lifted the All-Star MVP trophy for the third straight year, the entire arena in Orlando rose to applaud him.
During his speech, Lin Yi thanked the Eastern Conference squad for their support. The problem? They weren't exactly eager to accept the praise…
Howard muttered, "Man, I finished with two points and four rebounds."
Fans chimed in online: "Bro, learn a post move!"
LeBron shook his head. "I blew myself out in the second half trying to defend."
Fans replied instantly: "Defensive traffic cone."
"Offense looks the same every possession!"
Chris Paul tried to defend himself. "Hey, at least I kept feeding him the ball!"
Fans: "Our guy CP is the best point guard alive!"
The truth was, every Eastern All-Star felt a little jabbed by Lin Yi that night. But with cameras everywhere and the spotlight bright, they still had to keep it professional. So they smiled, clapped, and pretended their egos weren't bruised. If there had been an Olympic event for smiling through pain, this group might have swept gold.
Take Kevin Durant, for instance. He dropped a Western Conference–high 38 points… which, once again, didn't matter.
Reporters swarmed him afterward:
"Kevin, Lin won the MVP for the third time in a row. What are your thoughts?"
"Kevin, Lin hit a couple of deep threes right over you in the first quarter. What was going through your mind?"
"Kevin—"
He'd had enough.
And to make things worse, one reporter asked why he wore a pink suit that night. "Was it an attempt to win off the court since you can't beat Lin on the court?"
What?
Can't beat who?
But KD forced a grin. "Lin's one of the best players in the league. Tonight, he was almost perfect. I'll learn from him."
He thought those words would calm the storm.
Instead, when he checked his burner account later, headlines were everywhere:
Durant admits he isn't on Lin Yi's level!
KD bows down to Lin Yi.
Even Westbrook couldn't resist. "So… you finally said he's better than you?"
Durant stared at him in silence.
Not everyone was faking it, though. Kobe Bryant spoke with genuine admiration. "He gets better every year. He's unlocking a talent ceiling that's hard to measure. His approach to the game, the way he studies every detail… he's a machine. It's scary thinking where he'll end up."
Fans loved it—Lin Yi's supporters and Kobe's supporters quickly allied.
Kevin Love also praised him. "The way Lin plays is just different. Those threes he hit early? If I shoot ten, I'm lucky if one drops. Honestly, he's my role model, although younger than me."
Love was thrilled with the attention. Even Minnesota's coaches had started telling him to fire away from deep. If anyone questioned his shot selection, he could shrug: "My idol's Lin Yi—what do you want me to do, post up?"
Yao Ming, speaking to Chinese reporters, said, "Lin has reached heights even I didn't. Right now, he's the top figure in Chinese basketball."
When reporters passed this on to Lin Yi, he immediately shook his head. "Big Yao's being too humble. I can't reach the height he has."
Everyone appreciated his humility—until he added with a straight face:
"He's six inches taller than me. I'd love to catch up, but that's not happening."
Reporters paused. Then burst into laughter. Lin had shut down the debate perfectly—respectful, witty, and unmistakably clear.
He understood full well that conversations about his place in history were getting louder. And he knew that was good news. The more he achieved, the more weight he carried in the race toward all-time greatness.
And his influence was already showing. Anthony Davis—the projected No.1 pick—said Lin had inspired him to work on his three-pointer.
"He's ushering in a new era," Davis said without hesitation.
It wasn't surprising. DeMarcus Cousins already treated him like a basketball older brother. But Davis was different. With his guard background, elite wingspan, mobility, and absurd shot-blocking ability, he actually could imitate Lin's style if he stayed lean.
In fact, Lin Yi was curious to see how far Davis might go. Because with Davis's tools, and with this timeline already altered by his own presence, The Brow might now grow into something far ahead of the version the world once knew.
...
With the Orlando All-Star Weekend finally wrapped up, Lin Yi—fresh off another wave of praise—returned to New York alongside Chris Paul and his teammates.
The buzz from the All-Star Game was still lingering, but the real intensity of the 2011–12 season was only beginning.
Right before the trade deadline, the Phoenix Suns made a surprising move: they waived veteran Vince Carter. It was a clear signal that the Suns were heading into a rebuild. Carter had originally been expected to join the Mavericks, but that plan changed quickly.
Because just days after being waived…
Vince Carter announced he was signing with the Miami Heat on a minimum contract.
LeBron James couldn't hide his excitement. At 33, Carter wasn't that washed. His shooting and perimeter presence were exactly what Miami's rotation lacked.
"Vince is a great player," LeBron said in an interview. "We grew up watching his dunks—everyone did. Getting the chance to play with him is an honor."
With that, the Heat suddenly looked a bit more dangerous. And it raised a fun question: if Miami and New York met in the playoffs, would Carter and McGrady—these famously talented second cousins once removed—be facing each other in a battle that mixed family ties with competitive fire?
But the Heat weren't finished yet. Lin Yi's own influence on the league had set off more unexpected ripples. Yi Jianlian staying in the NBA this season meant Guangdong crashed out of the CBA earlier than expected, which freed up Aaron Brooks to return to the league. The Heat moved quickly, signing the former Most Improved Player to bolster their bench.
Miami's second unit, once considered a weak spot, suddenly looked solid. Brooks might not defend much, but he could definitely score—and that alone made him useful.
The Knicks had also reached out to Brooks, but he ultimately chose Miami. As Lin Yi joked later, "Everyone's preferences are different. Some people prefer the beach and others the rings."
Regardless, the message was clear: the second half of the 2011–12 season was gearing up to be wild. The Knicks' quest to defend their title had just become a lot more complicated…
...
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