T/N: No chapters on Monday.
. . .
Cari Champion:
"Good morning, America, and hello to everyone tuning in around the globe. We start with a historic one. Lin Yi has scored 40 or more points in nine straight games, tying the record set by Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan. The Knicks have won 25 in a row. The league is buzzing. So here is the question. Is Lin Yi the best player in the NBA modern era?"
"Stephen A. Smith, what do you have to say?"
No answer.
"Helloo, Stephen."
No answer
Stephen A. slowly straightens up, adjusts his jacket, and looks to Cari.
Stephen A. Smith:
"Sorry about the silence, Cari. I was in my head for a minute."
He then points at the cameraman.
"Bring the camera to my face. I have something to say to America. Yeah, that's good."
"Dear America, I am speechless. I truly do not know what more to say about this brother, Lin."
"I have been praising Lin Yi since his rookie season. Every time I elevate him, he climbs higher. Every single time."
"And now? Nine straight games with forty or more.
The Celtics, crime scene. The 76ers, body counts. The Hawks executed. The Magic, slaughtered. The Bucks, demolished. The Kings, butchered. The Pistons, wrecked. The Wizards, annihilated. And now the Timberwolves join the list."
"Forty-three point three per night during this stretch. Fifty-five percent from the field. Forty-five percent from three. That is elite on top of elite."
"That brother is different. He is HIM."
"Also, let's not forget, excuse me to say, the ass-whooping Klay and Lin handed to Kobe's Lakers."
"And here is my opinion. Just my opinion. I do not know if everybody agrees. But it is January, and it already feels like the MVP race is over."
"He has been balling all season long. Not just scoring. Winning. Forty- seven wins out of forty-eight games, with only one loss. Currently on a twenty-five-game straight wins."
"And here is what impresses me most. He is averaging about 36 minutes per game in those nine games. Do you know how absurd, crazy, ridiculous, prePORTEROUS, AUGUST, AND MONUMENTAL THAT IS!! MR. EFFICIENCY!!"
Stephen draws back and relaxes in his chair after almost merging with the camera screen.
"Hmm-hmm. I apologize for the outburst. It has been a long time since a Knicks player got me this excited."
"Now, let me address the New York Knicks organization directly."
"I am talking to ownership. I am talking to the front office. I am talking to every executive sitting in those suites at Madison Square Garden."
"If Lin Yi walks into your office and asks for something, you give it to him."
"Immediately."
"And let me tell you why."
"And let me tell you why."
"Number one. He is the engine."
"You are not forty-seven and one without him. You are not riding a twenty-five-game win streak without him. He is the system. He bends defenses. He dictates tempo. He creates space for everyone else."
"Number two. He chose to embrace New York."
"This city eats players alive. The pressure is suffocating. The headlines are relentless. And instead of shrinking, he rose."
"We can see from social media how he interacts with the fans on his morning runs, in MSG, and anywhere he is in the Big Apple."
"That matters."
"Number three. Financial reality."
"Let us not pretend this is only basketball. Ticket sales are up. Jerseys are flying off the shelves. National games are locked in. The whole of China is tuning in. The Garden is the epicenter of the league again."
"Number four. Longevity."
"He is not playing reckless minutes. He is managing his workload responsibly. Plus, the dude hits the gym second only to Kobe, and that says a lot."
"You protect that investment."
"Number five. Culture."
"For the first time in years, the Knicks are not chasing relevance. They are the relevance. Basketball parks across New York are booming like never before."
"If he wants roster input, you listen."
"If he wants better medical staff, you invest."
"If he wants specific role players who fit his system, you explore it."
"Because when you have a generational cornerstone, you build around him properly."
"You do not nickel and dime greatness."
"And let me be very clear. Windows in the NBA close faster than people think."
"You think this lasts forever? It does not."
"You capitalize now."
"You secure him long term."
"You keep him happy."
"You eliminate distractions."
"And you give this franchise the best chance to raise banners."
"If the goal is championships, not just headlines, then you treat Lin Yi like what he is."
"The foundation."
"And foundations are not negotiable."
Stephen further adjusts in his chair.
"My last point before I hand the floor to my colleagues. Yes, people are talking about the 72 and 10 Bulls. I understand that. It is history. It is a beautiful record."
"But championships matter more."
"I am saying this clearly. If this team stays healthy, if the medical staff does its job, no excuses this time, no injury narratives, if everybody is right physically…"
"The trophy is going to New York."
"I believe the MVP race is over. And if they are healthy, the championship parade is heading down Broadway."
Cari Champion:
"Whoa. Those are strong words from Stephen A. Smith. Very strong."
"I will say this. Based on how this season is trending, I agree that Lin Yi is in the driver's seat for MVP."
"But as for the championship, I have seen dominant regular-season teams fall in the playoffs. I am not ready to go that far just yet."
"Skip Bayless. What do you think?"
Skip Bayless:
"First of all, before I start."
Clap-clap-clap
"That was marvelous from Stephen. Absolutely marvelous speech. He does bleed blue and orange."
The camera cuts to Stephen trying to hide his smile while Cari hides her face behind her hands, laughing.
The camera was soon brought back to Skip.
"Stephen hit all points. What little I have to say is –
"Well. Well. Well."
"Look who was right."
"Me."
"I have been saying since the beginning of this season that Lin Yi is the best player in the NBA."
"And let me be clear. Let me answer your original question directly. Yes. He is the best player in the modern era right now. Period."
"I respect Kobe. I respect Kevin Durant. But this kid is operating at another level."
"He scores. He defends like every possession matters. He passes. He rebounds. And he does it at seven feet."
"Do you understand the conditioning required to move like that at his size? Up and down the floor, creating offense, protecting the rim, stretching the defense?"
"It is absurd."
"And I am telling you right now, as long as I am sitting in this chair, I will be the number one supporter of Lin Yi. Charles BARKEY!! Come fight me."
"In these nine games, he had penetrated these NBA teams and showed them who the big boy is."
"He is imposing his humongous girth on the entire league. Every team is taking a pumping."
"The MVP race is over. He is winning it again."
Cari Champion: (⊙ˍ⊙)
Cari Champion:
"Ahem, that was a... very Skip answer."
"We have a lot more to get into. The All-Star Game is right around the corner, and there are some major storylines surrounding that weekend."
"We will take a quick break. When we return, more NBA on ESPN."
. . .
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