Although Chicago in February wasn't quite as bone-chilling as Minnesota, for Lin Yi—who had grown up enjoying mild winters—the sub-zero temperatures still felt brutal.
...
February 16th, United Center.
You had to hand it to the Bulls—when it came to pre-game theatrics, they knew how to put on a show.
With the bass-pounding BGM shaking the arena and that dramatic shot of a galloping bull lighting up the jumbotron, the energy in the United Center erupted.
But tonight, amidst the sea of red, there were rebels in disguise.
Because as the camera zoomed in on No. 44 of the New York Knicks—this year's All-Star MVP Lin Yi—the rebels made their move.
Fans who had cleverly layered Knicks jerseys underneath their Bulls gear suddenly stood up and shouted in unison:
"MVP ————!!!"
"MVP ————!!!"
"MVP ————!!!"
The chants weren't perfectly synchronized, and they were quickly drowned out by a chorus of boos from the home crowd. Still, it reminded Lin Yi of the farewell tour Kobe had back in the day.
Of course, what Lin was experiencing now didn't come close to the emotional rollercoaster that Kobe's tour would become in the future. But in this moment, the shouts still hit a nerve.
"Man," Lin muttered to himself, "worst part about being in the East? Barely any games against Kobe."
He sighed.
This was peak Kobe after all—whether it was the elegance of his jump shot or the flair of his dunks, every move was pure poetry. The thought that there were only a few seasons left to witness that iconic fadeaway... or hear that crisp swish as the ball kissed the net... left Lin Yi a bit melancholic.
...
TNT Broadcast Booth
Kenny Smith leaned in, voice just above a whisper: "You know, Lin's got fans in every corner of the league now. Every city he goes to, you'll find local Chinese fans showing up and going all out to support him."
Charles Barkley chuckled and raised his hands. "I spoke with a Chinese journalist the other day. She said that all the Chinatowns across the states are finally being put to use. "
Kenny laughed. "Hey Charles, did you catch that ESPN report from yesterday?"
"Of course," Barkley replied. "Usually, they're busy putting out the strangest stats, but this one? This one caught my eye."
The report detailed how the Knicks had transformed since Lin Yi joined the team.
Danilo Gallinari, for example, averaged just 6.1 points per game last season. This year? He's up to 17.4. His field goal percentage? A clean 48.9%, with a 43.1% clip from three. The man is taking over seven threes per game and knocking down over three of them.
"If Gallo keeps shooting like this," Kenny said, "he might just break Ray Allen's single-season three-point record."
Veteran forward Al Harrington was also stepping up. His scoring dropped slightly to 14.1 points a game, but he was doing it in just 25 minutes, and his shooting percentage had climbed to a career-high 47%.
Then there was David Lee. His scoring dipped a little—17.8 points per game—but he was crashing the boards harder than ever, grabbing a career-best 11.8 rebounds per night and shooting an absurd 61% from the field.
Don't forget Marco Belinelli either. Since being traded from Toronto, he's averaging 10.1 points, making 1.7 threes per game at a 33.1% clip.
And off the bench? Lou Williams was thriving. Putting up 15.8 points per game, hitting a career-high 47% from the field, converting 66% at the rim, and shooting 38% from deep.
Kenny shook his head in amazement. "It's not just about Lin's numbers anymore. It's the ripple effect—he's elevating everyone around him."
Barkley nodded. "Exactly. ESPN said it straight: Lin might not have LeBron's physique, but in terms of making his teammates better during his rookie season? He's got a case."
It was a subtle jab— ESPN knew would get under the skin of a certain King—but it also inadvertently strengthened Lin Yi's growing legend.
Sure, some skeptics were still calling him overhyped. But if you honestly believed the Knicks' sudden surge had nothing to do with him? You'd be insulting the intelligence of every basketball fan out there.
Plus, Coach D'Antoni was an offensive mastermind.
Last season, outside of David Lee, the Knicks looked like a crew of part-time bricklayers still trying to figure out how to forge a jump shot. Now? They were a team transformed.
Barkley gestured toward the court on the monitor. "There's a reason, Kenny. Lin just draws attention. Every time the Knicks go on the attack, your eyes just naturally follow him. It's like he's got gravity."
Kenny smiled. "And that's why everyone else has more room to operate. ESPN pointed out—Lin's the third most double-teamed and help-defended player in the league this season."
...
For the third time this season, the Bulls were set to face off against the Knicks. And if that wasn't enough drama, the two teams would be jetting off to Madison Square Garden the very next day for their fourth meeting. The NBA schedule knows how to keep things spicy.
For Derrick Rose, Chicago's hometown hero and rising star, this one had a little extra juice.
This season marked Rose's first-ever All-Star appearance, and Chicago fans were already dreaming that their Windy City Assassin would lead the Bulls back to their glory days. Across the league, most agreed: drafting Rose in 2008 was looking like a steal.
But Dallas had been a bit of a mixed bag for him.
In preparing for the All-Star Game, Rose chose to skip the Rookie Challenge to rest and focus. But when he heard the final score—a 58-point blowout by the Sophomores—even the typically reserved Rose couldn't help but let out a rare curse under his breath.
"That's just fucking cold," he muttered at the time.
He also stuck around to catch the dunk contest—and what a show it was. The atmosphere in Dallas had been electric. So electric that more than a few players around the league were suddenly rethinking their too cool for the dunkcontest stance.
Who wouldn't envy Lin Yi's popularity after that performance?
This league doesn't exactly reward passivity. The NBA isn't some Zen monastery. It's a cutthroat world of winners and losers—one bad week and the spotlight moves on. Even the so-called Stone Buddha down in San Antonio had long since proven that a calm exterior doesn't mean you lack fire inside.
And yet... Lin Yi was the one who stole the show in the All-Star Game, too.
Rose had worked hard, prepared diligently, and played well. But when it came time to crown the MVP, the sleepy-looking Lin Yi walked away with it.
Rose wasn't bitter—at least not outwardly. But it did sting a little to see post-game coverage barely mention his name. He played well, didn't he? Why did it feel like he was invisible?
Man, Rose thought, scrolling through headlines, did I even play in that game?
So now, heading into this back-to-back with the Knicks, Rose was determined. He wanted to win. Badly. Not just for the standings, but for pride. If the Bulls could take both games against the Knicks, maybe, just maybe, the spotlight would shift.
...
Lin Yi looked locked in. Nothing flashy, just focused.
And the Bulls? Well, let's just say their game plan felt... outdated. Like they were trying to play modern basketball with a VHS tape.
The first quarter was evenly matched. But in the second? The Bulls fell apart.
They just couldn't keep up. The Knicks' pace was relentless. No matter how fast Chicago tried to recover, Lin Yi was always one step ahead—zipping passes, exploiting space, orchestrating chaos.
And the crowd loved it.
Lin Yi was having fun with it too. You could tell by the way he handled the defense—like a magician with a grimoire: Divine Shield, Magic Immunity, Physical Immunity, Soul Defense—and the Bulls didn't have the card that could flip the script.
In the third quarter, Rose tried to go nuclear.
He attacked again and again, diving into the paint like he had a dynamite pack strapped to his chest and back.
Lin Yi managed to swat him once and muttered, "Man, he's really going all in."
David Lee shook his head. "He doesn't draw fouls?"
"Guess not," Lin Yi replied. "If he did, he'd be averaging 20-plus a night without breaking a sweat."
That quarter alone, Rose had driven to the basket more than seven times. And how many trips to the line did he earn?
One.
If it were a certain bearded MVP candidate out there, he'd be looking at ten free throws by now.
Rose was fearless, but his efforts fell right into the Knicks' trap. No tricks. No deception. And in today's NBA? That just isn't enough.
...
Fourth Quarter.
The Knicks had the game in hand, and D'Antoni, with the playoffs approaching, wasn't about to run his starters into the ground.
Final score: Knicks 118, Bulls 95.
Knicks: 38-14
Rose lingered on the court a little longer, eyes fixed on the scoreboard. He wasn't angry—just... confused.
26 points. That's what he put up. More than Lin Yi's 20.
7 assists. Again, more than Lin's 6.
Rebounds? He was a guard—cut him some slack.
Efficiency? Not terrible. Not worse than Lin's.
So why did it feel like none of it mattered?
The answer hit him before the buzzer even sounded: teammates.
Rose walked quietly back to the locker room, already texting his agent. "We need help. Get the front office moving. We can't keep running into walls like this."
Meanwhile, Lin Yi had no idea that his performance tonight had quietly triggered a shift in Rose—a doubt, a frustration, a seed of transformation.
...
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