On February 5th, Lin Yi received an invitation from Eli Manning to watch the Super Bowl at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
In the U.S., people call it Super Sunday — and honestly, for most Americans, it is their version of New Year's Day.
He wasn't going to turn down a front-row seat to America's biggest show. Basketball might've been his life, but enjoying life outside the court mattered too.
When Elizabeth Olsen heard she'd get to watch the Super Bowl live, she practically bounced around the house like an overexcited rabbit. Adorable to watch.
Coincidentally, Lucas Oil Stadium was also where Lin had played his famous battle against the Tar Heels back in college — the game that put him on the map. Stepping back into that arena stirred something nostalgic in him.
He was already in his third NBA season now, and with a championship ring on his finger. For someone chasing the title of the greatest ever, the road ahead was long — but looking back, Lin couldn't help feeling it had all been worth it.
Tonight's matchup was between the New York Giants and the New England Patriots. The Giants' run had been the stuff of legend. Eli Manning's playoff streak felt supernatural, and Lin even joked to himself that Eli probably had some system buff — the tougher the opponent, the stronger he got.
After taking down Aaron Rodgers, Eli went on to topple Tom Brady — the pre-game favorite of just about everyone on earth.
The Giants claimed the Super Bowl, giving Manning his second championship. And yes, just like before, the victim was Brady again.
Brady's stunned expression after the loss reminded everyone of Rodgers' face from his own upset not long ago.
Lin chuckled to himself. Guess even the GOAT got his kryptonite.
He had an amazing time at the Super Bowl. The halftime show alone was worth the trip — pure spectacle from America's biggest stars.
But Lin forgot something important: he was a star now, too.
Somewhere between the music and the energy of the crowd, Lin started dancing in the stands to Olsen's amusement. It wasn't pretty. The cameras caught it all — his uncoordinated, completely unfiltered dance moves.
If TikTok had existed back then, someone would've turned it into a viral meme with the caption "I am a seaweed, swaying in the wind…"
Within hours, the video went viral on YouTube. Fans loved it — not because the dancing was good, but because Lin looked real. Unlike some athletes who always seemed too polished or rehearsed, Lin was just… himself.
Curry couldn't resist posting on Twitter:
"Hahaha, Lin, your dancing's definitely not MVP material."
At first, Lin was mortified, but later, Liz explained to him that maybe it wasn't a bad thing. Nobody's perfect — and sometimes, trying too hard to be perfect makes you fake.
For someone like Lin, who constantly broke whatever public image people tried to box him into, maybe that was his real charm. Whatever he did, fans just rolled with it.
After the Super Bowl, Lin and Olsen flew back to New York.
...
The next morning, during practice, D'Antoni shot Lin a look that said more than words. "Lin," he said with admonition, "Plato once said self-control is a kind of order — mastery over pleasure and desire."
Lin just raised his hands in guilt.
...
On the evening of February 6th, Madison Square Garden hosted the final game of the Knicks' brutal four-in-five stretch — and the Utah Jazz gave them more trouble than anyone expected.
By halftime, the Knicks were staring at an 18-point deficit.
The Jazz might not have been a marquee team, but they were disciplined and efficient. Their new leader, Gordon Hayward — who'd quietly leveled up his game this season — was playing like he'd just hit Platinum rank in real life.
Hayward often chatted with Lin Yi online. The two bonded over late-night gaming sessions and basketball talk — strategy, movement, rhythm, even court hacks, as they jokingly called them.
Truth be told, Hayward's rise in the league had a lot to do with his brain. He wasn't the quickest or most explosive guy on the floor, but he mastered tempo — knew when to attack, when to pause, when to pull up. That sense of timing was something no amount of raw athleticism could replace.
Back to the game. Lin Yi, who missed his first ten shots that night, finally flipped the switch in the third quarter.
From his 11th attempt to his final 21st, he went on a perfect streak, drilling 11 straight. It was a masterclass in rhythm and patience — or, as Kobe would've said, "Don't flinch, just work."
With Lin Yi's explosion, the Knicks stormed back and pulled off a comeback win against the Jazz.
After the game, Lin Yi couldn't help but notice something unsettling — the team was starting to show shades of those self-destructing versions of the Lakers or Warriors.
In a lockout-shortened season, records didn't mean much to the players anymore. And Lin Yi wasn't the type to lecture his teammates. He knew words didn't fix complacency.
Every dominant team went through the same phase — taking opponents lightly, losing focus. Both Lin Yi and D'Antoni understood that.
D'Antoni's approach wasn't to yell or punish. Instead, he had a quiet way of getting his point across — by giving the young players more minutes.
The Knicks had a comfortable lead in the standings anyway, so it was the perfect time to test the rookies.
The announcement had the bench buzzing. Chandler Parsons, for one, immediately canceled his usual late-night plans.
When money's tight, it's not about discipline — it's about survival. Parsons knew that too well.
Lin Yi just made sure to keep Klay away from him.
If those two hit the clubs together, he thought, half the rookie salary pool in New York would vanish overnight.
Still, Lin Yi already had plans for Parsons. Once he puts up some numbers, Lin thought, I'll use that charm of his to trade for someone who actually fits the system.
A kind general can't lead soldiers — and Lin Yi wasn't about to let sentiment get in the way of team building.
Parsons was fun to be around, sure, but Lin could tell he was the kind of player who'd stop grinding once he got paid. No motivational speech could change that — his friends had probably tried already.
The truth was, not everyone in the NBA cared about rings. A fair number of players were just there to earn enough for a comfortable retirement — and maybe enjoy the good life along the way.
...
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