After the game, LeBron told reporters he had left everything on the floor.
No one could question that.
He had done everything he could to drag Miami across the finish line. Unfortunately for the Heat, the same issue that had haunted them all season resurfaced when it mattered most. Their supporting cast simply failed to deliver.
On the other side, one of New York's heroes, Klay Thompson, revealed an interesting detail during his postgame interview.
"Lin told me to stay glued to the corner," Klay said with a grin. "Honestly, the guy's unbelievable. It's like he knew exactly what they were going to run. Without him, I never make that game-winning steal."
The comment immediately caught every reporter's attention.
Judging by the excitement on Klay's face, he wasn't exaggerating.
Within seconds, the media surrounded Lin.
"How did you know what Miami was going to do on that last possession?"
Lin laughed and spread his hands.
"I didn't know," he said. "I took a guess and got lucky. Maybe Santa decided I deserved an early Christmas present."
The room burst into laughter.
LeBron, who had been handling the loss reasonably well, nearly lost his composure after hearing Lin's answer.
Lucky?
That was his explanation?
LeBron clenched his jaw.
For what felt like the hundredth time, Lin had found another way to get under his skin.
"...Seriously?" he muttered under his breath.
At that moment, he wasn't sure what annoyed him more, losing the game, or Lin acting like everything had come down to dumb luck.
Either way, he was absolutely fuming.
. . .
The NBA's Christmas Day games once again delivered record-breaking numbers.
Every matchup dominated headlines, from superstar battles to unexpected performances, and fans across the world debated one question:
Who would win the MVP award this season?
Lin Yi had built a massive following, but he wasn't the only contender receiving support.
Stephen Curry fans believed in his shooting revolution.
Kevin Durant supporters pointed toward his unstoppable scoring.
And LeBron James' supporters argued that the league's best player was still the King.
On ESPN, basketball analyst Johnson gave his opinion.
"We are watching the greatest era of basketball since Michael Jordan's prime. The combination of talent, global reach, and entertainment value has never been higher."
Naturally, Shaquille O'Neal disagreed.
During the TNT broadcast, Shaq leaned back in his chair and shook his head.
"Hold on. Are you telling me my era doesn't count?"
Charles Barkley immediately laughed.
"Shaq, you're just mad because someone younger is getting attention."
Shaq pointed at him.
"No, I'm mad because everyone keeps acting like basketball started yesterday."
Johnson simply smiled.
"The numbers speak for themselves. Television ratings, international audiences, social media engagement, sponsorships. The NBA has never been more popular."
And from a business perspective, he wasn't wrong.
The social media era had completely changed sports.
Players were no longer limited to newspapers and television highlights. Every incredible dunk, game-winning shot, and emotional moment could spread around the world within seconds.
Many older fans wondered what players like Allen Iverson would have achieved in today's environment.
A global superstar with millions of followers could have become even bigger.
. . .
As December came to an end, the Knicks continued their impressive run. They defeated Milwaukee and Washington in consecutive games.
Milwaukee was another victory, another step forward.
But Washington was different.
That team caught Lin Yi's attention.
The Wizards had climbed all the way to fifth place in the Eastern Conference.
Nikola Vucevic had become one of the league's most efficient big men, averaging 16.7 points and 11.2 rebounds per game.
Combined with the Wizards' improved backcourt and Yi Jianlian's veteran presence, Washington looked far more dangerous than the team Lin remembered from his previous life.
Yi Jianlian was no longer viewed as a young player trying to survive.
He was a respected veteran.
This season, his efficiency had reached another level, with his shooting percentage finally breaking above 50 percent.
Some people called his playing style relaxed.
Lin Yi disagreed.
Being able to stay in the NBA long enough to play within yourself was a skill.
Yi had learned his role.
He defended.
He stretched the floor.
He finished plays.
And most importantly, he understood how to survive at the highest level.
After several years of NBA experience, his offensive skill set had expanded.
Post moves.
Face-up jumpers.
Better footwork.
Stronger decision-making.
The player who once relied mainly on athleticism had developed into a complete professional.
During the summer international tournament, Yi realized something.
Maybe he had underestimated himself.
The NBA had forced him to improve.
And now, when he returned to international competition, the difference was obvious.
However, the player who truly attracted the most attention in Washington was John Wall.
Despite receiving fewer All-Star votes than Derrick Rose and being overlooked in MVP discussions, Wall had taken a major step forward.
During the summer, with Lin Yi's advice, Wall adjusted his shooting mechanics.
The results were obvious.
His scoring ability improved dramatically.
This season, Wall averaged 21.4 points and 8.8 assists.
More importantly, he learned patience.
The old Wall played like every possession needed to happen at full speed. The new Wall understood when to attack and when to control the game. Under his leadership, Washington had become one of the Eastern Conference's biggest surprises.
The Knicks nearly suffered an upset against them.
Livingston struggled to keep up with Wall's explosiveness.
If Lin Yi hadn't repeatedly protected the rim and erased Wall's drives, Washington might have stolen the game.
Bradley Beal also continued developing into one of the league's best young guards.
His game reminded Lin Yi of Klay Thompson.
He didn't need the ball constantly.
He didn't force shots.
He simply waited for opportunities and punished defenses.
Players like that were becoming increasingly valuable.
The league was moving toward positionless basketball.
Traditional point guards were slowly disappearing.
Teams wanted guards who could create, shoot, defend, and adapt.
. . .
The year 2013 came to an end.
For Lin Yi, it had been unforgettable.
He won another championship ring in June.
Then, in September, he became a father.
Life had changed.
On January 1st, after watching his appearance on the Roast with Elizabeth Olsen, Lin Yi knew another important lesson.
Being unstoppable on the basketball court did not mean he was unbeatable at home.
Elizabeth sat on the couch holding Olivia.
"Poor me," she whispered to Olivia. "Your father fooled me when I was young and innocent."
Lin Yi stared helplessly.
This was a trap.
A carefully prepared trap.
Taylor Swift and Scarlett Johansson had clearly planned everything.
And now he was paying the price.
"Explain yourself," Elizabeth said with a smile.
Lin Yi sighed.
The most terrifying opponent in his life was not LeBron James.
It was a woman who knew exactly how to make him feel guilty.
. . .
On January 2nd, the NBA announced the December awards.
LeBron James won Eastern Conference Player of the Month.
Despite the Christmas Day loss, his December performance had been outstanding.
Kevin Durant won the Western Conference award.
After his embarrassing experience on Lin Yi's Roast show, Durant responded the only way he knew how.
By destroying opponents on the court.
With Russell Westbrook reducing his own shots and constantly feeding Durant, the Slim Reaper exploded.
He recorded four straight games with over 40 points.
"I don't need distractions anymore," Durant joked.
"I'm focused on basketball. Championship first."
The Rookie of the Month awards went to Giannis Antetokounmpo in the East and CJ McCollum in the West.
And for the Knicks, January would bring a brutal challenge.
Five Western Conference contenders in nine days.
Among them was a team Lin Yi was particularly interested in.
The Dallas Mavericks.
With Dirk Nowitzki entering the final stretch of his prime years, Dallas had quietly built one of the strongest teams in the West.
They were not making noise.
They did not need to.
They were chasing one thing.
Another championship.
. . .
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