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...
With five straight wins to open the season, Lin Yi was named Eastern Conference Player of the Week. No one expected much from the Knicks coming into the year, so now that they were off to this kind of start, the credit—rightfully—was falling squarely on Lin Yi's shoulders.
Lin had been on an absolute tear, averaging 37.8 points through the first five games, leading the entire league.
His hot start had Knicks fans buzzing with belief. That star-player glow? It was contagious. Meanwhile, down in Miami, things weren't quite so sunny.
The Heat, touted as title favorites, were off to a rocky start. And then came the kicker—losing to the Timberwolves.
When Lin saw the score, his eyes widened.
"Wait, what? The Heat lost to the Timberwolves?"
He couldn't believe it.
To make it worse, a photo of LeBron James looking teary-eyed at the end of the game started circulating. Heat coach Erik Spoelstra was quick to shoot it down.
"That wasn't crying," Spoelstra said. "It was the lighting in the arena."
Seriously?
Whether it was the lighting or not, the explanation wasn't helping. The Heat had started the season 2-3, and the media was circling. The pressure was building fast.
Lin, meanwhile, had somehow become a symbol in Cleveland.
Cavs fans, still bitter after James' departure, were chanting Lin Yi's name—not to recruit him, but to spite LeBron.
To them, Lin represented everything James wasn't: loyalty, humility, and now, an MVP-level start. Some fans even went so far as to rewrite league rules to make life harder for LeBron.
Lin didn't know how deep the trolling went, but he could tell things were going south for Miami.
In his memory, the Heat hadn't started great, but they were at least a .500 team early on. Losing to the Timberwolves, though? That was rough.
"This is worse than getting blown out by us," Lin muttered.
The narrative was turning ugly fast. Talk shows were lighting up. Social media was roasting the Heat. Thankfully, Pat Riley hadn't gone nuclear with one of his infamous boot camp practices—because under this kind of stress, someone was bound to get injured.
...
On ESPN 2 during First Take with Stephen A. Smith, Skip Bayless—never one to pass up a chance—piled on.
[Opening Theme of "First Take Show" on ESPN]
Stephen A. Smith:
Ladies and gentlemen, welcome back to Fisrt Take on ESPN. We've got a lot to unpack today—Knicks are rollin', Heat are crumblin', and the MVP debate? It's already heating up... in October!
And joining me today is a man who's never shy with his opinions—whether they're right, wrong, or completely outta left field—Skip Bayless. Skip, how we doin'?
Skip Bayless:
Stephen A., I've never been better—because I'm here to set the record straight on something the league got dead wrong last season.
Stephen A. Smith:
Oh, here we go...
Skip Bayless:
I said it then, I'm saying it louder now: the NBA robbed Lin Yi of that MVP. Robbed him! And honestly, it's time we start having a serious conversation about revoking LeBron James' MVP from last year. Give it to the man who earned it.
Stephen A. Smith:
(Squints, eyebrows raised)
You… you wanna do what now?
Skip Bayless:
You heard me, Stephen A. Lin Yi should've been MVP. The numbers don't lie. And what LeBron is doing right now? It's flat-out unacceptable. His body language is off, his leadership is lacking, and the Heat looks lost. That's on him.
Stephen A. Smith:
Wait, wait, wait—hold on just a second. First off, Lin Yi was sensational. No one's arguing that. But you're talkin' about revoking LeBron's MVP? The man averaged 29.7 a night! Carried the Cavs through injuries, had the best record in the East! How are you gonna erase that?
Skip Bayless:
Sure, he averaged 29.7. Lin Yi averaged 25.7. Four points less. But when you break it down—blocks, assists, rebounds, efficiency—Lin beat him across the board!
And let's not forget: Lin Yi was a rookie, straight outta college, new to the system, no playoff experience, no all-star help—nothing! And yet, he led the Knicks to 56 wins! 56!!
Stephen A. Smith:
(Cuts in)
Skip, I ain't disputing Lin Yi's impact. The kid's a revelation. But this ain't about stats alone. MVP is narrative, leadership, consistency—and yes, reputation. You're tellin' me a rookie should've gotten MVP over a veteran in LeBron James?
Skip Bayless:
Yes! That's exactly what I'm telling you. But the league couldn't let that happen. You know why? Because he's Asian. Because he was new. Because the NBA wasn't ready to let someone outside the expected mold take that crown so fast.
Stephen A. Smith:
(Holds up a hand)
Whoa, whoa, whoa—Skip, you better tread lightly now.
Skip Bayless:
I'm just telling the truth! The NBA wasn't ready to hand its most prestigious award to a Chinese-born rookie playing for a Knicks team no one believed in before the season started. They played it safe. Gave it to the name they knew.
Stephen A. Smith:
(Slowly)
So you're saying the league suppressed Lin Yi's MVP case... because of politics?
Skip Bayless:
I'm saying they were afraid. Afraid of change. Afraid of headlines. Afraid of crowning a young, foreign player in a market that still clings to certain faces.
Stephen A. Smith:
(Takes a breath, folds arms)
Okay, let's say—hypothetically—there's truth to that. You know how the league works, Skip. This ain't just about basketball—it's about marketing, legacy, visibility. The MVP is also a branding tool.
Skip Bayless:
Exactly. Which is why Lin didn't get it. But this year? You can't hide it anymore. Five games in, and the man is already leading the league in scoring. Again. And he's filling the stat sheet like it's a game. Meanwhile, LeBron and the Heat? They just lost to the Timberwolves. Crying on the bench? Come on.
Stephen A. Smith:
(Points at Skip)
You leave that photo out of this. One picture doesn't define a man's greatness.
Skip Bayless:
It defines pressure, Stephen A.! And LeBron's feeling it. Because Lin Yi isn't just here to compete. He's here for the crown.
Stephen A. Smith:
Let me tell you something, Skip. I love Lin Yi. I love what he's doing. The kid is the future, no question. But you don't take an MVP off a man's mantle just 'cause the next generation's knocking. LeBron earned that last year. Let Lin Yi earn his own.
Skip Bayless:
He did earn it. He just didn't get it.
Stephen A. Smith:
(Sighs, leans back)
Ladies and gentlemen, you see what I deal with?
We'll be right back after the break. I need a moment before Skip drives me crazy...
The TV flickered in the dimly lit room, a half-eaten protein bar resting on the coffee table. Lin Yi leaned back on the couch, arms crossed, eyes locked on the screen as ESPN2 replayed the now-viral segment from The Stephen A. Smith Show.
He didn't even need to watch it again—he already knew the quotes word for word. But there was something surreal about hearing Skip Bayless say it live:
I'm just telling the truth! The NBA wasn't ready to hand its most prestigious award to a Chinese-born rookie playing for a Knicks team no one believed in before the season started. They played it safe. Gave it to the name they knew.
Lin exhaled, slow and steady.
He understood Skip point a bit but at the the end of the it's the buckets that mattered. Same in any sports; whether it was the goals over the assists in football (soccer), touchdowns over sacks in the NFL, knockouts over submissions in MMA( this is a bit subjective), it was always about the points that won the game not the lead up to it.
It didn't that he almost averaged a triple double for a season, it didn't matter that he out played LeBron on rebounds, assists, blocks and steals. The point was all that matters. Him being a rookie didn't help too.
It was the harsh truth of sports.
There was a moment of silence. Then his phone buzzed.
Text from Zhong Muchen:
"Don't say anything yet. Let it marinate. America's watching now."
...
The internet had exploded. Twitter and Reddit— everyone had an opinion. The reactions were as polarized as they were passionate.
Trending: #LinYi #MVPDebate #SkipSaidIt
Camp LeBron
@NBA_Royalty:
"You don't revoke MVPs because someone had a hot 5 games. Lin Yi is great. But this? Skip being Skip."
@HeatCulture88:
"LeBron was dragging Cleveland all last year. Lin had a great year, but rookie MVP? Let's not rewrite history just because the Knicks are hot right now."
@JordanLegacy_:
"This is why we can't take Skip seriously. LeBron earned that MVP. Lin's time will come. But not at LeBron's expense."
Neutral Voices
@BallTalkPodcast:
"Both things can be true: LeBron was MVP, and the league was hesitant to give Lin the nod because of market risk. That's not crazy—it's business."
@CoachJenn_:
"Lin Yi is legit, but we need a full season before crowning him. Still, the conversation is valid. Don't sleep on him."
@NBAMetrics:
"If you go by PER, win shares, and net rating, Lin Yi was top-3 in every major metric last season. Just sayin'. It's not a wild take."
Lin Yi Supporters
@KnicksFaithful24:
"Finally! Someone said it. Lin Yi got robbed. The man carried us from DAY ONE. #GiveHimHisFlowers"
@CavsFan98:
"Lin Yi plays the game the right way. No drama. LOYALTY!!. Just buckets and hustle. MVP material since day one."
@AsiaHoopsHub:
"This ain't just about basketball. It's about recognition. Lin Yi represents more than stats—he's rewriting what's possible. And that's exactly why they hesitated."
He scrolled in silence.
Some comments made him laugh. Some, he quickly swiped past. Others stayed in his mind longer than he expected.
He didn't reply.
He will let the basketball do the talking.
...
It was a full-blown backlash. The same media that once praised James was now turning on him, and Stern's summer decision to push Lin as the league's new face suddenly looked genius. No one had expected the Knicks to start this well—but here they were, stealing headlines.
James, meanwhile, couldn't escape the narrative. The entire country had branded the Heat as the villains.
Lin knew this wouldn't change overnight. In fact, in his previous life, the Heat didn't shake off that villain label until they won back-to-back titles. But that was the thing—this timeline wasn't the same.
Now, Lin's rise was happening at the same time the Heat were supposed to build their dynasty.
But Lin didn't feel sorry for James. If anything, he respected him deeply. He understood just how dominant LeBron could be—that's why he pushed so hard for the Knicks to build up during the offseason.
Lin's mindset was simple: even if the Knicks weren't ready to take down the top teams out West, he had to accelerate the climb.
If he wanted to be the greatest in NBA history, he had to move fast—snatch the spotlight, claim the throne, and push James out of the conversation.
Stats? That could improve with time. But reputation? That had to be seized now.
...
November 7, 2010
The Knicks' road trip rolled on to the TD Garden, where they locked horns with the Celtics in what turned out to be a gritty, defensive battle. This wasn't the same Celtics team that used to bully the East, though. Kevin Garnett? He was still talking, still barking—but Lin Yi was no longer fazed. Their duels were becoming less intense. KG was fading.
Boston hadn't made the trade with the Thunder yet. Kendrick Perkins was still there—for now. But once that deal happened, it was clear: the Celtics were no longer the biggest threat to the Knicks in the East.
This version of the Celtics looked more like a reunion tour than a contender. Shaq hadn't joined them in this timeline, but Lin Yi couldn't help remembering that weird future where O'Neal had worn green.
Final score: Knicks 97, Celtics 89.
It looked close on paper—but the truth? The Knicks had controlled the tempo from the second quarter onward.
The most frustrated fans in the arena? Celtics faithful. And most of that frustration had a name: Tony Allen.
The same Tony Allen who had Ray Allen wrapped up like duct tape on a leaky pipe. Gentleman Ray couldn't find his rhythm, and without that perimeter threat, Boston leaned heavily on Paul Pierce's midrange game just to stay in it.
After the game, Coach Doc Rivers shook his head in the press room.
"Lin's matured faster than we expected. The Knicks are doing a lot of things right."
Up in the front office, General Manager Danny Ainge was already doing the math. He could feel the window closing. If the Celtics didn't make a real run this year, he'd have no choice but to hit the reset button. Rebuild. Re-evaluate. Maybe even regret letting Tony Allen walk in the offseason—not that he'd admit that publicly.
As for the Knicks, they were on a six-game winning streak—and nobody could deny their legitimacy anymore.
The media, naturally, did what they always do. After doubting them for weeks, they pivoted.
But this year's Lin Yi? Different. Calmer. Less interested in headlines.
In the postgame presser, a reporter asked about the Celtics.
Lin Yi smiled.
"Boston's a tough team. We were fortunate to come out with the win."
Fortunate? You dominated them!
Another asked about the Heat's struggles—Miami was off to a shaky start, and the media loved drama.
Lin kept it classy.
"The Heat are a strong squad. They're built to contend. As for us, we just take it one game at a time. It's a long season—82 games. We're just getting started."
Some reporters blinked in disbelief.
"Wait, where is the guy they knew? What happened to the old sarcastic Lin?"
A few joked that Lin Yi must've gone back to China and undergone a socialist transformation. But Lin? He was just playing the long game.
No need to rattle cages right now. Let the Heat soak up the pressure. Let the media feast on LeBron, Bosh, and Wade. Lin had other plans—and with Spike Lee's documentary in production, he wasn't chasing camera time.
And if the Heat could absorb the heat—pun intended—then great. Lin would even praise them to the press.
Word had it that LeBron teared up a little again when he saw Lin speaking kindly about Miami.
"Lin Yi's such a good guy," one fan tweeted. "Like, genuinely good."
But Shaq? Shaq knew better.
He leaned back in the locker room, chuckling.
"Man... these people really think you're doing Heat a favor. You've got them sweating, and they still think you're their PR guy!"
Lin shrugged.
"What can I say? It's a gift."
Then Lou wandered in.
"Hey, Lin. Did you hear what Gallo said?"
"Gallo?" Lin raised a brow.
Lou grinned like he couldn't wait to stir trouble.
"He told the rookies Shaq wasn't even half his size in the showers... then Shaq locked him in the locker room."
Lin nearly spit out his water.
"...You've got to be kidding."
"Nope. I was there," Lou nodded, dodging a swipe from Shaq. "The man begged to be let out."
Lin stared blankly at Shaq, who was chasing after Lou.
"I need to unhear that. I need bleach for my memory."
...
As Knicks fans partied in bars and social feeds flooded with hype, they had no idea that something far bigger was brewing beneath the surface.
An earthquake was coming.
...
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