The news that Lin Yi became China's second-ever NBA No.1 pick blew up everywhere.
The first thing you saw on all the major websites.
Over in China?
Fans were already getting ready to switch allegiance and root for the Knicks next season.
CCTV even planned to bump up the nu...
While Lin Yi, Blake Griffin, Steph Curry, and the others were getting mobbed by reporters, the rest of the 2009 NBA Draft results were starting to roll in too.
Over at the Thunder table, the vibe was weird. With Lin and Griffin off the board, they didn't wanna pick Hasheem Thabeet. The prob...
2025-04-27 09:06:54 +0000 UTC View PostIn the theater at Madison Square Garden, as soon as NBA commissioner David Stern stepped onto the stage, the boos came raining down from every corner of the arena.
Stern, the old fox he was, just smiled calmly like he was listening to a nice jazz tune instead of getting heckled by thousands...
2025-04-27 08:16:51 +0000 UTC View PostAfter finishing his workout with the Clippers, Lin Yi hit up Oakland, Oklahoma, and Phoenix for more tryouts.
In Oakland, the Warriors loved him. Like, full-on praise from everyone. But the problem? They already had Maggette and Ellis running the wings — what they really needed was a domi...
2025-04-27 07:57:23 +0000 UTC View PostZhong Muchen leaned back on the couch, quietly watching Lin Yi, who was staring dead at the 2009 NBA Draft board.
First pick: Clippers.
Second pick: Warriors.
Third pick: Knicks.
Fourth: Thunder.
Fifth: Wizards.
Sixth: Grizzlies.
Seventh: Kings.
Eig...
2025-04-26 17:14:28 +0000 UTC View PostThe Rockets finally got it done — beat the Blazers 4-2.
Yao finally made it past the first round. Sitting there on the sidelines, Lin Yi could feel it — that pure, boiling excitement in Ming's heart.
After the game, Yao was out there with the media, grinning...
2025-04-26 14:15:03 +0000 UTC View PostAfter a bunch of crazy games and contests, Blake Griffin took home the dunk contest crown, Curry won the three-point shootout, although Lin came close in both competitions.
Meanwhile, James Harden... well, he completely lost his mind when he got back to the villa.
The dude was exhaust...
2025-04-26 13:41:14 +0000 UTC View PostOn a private jet to Hawaii...
James Harden was on the verge of a mental breakdown.
Why?!
Why?!
Why the hell did I call that guy?!
Harden slumped into his seat, staring blankly at the ceiling. Damn it... This was supposed to be his big "super party" — a celebration ...
2025-04-26 13:00:31 +0000 UTC View PostMaybe it was fate. Davidson Wildcats drew Butler University—coached by Vincent, one of McKillop's old college buddies—in the first round of the Southern League playoffs.
When the bracket was revealed, Vincent nearly fainted.
"Seriously? This damn guy again? This old troll just won...
2025-04-26 12:13:07 +0000 UTC View Post"You're sure it's him?" Javier Stanford leaned in, his voice low as he glanced around the cozy private booth in a popular steakhouse in North Carolina.
Lin Yi cracked a smile. "Yeah. I'm sure."
Just then, the door creaked open.
A man walked in. Skinny—almost p...
2025-04-26 12:09:12 +0000 UTC View PostCompared to the flashy lives of NBA stars, being an NBA agent was underrated—and a total grind.
You wouldn't believe how many players have borrowed money from their agents before even setting foot in the NBA. Sometimes it's not even the players—their friends or family hitting t...
2025-04-26 12:04:33 +0000 UTC View PostBefore the Southern Conference playoffs kicked off, Lin Yi got a text from Javier Stanford.
"Yo Lin, any chance you're down for an exclusive interview? It's for the March Madness."
Lin didn't even think twice—he was in.
He also figured it was time to treat Javier to a meal. Af...
2025-04-26 12:00:45 +0000 UTC View PostThere were only eight games left in the regular season. After that, it was time for the Southern Conference playoffs.
Coach McKillop knew what time it was—rest time.
He didn't say much, he just started cutting Lin Yi and Steph's minutes down. No need to run them into the ground.
... 2025-04-26 11:59:02 +0000 UTC View PostThe showdown between Davidson Wildcats and Oklahoma Sooners was over.
Mission complete
Lin Yi walked off with a new reward from the system.
"Congrats! You've unlocked the system-exclusive NIKE ZOOM KOBE 3."
"Bounce Talent permanently +1"
Just like that, a brand-new p...
2025-04-26 09:46:33 +0000 UTC View PostHow will the Sooners pull off their final attack?
Coach Jeff Capel stood frozen on the sideline, watching his team. This was one of the most nerve-wracking moments he'd faced since taking over the Oklahoma Sooners.
Timeout
Capel didn't make his ...
2025-04-26 09:41:26 +0000 UTC View PostLin Yi pulled off that wild sequence of crossovers and ankle-breaking moves, continuously smashing the expectations of how a big should play.
Then Blake Griffin came down the other end and made the whole arena feel it. Not just the dunk—the shockwave.
It felt like these two...
2025-04-26 09:38:10 +0000 UTC View PostSECOND HALF BEGINS
Blake came out aggressive in the second half. He stepped out to the 45-degree angle in his first possession and called for the ball. But instead of the Wildcats' power forward Anthony Beasley guarding him—it was Lin Yi standing there.
You could fe...
2025-04-26 09:36:38 +0000 UTC View PostReggie Miller slowly got up from his seat—right now, all eyes were on him.
Across the U.S., fans were dying to hear what he'd say next.
"Yo! Whoever said this rookie gonna flop—stand up right now! I swear I won't trash you… maybe!" Reggie shouted, barely able to contain his exci...
2025-04-26 09:35:04 +0000 UTC View PostBANG
The rim shook violently as Blake Griffin hammered down a thunderous one-arm dunk. The whole Davidson arena went silent for a beat—then erupted.
Blake had seen enough.
After watching his brother Taylor get cooked again and again, he wanted in. During the t...
2025-04-26 09:33:12 +0000 UTC View Post"F***!" Taylor Griffin slammed the ball on the floor, pissed off.
Early in the game, the Sooners were down 4–8. That Chinese had just knocked down another jumper. Dude already had six points off three clean shots.
Blake Griffin threw a glare his brother's way.
NCAA Southern League games usually don't get national attention.
But this one. Davidson Wildcats vs. Oklahoma Sooners.
Yeah, everyone's watching.
After three additional straight wins, Lin Yi and Steph Curry finally got their shot at Oklahoma—the final boss of ...
2025-04-26 09:29:39 +0000 UTC View Post"Bro... your shoes..."
Steph squinted down at Lin Yi's beat-up sneakers, pointing with a smirk in the Wildcats practice gym.
Lin glanced at them, then leaned back against the wall, soaking up the afternoon sunlight.
"Yeah... they're looking a bit thirsty now," he said...
The Wildcats' win streak is still alive and kicking. After locking in their 13th straight victory, Lin Yi finally unlocked his dream combo—two shiny new bronze badges: one for Dream Shake at center, and another for Rebounding Maniac at power forward.
&nbs...
2025-04-26 09:25:03 +0000 UTC View PostAfter a quiet stretch, the heat was back.
The NCAA Southern League was back in action, and Davidson was ready to roll.
Coach McKillop's first game of the second half? An away showdown with Butler University.
And guess who was waiting for him? His old buddy, Coach Vincent.
...
2025-04-26 09:22:02 +0000 UTC View PostBang, bang, bang.
Basketballs echoed through the Davidson College gym. Players were hustling, dripping sweat, chasing dreams under the squeak of sneakers and shouting of coaches.
"Yo, Dell! What brings you here today?" Coach McKillop looked surprised when he spotted Dell Curry leaning...
2025-04-26 09:19:15 +0000 UTC View PostWhen the NBA first introduced the three-point line, almost every team hated it. No one wanted it—mainly because it came from the ABA, which was seen as the NBA's rival at the time. It just didn't feel like "real basketball." Back then, everyone was drilled to take it strong to the basket, so a ...
2025-04-26 09:16:17 +0000 UTC View PostChristmas might be a Western holiday, but to Lin Yi, it kind of felt like how Chinese folks treat Chinese New Year. Especially Christmas Eve—it was a big deal here, just like New Year's Eve back home.
That morning, Steph Curry drove Lin back to his family's place in North Carolina.
...
2025-04-26 09:13:19 +0000 UTC View Post"Mr. Presti." Durant had just wrapped up a set of threes in the Thunder training gym, wiping sweat from his brow.
"Kevin, you've been looking sharp lately," Presti said, casually walking over. "But man, you should be taking more shots. Your shooting percentage is crazy good—why n...
2025-04-26 09:11:30 +0000 UTC View PostJust like how the NBA went from no three-pointers to living and dying by them, the NBA Draft has gone through some wild changes too.
In the early days, the draft had a rule called the "territorial pick." A team could give up their first-round pick and instead select a local college player t...
2025-04-26 09:02:32 +0000 UTC View PostClang!
Stephen Curry's three-point shot missed.
The buzzer sounded. That was the Wildcats' final chance.
The Arizona State Sun Devils thrillingly won the game, 77 to 79.
James Harden's tired face showed no emotion. He looked completely drained like he just...
2025-04-26 09:01:03 +0000 UTC View Post