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Chapter 276: The Making Of A Duel
🕑 Added 2025-08-02 18:57:51 +0000 UTCIf three words capture Clippers owner Donald Sterling’s emotional rollercoaster over the past year, it has to be ups and downs. And that might still be underselling it.
Just last season, after offloading Lin Yi in a headline-grabbing trade, Sterling was all smiles at the league’s owners' meeting; he thought he’d pulled a fast one on the Knicks. But karma doesn’t take days off in the NBA.
Griffin went down for the season, Lin Yi broke out in New York, and suddenly, Sterling wasn’t laughing anymore. He turned his wrath on the Clippers’ front office, ripped into the coaching staff, and fired Mike Dunleavy later without a second thought.
Fast forward to this season, and things seemed to be looking up. Griffin was back. New York was desperate enough to sign O'Neal to avoid getting hit with a fine, and Sterling couldn’t help but gloat again.
The Clippers’ brass, once the target of his tantrums, were now being showered with rare praise.
But it didn’t take long for reality to flip the script again.
The Knicks started the new season with a stunning 10–1 record. Dolan, never one to miss a shot at redemption, calmly responded: “Sometimes, it feels good to spend less. Just look at a team in L.A.—highest payroll, still bottom of the standings.”
Ouch.
He even thanked the Clippers for next year’s first-round pick, cheekily calling it “a gift that keeps on giving.”
Sterling, naturally, wasn’t having it. Once again, he exploded on the Clippers’ management, blasting them for being unable to run a franchise properly. Incredibly, the Clippers were outspending the Knicks—and getting outplayed night after night.
Then there’s Vinny Del Negro. Poor guy. After failing to take the Bulls to the playoffs, he’d barely unpacked in L.A. before Sterling made his life a living hell. Sterling’s favorite hobby? Popping into the locker room with his girlfriend, V. Stiviano, and micromanaging in front of the team.
Correction—he wasn’t visiting, he was showboating.
Stiviano didn’t exactly keep things professional either. After one practice, she waltzed right up to the team, acting like a Phil Jackson reincarnate.
But Sterling? He looked like a proud dad at a school play.
Del Negro wasn’t stupid—he knew the team’s fate rested on Griffin’s broad shoulders. But that didn’t stop Stiviano from doubling down.
Sterling was completely smitten by her antics. It’s a miracle Griffin didn’t request a trade on the spot. I mean, how’s a 20-something supposed to deal with that level of distraction from his boss and girlfriend?
Total circus show.
Still, the pressure might’ve lit a fire under him. After a win against the Pistons on November 17th, Griffin told the media he would definitely participate in this year’s dunk contest.
Boom.
That’s all it took. Reporters went wild. The dunk contest just got real.
Griffin’s beast-mode dunks had already become must-watch TV in L.A., but now he was stepping onto the big stage. And just when things couldn’t get juicier, Lin Yi—yes, that Lin Yi—confirmed he’d be there too.
“Griffin, are you trying to challenge Lin?” a reporter asked, half-joking, half-hoping.
Griffin grinned. “Of course! Lin’s my guy. We talked over the summer about doing this. I’ve dreamed of beating him in the dunk contest.”
Unlike other categories where he might lack confidence, Griffin believes in his dunking with every fiber of his being.
Naturally, the media sprinted to get Lin Yi’s reaction.
Lin wasn’t surprised. He’d already gotten a text from Griffin earlier.
Lin checked Blake’s numbers—damn, they were better than he remembered. Averaging 24.7 points and 11 rebounds per game. Not bad. And the big surprise? Griffin was attempting threes. He was three-point shooting percentage was low, but at least defenders had to think twice now.
Blake’s handles were solid, and with the added threat of a (kind of) jumper, his drives had become more unpredictable. Add that to his rim-rocking dunks, and yeah, he’d been in the Top 5 plays of the week more than once.
If Lin weren’t around, Griffin might’ve been the face of the league’s highlight reel.
But let’s be honest—the dunk contest isn’t just about power. It’s about creativity. And that’s where Lin Yi thrives.
“I’m thrilled Blake’s joining the dunk contest,” Lin told reporters with a smile. “I’ve been cooking up some ideas. Trust me—it’s going to be a showdown for the ages.”
Boom—headlines wrote themselves.
“Dunk Showdown Set for All-Star Weekend!”
Suddenly, the L.A. All-Star Game wasn’t just another mid-season spectacle—it was a can’t-miss event.
David Stern was over the moon. Hype is everything during All-Star week, and Lin and Blake were giving the league all the free promotion it could ever want.
Even Kobe Bryant got in on the action, dialing up Lin Yi himself.
“Lin, look—I still don’t rate the Clippers, but this year’s All-Star Game is in L.A., so Blake’s got home-court advantage.”
Lin chuckled. “Relax, Kob. I was hoping you’d help me out with one of my dunks.”
“Say no more,” Kobe replied. “Oh—and tell Shaq his 28 points the other night were impressive.”
Really, Kobe?
Lin rolled his eyes. “You two should just get married already. Stop using me as your go-between. I’m still single, you know.”
When Shaq got wind of the “congrats” from Kobe, he laughed that big O’Neal laugh.
“Lin, are you sure you can beat Blake?” he asked. “I mean, that kid 's dunks are vicious.”
Lin grinned. “Shaq, you know I don’t brag. But Blake’s wingspan? It limits some of the crazier dunks. That’s a fact.”
Shaq cracked up. Mention wingspan around him, and he instantly thinks of Kobe.
And so, on this night of media frenzy and fan fever, someone far away from the spotlight sat on his couch, refreshing his burner account, hoping someone—anyone—noticed he dropped 38 points and helped his team beat the Spurs.
Clutching his phone, he muttered, “Good thing Russell’s got that thick shell, or my phone would be toast.”
Then he scribbled something into a notebook after flipping over pages with the same words:
One day, I’ll prove I’m the best scorer in the league.
