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Chapter 169: Lin's Takeoff, Chef's Preheat
🕑 Added 2025-06-05 16:03:04 +0000 UTCLin Yi was no stranger to JRS Voice.
Last time he’d been here, it was after dropping a casual 30 in just three quarters. That night ended with him tossing on a headset and laughing through the postgame.
Tonight was no different.
He settled into the interview area, slipped on the headphones, and immediately heard Chris Webber’s voice, lively as ever.
"Yo, Lin! First off—big congrats, man. Beating the Spurs? And dropping a double-double? That’s real cool, my guy."
Lin grinned. “Appreciate it, Chris.”
He’d always liked Webber. The King's legend had transitioned smoothly into broadcasting, though Lin knew Shaq would never let him forget those old battles against the Lakers.
Webber took the teasing in stride these days, even if he still swore the refs robbed the Kings in '02.
“Alright, Lin—since you announced you’re entering the dunk contest, it feels like you’re throwing it down more every game. That tomahawk you hit in the third? Straight-up Top 5 material. Tell me—what was running through your head? Channeling Richard Jefferson a little tonight?”
Lin laughed. “Man, honestly? I want 2K to show me some love. I’m a loyal player, but every time I try that dunk in the game, I brick it by myself. Can we get that patched or something?”
Webber cracked up. “We’ll call Ronnie from 2K right after this.”
“Now—Tim Duncan. You matched up with him a lot tonight. What’s it like going up against the best power forward in the game?”
“Oh, it’s a clinic, every single time. Tim’s just... different. You think you’ve got a step on him, and boom—he’s already there, hands straight up. But yeah, I got lucky tonight. He didn’t get to hit me with that classic the future is yours line.”
“Facts, facts,” Webber laughed. “So what do you think was the difference-maker tonight? Spurs were playing tough, but you guys pulled it out.”
“Lou was huge for us—lights out. But really, everyone stepped up. These are the games where it’s not just one guy. The bench brought energy, our defense held up, and we just fed off each other. It wasn’t easy, but it was a team win, for sure.”
Webber nodded in approval, then raised an eyebrow as he queued up the final question.
“Alright, last one. Lately, we’re seeing a bunch of younger players in the NAA trying to emulate your style. Got any advice for the next generation of hoopers?”
Lin paused for a beat, thinking.
Then: “Honestly? I love it. Try stuff. Go crazy. Don’t be afraid to fail. 'Cause if you don’t go all-in, you’ll never find out how deep the rabbit hole really goes, you know? You’ve gotta push it until you find where the edge is.”
There was a long beat of silence on Webber’s end.
“...Yup. That’s Lin,” he finally said, pulling off his own headset with a smirk. He turned to the other two hosts in the studio. “Had me worried for a sec. Dude sounded all polished at the start. But that last answer? Beautiful.”
Everyone laughed.
Lin Yi’s interview was over—but the legend?
Still being written.
...
After the Knicks beat the Spurs at home, Lin Yi’s ever-growing fan base hit another fever pitch.
Didn’t matter where you looked—newsfeeds, forums, message boards—LinMania was everywhere.
As Lin Yi continued to deliver outstanding performances, his global fan community had evolved into a massive online presence. People from all over the world started cheering hard.
Lin Yi didn’t know whether to laugh or cry when he saw the news.
He used to roll his eyes at over-the-top fans when he was just a regular basketball junkie. But now? Having his crazy stans? They were kinda... endearing.
...
December 28th.
The Knicks got a rare rest day. Coach D’Antoni didn’t schedule any practices—probably because they had a brutal three-game road stretch coming up, including a back-to-back.
The grind was real. The revolution was still in progress.
That afternoon, Lin Yi’s phone buzzed. Steph Curry was on the line.
“Bro, that tomahawk last night? Nuts,” Curry said as soon as Lin picked up.
Lin chuckled. His dunk had already passed 2 million views on YouTube, and he’d somehow become the most-followed basketball player on the platform.
“Even Vince Carter dropped you a like,” Curry added with a mock sigh. “Man, I’m jealous.”
But Lin could hear the stress behind Steph’s voice. He knew things weren’t all good in Golden State.
Ellis had been going full volume lately, chucking wild shots like it was the All-Star game. According to the numbers, he was taking more shots than ever… and somehow scoring less.
Curry, on the other hand, had been improving quietly. The form, the feel, the rhythm—it was coming together. But with Ellis dominating the ball, it wasn’t easy for the young top pick to find his lane.
Lin Yi knew it all too well. Changing history had its ripples.
Back in college, he and Steph had been the perfect duo. Now, with Curry as the 2009 No. 1 pick, expectations were sky-high. And Warriors fans weren’t shy about demanding that he get more touches.
The tension was building.
Ellis could feel his spotlight dimming—and he wasn’t about to give it up without a fight. His way of pushing back? More shots, more drama.
The front office was already whispering about a potential trade. Some even thought it might be better for Curry to leave the Warriors altogether. But Don Nelson wasn’t biting. He wasn’t trading Curry. Not yet.
Still, even he saw what was happening. The plan now was to stagger their minutes—give Steph more space to operate when Ellis sat.
Lin Yi sighed as he ended the call.
“Is the Chef about to go online early...?” he wondered quietly.
With his shooting form finally cleaned up, Curry just needed an opening. Once he got going, Lin Yi knew—there’d be no turning back.
...
December 29, 2009
That night, the Knicks rolled into Detroit for the first game of their three-game road trip.
It wasn’t 2004 anymore—the Pistons weren’t the bruisers they used to be. New York handled them easily, winning 104–87.
Knicks:23-8.
Lin Yi played 33 minutes but didn’t chase stats. He finished with a quiet 12 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists, and 2 blocks.
Why so modest?
Because Lou Williams had caught fire.
In the second quarter, he took over, dropping 19 points in a blur of floaters, pull-ups, and deep twos. D’Antoni didn’t even hesitate. He rode Lou into the third quarter, and Lou responded by finishing with 38 points, setting a personal best.
After the game, Lou grabbed the mic during his on-court interview.
“It’s Lin! It’s all because of Lin!” he shouted, voice cracking with emotion. “He’s always believed in me, always hyped me up. He’s the best teammate I’ve ever had. I love this city, I love this team, and I wanna ride with Lin for as long as I can!”
The media ate it up.
Suddenly, Lin Yi wasn’t just a rising star. Every Knick on the roster looked like they’d leveled up since he arrived.
...
December 29th.
The Knicks were prepping for their back-to-back against the Nets when the first wave of NBA All-Star voting results dropped.
And when the numbers hit?
People had to do a double-take.
Lin Yi wasn’t just on the leaderboard.
He was at the top.
