LeBron understood timing, optics, and leverage. Right now, picking a fight with Lin Yi made no sense. Not here. Not during All-Star Weekend. So instead, he chose the smarter route.
He showed goodwill.
During their earlier conversation, Lin Yi picked up on it quickly.
LeBron wanted the NBA All-Star Game MVP.
Lin Yi almost laughed when he realized.
It made sense.
Since Lin Yi's rise, things had shifted. The championship that many expected the Heat to win slipped away. The MVP conversation last season had not gone LeBron's way either. The noise around him had changed.
Some critics were no longer debating if he was the best in the league. They were questioning if he even belonged in the top tier at all.
The NBA did not care about reputation for long.
Results mattered.
LeBron knew he was likely falling behind in this season's MVP race. That made Houston important. The All-Star MVP might not carry the same weight, but it was still something.
Something visible.
Something he could take.
Lin Yi had already won it three straight times. For him, it barely registered anymore.
For LeBron, it mattered.
In this year's voting, Carmelo Anthony had come dangerously close to overtaking him.
That alone said enough.
Before arriving in Houston, LeBron had already spoken privately with Dwyane Wade and even sat down with Erik Spoelstra. Nothing dramatic, just quiet conversations.
He understood what it would take.
First, the East had to win.
Second, he needed to make sure Lin Yi did not take over the game.
Because if Lin Yi went off again, as he had before, all the effort in the world would not matter.
Lin Yi, for his part, found the whole situation almost amusing.
He had already planned to take it easy this year.
So in a way, LeBron's approach worked out for both of them.
Smart players understood each other without saying everything out loud.
Lin Yi was not interested in forcing the issue. If LeBron wanted to push, he would not get in the way.
If anything, it might make the game more interesting.
He glanced over at later LeBron during practice.
"Going all out for this one?" Lin Yi asked lightly.
LeBron nodded.
"Let's just say I'm not here to jog up and down the court."
"Fair enough," Lin Yi replied. "I'll stay out of your way then."
LeBron shook his head.
"Don't do me any favors. Just don't drop fifty."
Lin Yi smiled.
"No promises."
LeBron laughed.
"Yeah, I figured."
From that point on, the two of them were relaxed around each other. Making it look like the confrontation they had earlier was a mirage
They talked during drills, shared a few jokes, and kept things easy.
When the media came over, LeBron did not hold back.
"Best big man in the game," he said, nodding toward Lin Yi. "I've never seen anyone like him."
It was generous, but also strategic.
LeBron was in a good mood. Everything felt lined up. All that was left was the game itself.
But plans had a way of shifting.
After morning practice, Lin Yi went looking for some quiet time and stumbled onto something else entirely.
Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant were heading out together.
Together.
Lin Yi's eyes lit up immediately.
"Wait," he called out, stepping toward them. "Where are you two going?"
Shaq did not even slow down. He extended an arm and gently pushed Lin Yi aside.
"Not your business," Shaq said. "Go find your own lunch."
Lin Yi blinked.
Kobe just waved and kept walking.
Shaq threw one more look over his shoulder.
"Don't follow us."
The message was clear.
Lin Yi stood there for a second, then sighed.
"Unbelievable."
Since spying was no longer an option, Lin Yi made a quick decision.
He turned to Chris Paul.
"Let's get real food."
Paul looked suspicious.
"What kind of real food?"
"Fried chicken."
Paul did not hesitate.
"I'm in."
They had been eating controlled, nutrition-heavy meals for weeks. At this point, anything with actual flavor felt like a reward.
What Paul did not notice was Lin Yi casually placing his phone on the table, recording.
They ordered. Then ordered more.
Conversation flowed easily.
By the time they finished, the table looked like a battlefield.
Lin Yi wiped his hands, leaned back, and smiled.
"Chris," he said calmly, "you said 'fried chicken' 107 times."
Paul froze.
"What?"
Lin Yi picked up his phone.
"I counted."
"That's not even a thing," Paul said, frowning. "You're making that up."
Lin Yi shook his head.
"Check it."
Paul leaned over as Lin Yi played back parts of the recording.
Sure enough, every few sentences—
"Pass the fried chicken."
"This fried chicken is good."
"Another fried chicken?"
Paul stared at the phone, then at Lin Yi.
"You didn't say it once?" he asked.
Lin Yi smiled.
"Not a single time."
Paul leaned back, stunned.
"That's ridiculous."
Lin Yi shrugged.
"Details matter."
Paul shook his head, half laughing, half annoyed.
"I just got hustled over fried chicken."
"Efficient work," Lin Yi replied.
. . .
That evening, the NBA All-Star Saturday Night at the Toyota Center was packed.
The crowd was stacked with celebrities.
Leonardo DiCaprio.
Johnny Depp.
David Beckham.
Spike Lee.
Jack Nicholson.
Scarlett Johansson.
Taylor Swift.
Most of them were here for one reason.
Lin Yi.
Courtside, Kobe's daughters were laughing as Lin Yi helped them with small dunks on a lowered hoop.
Nearby, Shareef O'Neal waved casually at Shaq.
"Dad, you can go," he said. "I'm good here."
Shaq paused.
"You serious?"
Shareef was already walking toward Kobe and Lin Yi.
Shaq looked at both of them, then muttered under his breath.
"Unbelievable."
He had commentary duties anyway, so he turned and headed off, shaking his head.
"For the record," he muttered, "I'm still the best center in this building."
Not far away, Tim Duncan approached with Tony Parker.
Duncan reached out and casually rested a hand on Lin Yi's head, rubbing it like he was testing the texture.
"Nice," Duncan said. "Feels better with the short-cut."
Lin Yi stepped back slightly.
"You came over just for that?"
Duncan ignored the question.
"What are you planning for the dunk contest?" he asked.
Lin Yi smiled.
"You'll see."
Duncan nodded, satisfied enough.
Nearby, Scarlett Johansson and Taylor Swift congratulated Lin Yi.
"Congratulations," Scarlett said. "Big year for you."
Taylor smiled.
"And a bigger one coming."
Lin Yi nodded.
"Appreciate it."
Taylor tilted her head slightly.
"If you get bored during the break, you can come by. You still owe me that basketball lesson."
Lin Yi blinked once, then gave a polite smile.
"I'll keep that in mind."
The night moved on.
The Shooting Stars competition opened the event, followed by the Skills Challenge, where Damian Lillard took the win.
The NBA Three-Point Contest came next.
Representing the East were Klay Thompson, Danny Green, and Steve Novak.
The West countered with Stephen Curry, Kyrie Irving, and Matt Bonner.
The format confused.
Klay advanced from the East with just 16 points, while Curry scored 20 but still missed the final because Irving was hotter.
By the time the final came around, it was Klay against Irving.
Klay found his rhythm.
Rack after rack, clean and smooth.
Twenty-three points.
Irving followed with nineteen.
That was enough.
Klay took the title.
During his interview, he smiled and said, "I'm going to be the best shooter in this league."
Across the court, Curry shook his head, clearly frustrated.
"If not for this format," he muttered to Lin nearby, "we'd be having a different conversation."
"Hey," Lin said, giving a small shrug, "you win some, you lose some."
Then the lights shifted.
The noise inside the arena rose, then rose again.
Over twenty thousand voices, building into one.
The energy changed instantly.
Because now, it was time.
The NBA Slam Dunk Contest had arrived.
. . .
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