When Rudy Gobert placed the Knicks cap on his head, he instinctively straightened his posture. To him, this was no ordinary franchise.
The Knicks had just won a championship. That alone carried pressure. Whether he could contribute immediately or not was another matter entirely, but Gobert felt one thing clearly.
He could not embarrass this team.
At the moment, Gobert still looked painfully thin by NBA standards. Long arms, narrow shoulders, undeveloped frame. The type of body most analysts immediately questioned.
Across television broadcasts, many draft experts were visibly confused by New York's decision. Before the draft, the general expectation had been that the Knicks would target Andre Roberson because of his perimeter defense and athletic profile.
Gobert, meanwhile, carried several negative labels in scouting reports.
Not physical enough.
Limited offensively.
No shooting range.
Raw footwork.
And perhaps most importantly for outside observers, he did not seem to fit the Knicks' identity at all.
This was supposed to be the league's ultimate spacing team. The founders of modern three-point basketball. Why would they draft a center who barely touched the ball offensively?
No one understood the logic.
Which also meant no one dared criticize it too loudly.
The Knicks' drafting record over the past few years had become too accurate. Analysts had learned that mocking a Knicks rookie before seeing him play often aged terribly.
. . .
In New York, Lin Yi turned off the television immediately after the selection..
With the draft's key moments concluded, his attention shifted elsewhere. He then contacted his assistant coach, Mike D'Antoni, who was vacationing in Italy.
D'Antoni had followed the draft and expressed curiosity about Gobert. After Lin Yi provided a detailed explanation of the prospect's potential, the coach's interest grew markedly.
"Lin, I didn't realize you followed European basketball so closely," D'Antoni remarked with genuine surprise.
Lin Yi offered no elaborate response. His knowledge stemmed not from extensive scouting of European leagues, but from foresight regarding future potential.
While Gobert's long-term outlook was promising, the French big man would likely spend the upcoming season developing alongside Draymond Green, beginning with limited minutes.
Priorities for Gobert included adding strength and adapting to the NBA's physical pace. Until he matured, the Knicks would need a reliable backup for Tyson Chandler in the paint.
D'Antoni inquired further, "Lin, have you considered returning to the center position?"
Lin Yi reflected briefly. While feasible, he preferred playing small forward for tactical flexibility. He assured D'Antoni that he would assume center duties in specific situations if a suitable backup could not be secured during the summer.
Preparation for all contingencies remained essential. Overconfidence in an assured future often led to the loss of the present.
Meanwhile, shortly after the draft ended, Gobert's agent nearly shouted while holding his phone.
"Rudy, it's Lin Yi!"
Gobert froze for a second before hurriedly grabbing the phone.
Flattered and slightly overwhelmed, Gobert answered promptly. Over the past two years, European basketball had produced endless "next Lin Yi" prospects. Gobert had played against several of them himself.
Most were exaggerated comparisons.
The original was different.
Three MVPs.
Two Finals MVPs.
Face of the league.
Gobert suddenly felt nervous enough that even speaking became difficult.
Privately, he owned multiple Lin Yi player cards and highlight collections. Although he played center, he admired the style completely.
Fight and retreat. Skill mixed with control. Dominance without wasted motion.
If he had possessed the talent, Gobert felt he probably would have tried copying that style himself.
"Lin… is it really you?" Gobert asked carefully.
Lin Yi went silent for a second.
Who else would it be?
"Yes, Rudy. It's me," Lin Yi replied. "I've gone through your scouting reports. If you want to stay with the Knicks long term, the first thing you need is strength training."
"I understand," Gobert answered immediately.
At that moment, one thought kept repeating in his head.
Lin Yi personally wanted me.
Lin Yi continued, "Additionally, focus intently on defense. Study Tyson Chandler's game film from the past two seasons rather than older footage."
Gobert swallowed, absorbing the guidance. As a rookie receiving direct counsel from the team's cornerstone player, he raced through possibilities.
Championship parades.
Defensive awards.
Luxury apartments in Manhattan.
Beautiful women.
Fame.
Everything seemed possible at once.
Finally, Lin Yi added one more sentence.
"Finally," Lin Yi added, "if your schedule permits, arrive in New York early this summer to train with me."
Lin Yi's invitation served dual purposes: Gobert offered an excellent training partner, and developing him into a worthy successor to Tyson Chandler was critical for the Knicks' sustained dominance.
Lin Yi had no intention of settling for two championships. Such success, after all, was best measured in multiples.
Gobert, who had just received Lin Yi's training invitation, could not stay calm for even a second.
He was in total disbelief.
In his mind, Lin Yi was not a normal star. He was closer to a fixed point in basketball history, something you looked at, studied, and never expected to stand beside.
"Can I really train with you?" Gobert asked just to make sure he wasn't hearing wrong.
"Of course," Lin Yi replied.
That was enough.
Gobert almost lost control of himself right there.
By the end of the night, he had already decided what he would tell everyone he met.
"I'm training with the NBA's three-time MVP."
There was no hesitation in his voice when he said it later. Only pride.
What Gobert did not yet understand was that Lin Yi's training environment was not a reward. It was a filter.
Many players entered.
Not all of them stayed.
Far away, in Hawaii, Tyson Chandler sat on vacation with his wife, finally enjoying a rare moment of peace.
Then his phone buzzed.
Then it buzzed again.
He looked at the screen, saw Lin Yi's name, and felt something in his chest tighten for no clear reason.
Without answering, he turned the phone off.
His wife glanced over.
"Everything okay?"
"Yeah," Chandler said quickly. "Everything's fine. Let's continue."
Too quickly.
In his mind, only one thought formed clearly.
Not this summer.
Absolutely not.
With Gobert's situation addressed, Lin Yi turned his focus to the Knicks' free agency strategy. The team required a reliable backup center and an additional wing player.
. . .
On June 28, while the front office commenced its work, Lin Yi officially began his specialized summer training program.
His objectives for the summer included elevating all current basic skill values higher while further enhancing his explosiveness.
Lin Yi fully understood that remaining stagnant equated to falling behind. Because he initiated his regimen early, his scheduled promotional activities in China were postponed until late July.
As Lin Yi immersed himself in training, Stephen Curry arrived in New York on the 29th.
Lin Yi fixed him with a stern gaze. "Return my trophy, Stephen."
Curry responded with a defiant yet playful expression. "No, Lin. You promised it to me yourself. It is my trophy now."
The tone was playful, but his stance said otherwise. He even leaned slightly back, as if daring Lin Yi to react.
Lin Yi did not.
Instead, he reached out and tapped Curry lightly on the head.
Then he asked a simple question.
"Were you kicked out by Ayesha?"
Curry's ears turned red almost instantly.
"Cousins," he muttered.
The explanation did not need more detail.
The boisterous big man had taken him to a nightclub without Ayesha's knowledge. In a lapse of judgment, Curry had gone along. The consequences had left him temporarily without a place to stay, prompting his visit to New York for both refuge and intensive training.
Before the moment could settle, another presence arrived.
Klay Thompson walked into the gym like he owned the space, immediately locking eyes with Curry.
Then he straightened his posture.
Then he spoke.
"Sixty in three-quarters is not that impressive."
A pause.
"Neither is nine threes in a Finals game."
Another pause.
"The championship trophy is honestly kind of average."
Curry's jaw tightened immediately.
Lin Yi stepped forward and punched Klay lightly on the shoulder.
"Stop talking nonsense."
Klay rubbed his shoulder, then smiled.
"Oh, I forgot humility is a Knicks tradition."
Curry exhaled through his teeth, clearly not amused.
The rivalry between them did not need encouragement. It already existed naturally, built from shared history, shared roles, and overlapping ambition.
Lin Yi watched them for a moment, then shook his head slightly.
The gym was getting louder.
But the work had not even started yet.
And somehow, that was exactly how he liked it.
. . .
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