That night, celebrities and media packed Madison Square Garden. The game was straight-up star-studded.
New Knicks owner James Dolan was front and center, sitting courtside next to the team's management crew.
The game was live on TNT and CCTV.
Starting Lineups:
Bulls: Luc Longley, Dennis Rodman, Scottie Pippen, Michael Jordan, Ron Harper.
Knicks: Patrick Ewing, Charles Oakley, Zhao Dong, John Starks, Chris Childs.
On the NBC broadcast, Doug Collins introduced the lineups and immediately hyped up Jordan.
"MJ just dropped 58 in the last game, so you know he's coming for blood tonight at The Garden."
Marv Albert followed up with a stat:
"Everybody wants to go off at Madison Square Garden, and Jordan? He's the only visiting player who's put up 50-plus here—twice. Wilt's 100 doesn't count, that wasn't even in this building. So, don't be surprised if he does it for a third time tonight."
Meanwhile, over on CCTV, Zhang Heli analyzed the matchup:
"Tonight's a whole new challenge. Last game, Zhao Dong had to deal with Rodman. Now, he's got Pippen—both elite defenders, but their styles are different. Zhao Dong's gonna face some serious tests tonight.
Plus, don't expect the Bulls to guard him one-on-one again. They'll be throwing double-teams and help defense at him all night. Let's see how he handles it."
But then, Sun Zhenping shifted the conversation:
"Coach Zhang, domestic fans are demanding Zhao Dong gets called up to the national team, but there's been no response. Any idea why?"
Zhang Heli hesitated, smiling awkwardly.
"Comrade Sun, you're putting me in a tough spot here."
Then, he sighed and explained:
"It's complicated. The Sports Commission is restructuring, and they're busy with all that. But honestly, not recruiting Zhao Dong just doesn't make sense. He's too good to ignore, and the fans won't accept it."
Sun Zhenping wanted to press further, but Zhang Heli kicked him under the table to drop it.
Meanwhile, in Beijing…
Liu Yumin, head of the Basketball Department, was watching the game at home. Hearing Zhang Heli's comment, she sighed.
Her position was shaky. A bunch of young academics, backed by higher-ups, were squeezing her out, making her job harder every day.
Frustrated, she got up, took out a folded note from her bedroom drawer, and picked up the phone.
---
Back in the Knicks' Locker Room…
Zhao Dong tossed his phone into his locker.
Liu Yumin had just called him. She didn't say much—just checked in on him and gave some encouragement. But that alone spoke volumes.
"With my game right now, how am I not even getting a call-up?" he thought.
The national team was decent, sure, but they only ranked eighth in the world. What, they thought he wasn't good enough for that?
But that call from Liu Yumin… it told him something. She wanted him on the squad. No doubt about it.
Problem was, the Basketball Management Center was about to be formed, and Xin Nancheng—a conservative—was about to take charge.
"Maybe he doesn't want me in the team?" Zhao Dong wondered.
Then, he smirked.
"Whatever. If I cook in the playoffs and they still don't call me up, the fans are gonna let 'em hear it."
Pushing all that aside, he locked in on the game ahead.
---
Pregame Trash Talk
As the teams headed to the court, the starting lineups met in the tunnel.
Jordan never played around—he took every game personal. Trash talk? That was his weapon of choice.
The moment he saw Zhao Dong, he barked, "Kid, I'm dropping 50 tonight. I run this court. You—"
Zhao Dong cut him off, stone-cold:
"You're a loser against me. You get that?"
Jordan's eyes flared. "What the hell did you just say?"
Zhao Dong smirked. "Have you ever beaten me? Even in your dreams?"
Jordan clenched his jaw.
Zhao Dong leaned in. "Listen up, MJ. I don't care how many rings you got, how many MVPs, how many damn banners you hung up—you ain't ever beat me. You don't get to talk. You wanna challenge me? Step up and win first."
Jordan's fists clenched. His stare? Ice cold. "Just wait, kid."
---
Courtside Flirt
As Zhao Dong walked past the sideline, a tall, red-haired model stood up.
"Hey, Zhao Dong!"
He grinned. "Irina."
Irina was a top model, gracing the covers of elite fashion magazines. They'd talked before—she was cool.
She smirked. "You dropping 30-plus tonight?"
Zhao Dong chuckled. "Easy. But hold up, Irina—if I do, how 'bout a date?"
She raised a brow. "Thirty-plus? That's standard at The Garden."
Zhao Dong laughed. "Fine. Make it 50-plus. That enough?"
Irina grinned. "Fifty plus, and you gotta beat the Bulls. Then, we'll talk."
Zhao Dong shook his head, laughing. "Damn, you got high standards."
She winked. "I know what you're trying to do."
Zhao Dong smirked. "Smart girl. Deal."
---
Tip-Off
Fifteen minutes later, the game tipped off.
Zhao Dong squared up against Luc Longley for the jump ball. Knicks' possession.
First play—feed Ewing.
Big Pat caught it, turned, and cash—jumper in.
Bulls' turn. Jordan got the rock and, right away, two Knicks swarmed him. Oakley and Starks closed in, but Jordan still pulled up.
Turnaround fadeaway— bucket.
The crowd erupted. Even in New York, MJ had fans in the house. Stars in the front row gave him a standing ovation.
Zhao Dong watched, nodding to himself.
"When I can drop 40, 50-plus while getting doubled every night, that's when I'll be at his level."
---
Time to Work
Knicks' ball. Zhao Dong caught it on the left wing, outside the arc.
Pippen stepped up, barking, "Rookie, you ain't getting 20 tonight."
Zhao Dong chuckled. "Oh yeah? I'm dropping 30 on your head. And that's just you—points on the other guys don't count."
Then, he made his move. Slow, deliberate, power.
Pippen? Elite perimeter defense. But he only weighed 95 kilos—couldn't stop sheer strength.
Zhao Dong felt the pressure—Pippen reached for the steal. Nah.
Zhao Dong's arms? Long as hell. Kept the ball away. No chance.
Step by step, he bullied Pippen toward the rim.
This was just the beginning.
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
Do you want to read Advanced Chapters?
Visit this link:
Påtreon.com/Fanficlord03
Change (å) to (a)