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Chapter 200: All Star Weekend
🕑 Added 2025-06-27 12:46:41 +0000 UTCThis year’s All-Star Weekend in Dallas had the city feeling... well, a little cursed.
First, Allen Iverson and Kobe Bryant both pulled out, essentially retiring from the event. That alone dimmed the star power of the festivities.
Then Brandon Roy announced he’d be stepping away from the All-Star Game as well.
And just before tip-off, Hornets star Chris Paul declared he’d miss the rest of the season due to injury.
At this point, you could almost hear Dallas groaning: “Did the entire league make a pact against us?”
Still, there was one silver lining the city and the league could cling to.
They had him.
Lin Yi—the NBA’s rising phenomenon and, thankfully, its newest crowd magnet.
The Mavericks were doing their part, too. After Dirk Nowitzki was named a Western Conference starter, Dallas’ veteran point guard Jason Kidd joined him on the All-Star roster.
For longtime fans, seeing both Dirk and Kidd together on that stage felt like a nostalgic encore from a golden era.
It was fitting, in a way. This season had been plagued by injuries and uncertainty, but now the league—and especially Dallas—could breathe a little easier knowing the All-Star Weekend still had its headliner.
...
After dismantling the Cavaliers, Lin Yi flew to Dallas accompanied by David Lee and Danilo Gallinari.
And this weekend? Lin Yi was going to be everywhere.
First stop? The Rising Stars Challenge.
The consensus was that the sophomore squad had the upper hand. But Lin Yi wasn’t too concerned with that. As a fan-turned-star, just being at All-Star Weekend was surreal enough.
For him, this was about soaking in the moment—enjoying basketball in its purest form.
The first-year team featured Lin Yi alongside Stephen Curry, James Harden, Jonny Flynn, DeMar DeRozan, Tyreke Evans, Taj Gibson, Omri Casspi, and Brandon Jennings. Not a bad group to roll out for your All-Star debut.
On paper, the second-year roster looked more complete—Derrick Rose, Kevin Love, Brook Lopez, Eric Gordon, Gallinari, Marc Gasol, O.J. Mayo, Russell Westbrook, and Michael Beasley. It had experience, talent... and a whole lot of shot volume.
The 2009 Draft Class group chat had been buzzing with strategies to finally take down the second-years. Lin didn’t recall many details from past Rookie Challenges—it was more of a lighthearted opener for the weekend—but this time, with him in it, things felt different.
Gallinari even went so far as to call his shot:
"Just wait, Lin—I’m going to show you my real skills in the rookie game."
Lin Yi raised an eyebrow, grinning.
"You mean the ones you keep hiding after practice?"
...
Dallas had gone all-in for the All-Star festivities.
Food, fan zones, basketball-themed games—it was like a hoops festival had taken over the entire city. Fans from all over the world packed the streets and arenas, jerseys in hand, ready to celebrate the sport they loved.
Back at the hotel, Lin Yi ran into Stephen Curry, who was in high spirits. After all, Lin had just tied Curry’s rookie single-season three-point record in a game, and the Baby-Faced Assassin had even called to congratulate him.
It wasn’t a record that would shake the league, but sharing a stat line with Lin Yi felt pretty cool to Steph.
Then came the inevitable.
“Yo!” Harden, Flynn, and DeRozan strolled in, decked out in fashionably chaotic outfits that screamed energy.
Unlike Lin, who still had the All-Star Game itself ahead of him, for these guys, the Rising Stars game was their big stage.
Lin greeted each of them with chest bumps and handshakes.
“Any tips for the rookie challenge?” Curry asked, his eyes gleaming with mischief.
Lin knew exactly where this was going.
They wanted revenge. The first-years had taken enough heat for being “too green,” and now they wanted to flip the script.
And actually… Lin liked the sound of that.
He remembered something—Derrick Rose was likely to skip the Rising Stars game, which would tilt the balance even further.
If the sophomores planned on leaning on Lopez and Marc Gasol in the paint? Lin was more than happy to educate them.
Love? Still carrying trauma from their last matchup.
Honestly, most of the young bigs in the league had developed a healthy fear of Lin Yi.
He wasn’t just a stat sheet stuffer.
He was a statement.
With Derrick Rose potentially out, the sophomore team’s offensive tempo was noticeably slower. That shift alone already made Lin Yi a natural mismatch for their frontcourt. Frankly, the game was starting to look like a walk in the park.
But cruising to a win? That wasn’t Lin Yi’s style. If they were going to do this, they might as well make it big. Memorable.
So that night, Lin gathered six of his fellow rookies in his hotel room to sketch out a plan.
As for their first-year team’s coach?
Well… let’s just say Dan D'Antoni, assistant with the Knicks, had been pretty clear about his expectations before they even arrived in Dallas:
"Lin, just go out there and get that MVP, alright?"
The coach, being one of Lin’s own, only made things easier. With free rein and a goal in mind, Lin wasn’t about to waste this chance to create a highlight-reel performance—and a headline or two while he was at it.
“Are you serious about this?” Harden raised an eyebrow after hearing Lin’s plan.
“This is... kinda insane.”
“I like it,” Curry said instantly, nodding.
Back in their Davidson days, Coach McKillop used to consider Lin’s insights. And for Curry, McKillop was like family, so if Lin Yi had a plan, he was all in.
Lin chuckled.
“See? Steph gets it. Still salty about the Warriors not trading for you, though.”
DeRozan was hyped, too.
“Nah, this is fire. Let’s do it. I need to show out anyway—Gordon’s going down in the dunk contest prelims.”
Lin gave him a look.
He wasn’t exactly chummy with DeRozan yet. In his memory, DeRozan did take part in the 2010 Dunk Contest. They were on a collision course.
Flynn nodded enthusiastically from the corner.
His Timberwolves teammate Tyreke Evans had also made the squad, but there was no love lost between the two. Both were ball-dominant guards, and Minnesota’s flashy “two-gun” backcourt was more style than substance.
The plan was in place. Lin gave Dan a quick call to run things by him.
This was Dan's first time leading a team on his own, even if it was just a rookie squad. Coaching a room full of future All-Stars was nerve-wracking, and he hadn’t quite figured out the Xs and Os.
“This setup sounds perfect, Lin,” Dan admitted over the phone.
“Honestly, I didn’t know how I was gonna structure the offense to satisfy everyone... You just saved me a headache.”
Lin laughed.
“Just stay calm and look confident on the bench. We’ve got this.”
Dan smiled as he hung up.
If Lin Yi was drawing up the blueprint, what did he have to worry about? Worst-case scenario, he could even bench Lin just to flex—after all, who else could say they benched the starting center of the Eastern All-Star team?
...
After dinner, Harden floated the idea of hitting up a Dallas nightclub to soak in the city’s nightlife.
Lin shut it down immediately.
“Not tonight. DeRozan’s still got the dunk contest to worry about, and I’m not risking a headline before Sunday.”
DeRozan reluctantly nodded. He had one goal: to beat Eric Gordon and get into the finals. Distractions could wait.
Flynn, however, was game—and off he went with Harden, the two disappearing into the neon haze.
Back at the hotel, Curry stuck around to chill with Lin. The two fired up a round of NBA 2K10, and, as expected, Curry picked the Warriors.
Lin Yi, of course, picked... Knicks.
After Lin’s earlier complaints about his virtual stats, 2K had patched him up—his overall rating was now a respectable 82.
The result?
Curry got torched.
“This isn’t fair! Why can’t I hit a three?” Curry cried, mashing the controller.
Lin smirked.
What, it's only now that it feels unscientific to you? Wait till 2 K23 drops. They can max your three-pointer at 99, and you’ll still feel underpowered.
Some games, reality just couldn’t keep up with the future.
...
February 12.
The NBA All-Star Weekend officially tipped off.
The atmosphere in Dallas was electric. Fans flooded the streets, basketball-themed pop-ups were everywhere, and the American Airlines Center had transformed into the heart of the hoops universe.
Among the day’s events was a special wheelchair basketball game—an initiative aimed at promoting inclusivity and raising awareness for athletes with disabilities. NBA Commissioner David Stern knew that for the league to evolve beyond the court, it had to lead in social impact too.
And for one weekend, Dallas wasn’t just a city—it was the basketball city.
...
"Sister Xiaolei, this sausage is amazing. Want a bite?" Qi Jun, a young reporter for Sports Weekly, juggled a hot grilled sausage in one hand and a Canon DSLR in the other. He was snapping crowd shots between bites, completely in his element.
"How’s the material looking from outside the venue?" Wu Xiaolei asked, glancing at her notes. "The celebrity game should be wrapping up—we’ll head in for postgame interviews soon."
"No worries, I've got some good stuff," Qi Jun said, patting his stomach and flashing a grin.
Xiaolei chuckled. Qi Jun was a bit clumsy and a glutton, but when it came to photography, he always delivered.
When the two finally stepped into the American Airlines Center, Xiaolei stopped short, her eyes going wide.
"What the—?" she muttered.
"What’s up?" Qi Jun leaned over, peeking past her shoulder.
"Nothing..." Xiaolei replied, though her voice trailed off. She couldn’t believe it.
Last year’s rookie game had been chill—fun, but low-key. But this year?
The arena was packed. It wasn’t even prime time yet, and the place was already buzzing. And just look at the sidelines—NBA royalty was everywhere.
LeBron was in a backwards cap, laughing with Wade.
Dwight Howard—suited up, of course—was dapping up rookies courtside.
Tim Duncan, in sunglasses, sat stoically chewing popcorn.
Steve Nash was deep in conversation with Steph Curry, gesturing animatedly.
Xiaolei felt like she’d walked onto a movie set.
And it didn’t stop there. Scanning the crowd, she noticed a huge chunk of fans in Knicks jerseys—specifically No. 44.
"They’re here to see him, aren’t they..." she murmured, realizing what was going on.
Yes. Lin Yi was the attraction.
At that very moment, he was giving a pregame interview to CCTV courtside, and judging by the sea of flashing cameras, you’d think it was the playoffs..
...
Back in the locker room, Lin rejoined his teammates after the interview.
"Done?" Harden and DeRozan asked, almost in sync.
"Yeah, all done," Lin nodded. Then, grinning at Harden, he added, "By the way, James, you sure you don’t want to say hi to Russell before the game?"
Harden shrugged.
"Told him earlier—once we’re on the court, we’re not friends."
Steph Curry bounced over after chatting with Nash.
"Man, the crowd’s wild out there."
Jonny Flynn whistled.
"That’s nothing. Wait till Sunday at AT&T Stadium—80,000 people. This All-Star’s gonna be insane."
The group glanced at Lin. He just smiled and shrugged, suddenly aware of the rising stakes.
This wasn’t just a game anymore. It was a show.
Back on the first-year bench, Coach Dan laid out his game plan.
Tyreke Evans didn’t look impressed.
"Coach, are we really running that?" he asked, eyebrows raised.
Donaldson fumbled for words—he wasn’t much of a talker. Lucky for him, Lin stepped in.
"Tyreke, trust me," Lin said calmly. "Tonight’s not just about winning—we’re going to make a statement. You might not get as many looks with the starters, but once the second unit’s on, your driving game becomes a weapon."
He looked around at his teammates.
"I know not every play will go your way. But tonight, we’re all in this together. Let’s work as a team, put on a show, and make sure people remember this game."
The message landed. Evans nodded slowly.
"Alright, I’m in. Let’s do it."
That was the turning point. Once Evans was onboard, the rest of the team fell in line.
Jennings opened his mouth, probably to throw in his two cents, but Lin met his eyes and gave a small shake of the head.
No drama. Not tonight.
The locker room quieted. The energy shifted.
Everyone was ready.
And outside, 20,000 fans—plus a few million watching worldwide—were ready too.
...
On the bench, Rookie Team Head Coach Dan couldn’t help but marvel. Lin Yi wasn’t just a talent—he was a natural leader. Whether in New York or here with a mixed bag of rookies, the guy had a knack for winning people over.
If Lin Yi had overheard Donaldson’s thoughts, he’d probably have clapped him on the back and said, “Coach Dan, it’s all about reasoning things out. You convince people with logic... or bench minutes.”
Let’s be honest. With nine players on the roster, four were Lin’s close friends, and the other five weren’t exactly strangers. Add to that a coach who gave him the green light—it was less “team meeting” and more “group chat.”
Once tactics were finalized, the rookie starting five was set:
Lin Yi
Omri Casspi
Tyreke Evans
Brandon Jennings
Stephen Curry
Across the court, the second-year starters were:
Brook Lopez
Michael Beasley
Danilo Gallinari
O.J. Mayo
Russell Westbrook.
...
When Brook Lopez saw Lin Yi strolling over for the tip-off, his heart sank a little. The flashbacks kicked in—every time the Nets faced the Knicks, he ended up either bruised, blocked, or humiliated.
Outwardly, he forced a smile.
“Long time no see, Lin.”
Lin Yi grinned.
“Brook, you sure you wanna do this again?”
Lopez didn’t respond.
On the sidelines, Dwight Howard leaned back and looked around at the row of stars watching from the courtside.
“So, you’re all backing the first-years, huh?” he asked, half-joking, half-bitter.
LeBron shrugged. “Yeah. Dwyane and I are with the first years.”
Wade nodded. “They’ve got juice.”
Duncan added with a rare smile, “I like how they move the ball. First-years.”
Nash grinned. “I’m backing the rookies, too. They’ve got some rhythm.”
Howard couldn’t believe it.
Traitors, all of them!
Ever since Lin Yi beat him out for a starting spot in the Eastern Conference All-Star lineup, Howard had been dreaming of seeing the rookie phenom get humbled.
And now? The perfect setup! A second-year squad stacked with experience. Westbrook, Gallinari, Beasley, Lopez—surely they had the edge.
He clenched his fist.
Let’s go, Russell! Mike! O.J.!” he muttered. “Do it for the old heads!
...
The buzz inside American Airlines Center reached a fever pitch.
The announcer’s voice boomed. The crowd rose to their feet.
Lin Yi and Brook Lopez stepped into the circle. The ref held the ball up.
Whistle.
Toss.
Lin Yi leapt, long and fluid like a spring-loaded branch, and swatted the tip cleanly back to his team.
The game was on.
And just like that, the battle between the two year groups began.
Lin Yi won the tip, and just like that, the first-year team was off and running.
And the fans at American Airlines Center?
Oh, they were ready. The roar that followed made it clear—most of them were here to see one person: Lin Yi.
Up in the media section, Wu Xiaolei scribbled the moment into her notebook. It felt surreal. Just last year, she and Qi Jun had flown out to Kentucky to interview Lin Yi at Davidson. Now? Post-game access was nearly impossible. Not because Lin Yi refused interviews, just because the media horde surrounding him was like a mosh pit.
Back on the court, the first-years set up their first possession. Tyreke Evans brought it up and handed it to Curry. Lin Yi moved up to the high post and set a screen.
The crowd buzzed—nostalgia was in the air.
"The Shooting Stars are back!" someone shouted.
And just like that, memories of Davidson’s run came flooding back.
Brook Lopez, guarding Lin Yi, suddenly felt a chill down his spine.
Lin Yi rolled off the screen, Curry used it, and O.J. Mayo—never exactly known for defense—got smoked. The sharpshooter rose…
Swish!
Three points to start the game.
The legends on the sidelines chuckled. Nash, in particular, shook his head knowingly.
“Pick-and-rolls with a shooter like Steph and a big like Lin? That’s just evil,” he muttered.
Next possession: Second-year ball. The first-year squad was keeping things simple—protect the paint, close out hard, and make the sophomores beat them from deep. After all, it's the rookie game—defense isn't exactly playoff-level.
Westbrook, never one to shy away from a challenge, waved off the screen and tried to muscle past Tyreke.
Big mistake.
Evans, who earned the nickname Reke Havoc for a reason, held firm. Westbrook, slightly frustrated, pulled up for a contested jumper.
Clank.
Lin Yi grabbed the board before Lopez could react and—without hesitation—fired a full-court pass that Manning would’ve been proud of.
Jennings was already sprinting.
He caught the pass, but instead of taking it strong to the hoop, he got cocky. Pulled up for a deep three.
Clank.
Luckily for the rookies, Casspi was there, crashing the boards.
He hesitated, then spotted Curry.
Curry caught, let it fly...
Swish.
Again.
Back-to-back threes for Steph. His shooting stroke was smoother than ever.
Jennings looked a bit annoyed.
“Should’ve just laid it up,” he muttered.
Evans patted him on the back. “We got the bucket, chill.”
Sophomores came back down; this time, O.J. Mayo took over. He danced with the ball, crossed over Jennings, but as soon as Lin Yi stepped up defensively, Mayo changed his mind and settled for a jumper.
Clank.
Another miss.
This time, Curry snagged the long rebound and took off.
The whole rookie squad bolted.
From the sidelines, LeBron gave Wade a nudge. “This look familiar?”
Wade laughed, pointing to Lin Yi. “Running Knicks.”
Nash added, “Their coach is a Knicks assistant. Makes sense.”
Duncan reached over to pat Nash’s head. Nash dodged.
Howard, meanwhile, looked lost.
“What are y’all talking about?” he asked.
When nobody answered, he grumbled, “Feels like the second-years are in trouble…”
On the court, Lin Yi ran the break like a point forward. He caught a lob from Evans and dunked it clean.
8–0.
Two minutes in, and the first-years were running riot.
With the rookie challenge split into two 20-minute halves, the sophomore coaching staff—led by a Nugget assistant, Adrian Dantley—yelled for calm.
“Be patient! Work it inside!”
So next play, they went to Lopez in the post. He tried to shake Lin Yi, spun into a hook—but Lin’s wingspan haunted him like a shadow. Da Luo rushed it.
Thud.
Rebound Lin Yi. He looked up. Evans and Curry were already gone.
Touchdown pass again—but this time, to Evans. Westbrook and Gallinari had tracked back, but Evans calmly baited them, waited… and whipped a no-look pass to Curry cutting to the rim.
Layup. Bucket. Eight points for Steph.
10–0.
The commentators were loving it.
“Are the rookies trying to make a statement?” one asked.
Wu Xiaolei smiled as she scribbled furiously.
“They’re playing with purpose,” she told Qi Jun, who was snapping photos nonstop.
“Why do you say that?” Qi Jun asked between clicks.
“Because they’re built to run. The sophomores can’t keep up.”
And Lin Yi? He was already smiling.
The sophomore strategy—simple: pass, run, shoot—was way too predictable.
With Lin Yi and Curry sharing the floor, and Tyreke capable of both facilitating and slashing, the squad had more chemistry and much better pace.
Lopez and Marc Gasol? Too slow to keep up in transition.
Even if the sophomores went small, they'd just open the paint for Lin Yi to feast.
Gallinari and Gordon were their only legit shooters, and rookie games weren’t known for drawing up complex off-ball actions.
Meanwhile, Lin Yi and Curry had that Davidson rhythm locked in. One year of college ball, a lifetime of chemistry.
Evans? Playing smart. Jennings? A little off, but he’d get his chances.
And the rest?
Lin Yi smiled wider.
This wasn’t even their final form.
...
With 14 minutes left in the first half, the game finally reached its first official timeout.
Coach Dan blinked at the scoreboard, stunned. “Wait—first timeout already?”
He looked around, then chuckled to himself. The game had been flowing so well, he hadn’t even noticed the time flying by.
The score?
30 to 9.
Six minutes. Thirty points.
The rookies were on fire.
The American Airlines Center crowd was buzzing. The point gap didn’t matter—this was pure entertainment. Fast breaks, deep threes, highlight dunks, smooth ball movement, and almost no fouls. It was beautiful chaos.
Out of the timeout, Dan made a few changes—Evans, Casspi, and Jennings took a breather. DeRozan, Harden, and Flynn checked in.
It was now "Lin Yi & Friends" on the court.
On the other side, Brook Lopez looked like he’d just come out of a sauna. Six minutes of full-speed basketball and he hadn’t even gotten on the board. Not even a rebound. He muttered under his breath, “These guys don’t even let you catch your breath on defense…”
The second-year squad tried to adjust, bringing in Marc Gasol and Kevin Love. Their coach looked visibly nervous on the sidelines.
“It’s just the Rookie Challenge,” he kept telling himself. “It’s just an exhibition…”
But being down by 20 in six minutes wasn’t exactly ideal résumé material.
....
Back from the break, Westbrook tried to give the sophomores a spark, hammering in a signature tomahawk slam.
The crowd roared.
But before the noise even died down, the ball was already back in play. Flynn inbounded to Lin Yi, who was already sprinting like a gazelle. Poor Marc Gasol barely got into a defensive stance before Lin Yi hit him with a ghost-like crossover and whipped a no-look pass behind his head.
DeRozan caught it in stride—180° spin mid-air—BOOM.
Dunk. Crowd. Erupted.
Even Steve Nash stood up and clapped.
James leaned toward Wade. “How do they have this kind of chemistry already?”
Wade shook his head, smiling. Duncan finally got his long-awaited head-pat on Nash.
Meanwhile, Howard sulked on the bench. “Come on, guys… get it together!”
But the guys on the floor looked like they were stuck in molasses. It wasn’t that they didn’t want to compete—they just had no chemistry. These weren’t rookies anymore. They had expectations, roles on their teams, and egos. But no cohesion.
...
Marc Gasol quickly found himself in the same hell as his brother had earlier.
Flynn received another slick feed from Lin Yi, soared in, and threw down a windmill dunk. Not bad for a 6’0” guard.
Then Harden stripped Westbrook clean at half-court. Russ tried to chase him down, but suddenly ran into a brick wall—a perfectly timed Lin Yi pick.
Harden laughed as he floated the ball up.
Lin Yi caught it in midair—one arm extended—and stuffed it down Vince Carter-style.
Wade jumped to his feet. “Oh my GOD!” He dragged Nash and LeBron up with him. Duncan followed, grinning as he went three-for-three on his patented “head taps.”
“LIN! LIN!” the crowd chanted in unison.
In the media section, Wu Xiaolei nudged Qi Jun. “Get the close-up. We’re witnessing something special.”
Qi Jun didn’t even respond—his lens was already locked in.
...
Down on the bench, Evans scratched his head. “Why do they play like they’ve been teammates forever?”
Casspi and Gibson were just as amazed. Taj Gibson, towel in hand, was practically the team hype man—waving, yelling, dancing. He was having more fun than the players on the court.
By halftime, the scoreboard read:
84 to 50.
A 34-point lead.
At halftime.
In an exhibition.
DeRozan even won his dunk showdown against Eric Gordon at the break, teaming up with Lin Yi for an easy crowd favorite. Gordon had bounce, but DeRozan had flair.
...
In the second half, Lin Yi took an extended rest, letting others get their shine. Even without him, the first-year team’s three-point barrage continued, and the lead only grew.
Casspi and Gibson ran a short-ball frontcourt, raining down jumpers while the second-year squad tried—and failed—to keep up.
Eventually, Lin Yi came back in, joined by Curry and the rest. The crowd buzzed in anticipation.
Curry missed a three, and Marc Gasol finally thought—Finally! My rebound!
But before he could even extend his arms—
BANG!
Lin Yi came out of nowhere, rocketing down from above and hammering the put-back dunk home. He didn’t just dunk the ball—he descended with it, like a UFO landing in the middle of Dallas.
Lopez, on the bench, nodded wisely. “Smart of me to sit this one out.”
Gasol just stared at Lin Yi dangling from the rim.
“Dude,” he muttered. “Can you… come down? We need to talk.”
Lin Yi, grinning, dropped down and patted his shoulder.
“Don’t worry, man. The future’s yours.”
Gasol’s eye twitched.
I’m two years older than you, you alien...
...
By now, the crowd was in full delirium. Their brains were practically overloaded from the highlight reel that had just unfolded in real time.
James and Wade?
They dipped out early, exchanging knowing glances.
Duncan and Nash followed, nodding in approval.
Only Howard remained, slumped in his seat.
...
Final score:
154 to 96.
A 58-point beatdown.
The largest margin of victory in Rookie Challenge history.
Lin Yi and Stephen Curry were co-MVPs.
Lin Yi: 27 points, 16 rebounds, 8 assists, 4 blocks, 1 steal.
Curry: 31 points (7 threes), 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 4 steals.
All five of the 2009 Draft Class group members scored in double figures. Even Harden, with the fewest points, logged 10 and 7 assists.
The rookie team notched 44 assists—a masterclass in team basketball.
And when the final buzzer sounded, the entire basketball world had the same reaction:
“Wait… 2009 was supposed to be a weak draft class?”
Think again.
