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Chapter 145: Rookie Royalty
🕑 Added 2025-05-25 15:27:21 +0000 UTCEven though the NBA season technically kicks off in late October, for most analysts and insiders, November is when things really get going.
And sure enough, on December 1st — the same day Lin Yi’s custom BMW X5 finally arrived — the league announced its November award winners.
With averages of 25.1 points, 9.7 rebounds, 8.4 assists, 2.4 blocks, and 1.1 steals per game, Lin Yi was named the Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month for November of the 2009–2010 season.
Out West, the Rookie of the Month honors went to Tyreke Evans, now suiting up for the Timberwolves. Evans put up 18.5 points, 5.1 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 1.2 steals per game — solid numbers.
Lin had heard about Evans back in college and always thought he was a real talent. But because of some timeline shifts, Evans never went to the Kings in this version of the NBA. Now he was sharing the ball with Jonny Flynn and another backcourt teammate, which might put a cap on his rookie stat line. Lin wasn’t sure Evans could still hit that mythical 20-5-5 rookie mark under those conditions.
Elsewhere, the Western Conference Player of the Month was none other than Nuggets star Carmelo Anthony. Melo had been on a tear, averaging 31.2 points, 6.5 boards, and 3.5 assists a night, shooting a sizzling 49.3% from the field. That’s certified bucket-getter stuff.
The 2003 draft class — that golden generation — was hitting its stride. This was the year a lot of those guys really leveled up. But even with all that, the biggest shock of the month? Lin Yi was also named Eastern Conference Player of the Month as a rookie.
Let that sink in.
Stat-wise, sure, Lin was scoring about seven fewer points a game than LeBron. But his impact across the board — rebounds, assists, blocks — plus the Knicks’ turnaround record-wise, helped tip the scales in his favor.
And just like that, Lin Yi became the first player in NBA history to win Player of the Month and Rookie of the Month in his first month as a pro. A record that, at best, someone else might tie in the future — but never beat.
...
After the Knicks’ showdown with the Magic wrapped up, NBA commissioner David Stern made a decision.
He was all in on Lin Yi.
In Stern’s eyes, Lin wasn’t just a rising star — he was the league’s next golden goose. A miracle player who’d shown up right when the NBA needed him most, like a savior out of some drama series. The timing was perfect, too — just as Yao Ming’s injuries left a void in the Chinese market.
And Stern wasn’t blind. He knew Dwight Howard’s free throws weren’t getting any better, and Shaq-like dominance just wasn’t happening. Meanwhile, Lin Yi? Young, skilled, marketable — and playing in New York.
That alone checked half the boxes. Add in the fact that the Knicks were spending big and finally winning again? Stern was more than happy to lend a little league backing behind the scenes.
Of course, none of it would matter if Lin hadn’t earned it on the court. But he had.
Even basketball purists agreed — Lin deserved that Player of the Month award. After all, the Cavs had lost to the Knicks back on November 6th, and narratives matter. The Knicks had been in the basement for years. Now they were rising, and Lin was the face of it all.
Funny thing is, Lin himself didn’t even know how to react at first.
“Man, I was just hoopin’,” he laughed when he heard the news.
The truth? Numbers don’t lie — but they can sure mislead.
Sometimes dominating a weak team looks like a masterclass. Sometimes, just holding your own against better players makes you look like a genius. And sometimes, even an ugly win tells the world you’re made of steel.
...
Back at Knicks HQ, the mood was pure joy.
Everyone in the front office was riding the high, especially GM Donnie Walsh, whose decision to draft Lin Yi was starting to look like a stroke of genius.
And thanks to some recent trades that paid off, Donnie was getting showered with praise. But behind the scenes, assistant GM Javier Stanford was gaining more and more influence.
Stanford wasn’t just crunching numbers anymore. He was networking, learning management, and slowly becoming Walsh’s right hand. Some said he was quietly grooming himself for the top job.
After all, what’s a deputy GM without a dream of becoming the GM someday?
...
Later that day, Lin’s phone buzzed. It was Stanford.
“Lin, the media wants to talk to you,” he said.
“No problem,” Lin replied. “Just tell me when and where.”
Before heading to the interview, Lin was about to enjoy something he’d been waiting for months: his first drive in his very own ride.
The X5 that Zhong Muchen had customized for him had finally arrived.
Sure, money was a bit tight right now — otherwise Lin would’ve gone for something even flashier. But that could wait. He was already eyeing a list of supercars for down the road.
Can money buy happiness? Maybe not.
But having money is happiness. Especially when it comes with horsepower and leather seats.
To top it off, Lin’s trust in Zhong Muchen had paid off. His agent had already set up a registered company to manage Lin’s endorsements and media opportunities. With Lin’s growing popularity and the right business plan, this little startup was about to print cash.
...
At the press room set up by the Knicks media team, the place was already buzzing. Reporters from both China and the U.S. were scrambling to get their gear ready, eager to throw questions at Lin Yi and log yet another record into his growing NBA legacy.
“Congrats, Lin — another one for the history books,” one of the Knicks’ media officers greeted him as he walked in. The guy looked like he was about to cry — in a good way.
Just a year ago, it had been a nightmare. The Knicks were a punchline. Every headline was a scandal, every reporter was out for blood, and every press conference felt like walking into a trap.
Now?
Now, thanks to Lin Yi, the tone had done a complete 180. The media couldn’t get enough of him. Even when there were rumors, like the so-called girlfriend people kept talking about, the biggest takeaway was how cute their height difference looked.
Honestly, for the press officer, Lin Yi might as well have descended straight from heaven.
This kid didn’t just save the franchise — he might’ve saved his job.
Once the press conference kicked off, the media dove in.
“Lin, how does it feel to grab both Rookie of the Month and Player of the Month in your very first full month in the league?”
Lin paused, gave a polite smile, and said, “Honestly? It’s a huge honor. It’s encouragement, not just for me, but for the whole team. I’ve gotta thank my teammates and the coaching staff. We’re all working hard, and I think the Knicks can do something special this season.”
Off to the side, the Knicks’ press officer was practically glowing. What a clean, thoughtful answer. No drama, no cockiness. Just vibes and leadership. The man was genuinely moved, like Lin Yi was giving off divine light or something.
Then came the follow-up.
“Lin, how have you managed to adapt to the NBA so quickly?”
Lin chuckled. “I mean, I’ve always held myself to a high standard. I try to be honest with myself in practice — figure out what I’m doing wrong, work on it, fix it. But, I gotta be real with y’all... at the end of the day, when you start grinding, you realize something: talent kinda matters more than hard work in some ways.”
That earned him a collective “...” from the room.
Even the press officer just shook his head and sighed. There he goes again...
At the tail end of the interview, an American reporter threw out a curveball.
“Lin, where do you see your ceiling? What kind of player do you think you’ll become?”
Ah, there it was — the classic American media trap. Lin suddenly understood what LeBron had been dealing with all these years.
Like bro, how was he supposed to answer that?
He looked up at the ceiling, as if the answer might be floating up there somewhere.
Lately, he found himself doing that a lot — staring at the ceiling, looking for something deeper.
“Eh... I’m 221 centimeters. Pretty sure I’m done growing,” he deadpanned.
