Chapter 45: The "Iron-Blooded" Basketball (Part One)

On November 30, 1996, Madison Square Garden was once again filled with deafening noise.

After the final buzzer, the New York fans refused to leave their seats, continuing to roar and cheer as they celebrated the team snapping its three-game losing streak.

Following consecutive losses to the Hornets, 76ers, and SuperSonics, the skepticism surrounding Jeff Van Gundy had grown louder by the day.

Charlie Ward’s tactical tendencies had been thoroughly scouted and figured out by opposing teams, resulting in a noticeable decline in his statistical output.

Under these circumstances, Li You’s playing time finally broke the twenty-minute barrier.

During the previous home game, the Knicks were completely overwhelmed by the SuperSonics, getting outscored 36 to 23 in the third quarter alone, which ultimately cost them the game.

Patrick Ewing, in particular, was severely limited by the SuperSonics' exceptionally mobile frontcourt, shooting a miserable 2-of-15, finishing with just 8 points, and committing 4 turnovers...

Li You could be considered the team's best performer that night. Although all of his drives into the paint resulted in bricks, he went 4-of-6 from beyond the arc and 3-of-5 from the free-throw line, racking up a team-high 15 points.

Facing the Sacramento Kings tonight, who held a 5-10 record entering the game, the Knicks unleashed a fluid and exhilarating offense. With a final score of 99-115, they secured a dominant road victory and halted their three-game slide.

MSG Network managed to interview Li You immediately after the game. Play-by-play announcer Marv Albert was in high spirits, currently basking in the joyous glow of a victory:

"At 18 years and 334 days old, Li, tonight was yet another record-breaking night for you. Congratulations on becoming the youngest player in NBA history to record 20 points and 10 assists!"

"That is truly an extraordinary achievement. How would you rate your performance tonight?"

Shooting 6-of-13 overall, including 3-of-7 from three-point range, and converting all 6 of his free throws, Li You finished the night with 21 points, 4 rebounds, 10 assists, 2 steals, and 2 turnovers.

Wiping the sweat from his forehead with a shooting sleeve, Li You seriously suspected that the New York media was calculating his age on a daily basis. Several print publications had recently been hyping him up to astronomical heights...

"Records and statistics aren't important. I'd give myself a 70 for tonight's performance; I missed a few opportunities right at the rim."

"Compared to the veterans in this league, my toughness and ability to handle physical contact still lag behind a bit. However, I’ve already stepped up my strength training, and I hope to become a much more well-rounded player."

Basketball analyst John Andariese looked at the modest yet confident Li You, silently cursing Jeff Van Gundy in his heart for his conservative rotation choices:

"Li, it's a pity that you'll most likely miss out on Rookie of the Month for November. Do you feel regretful about this? We all know your efficiency is far superior!"

Hearing the analyst steer the conversation back to individual awards once again, Li You replied with complete indifference:

"Ten wins and four losses—the team has had a decent start to the season, and that's what matters most. There are still five months left in the regular season, and I'll still have chances to win that award."

"..."

The Knicks enjoyed a five-day break at the end of November, and Patrick Ewing had fully recovered from the previous blowout loss. Tonight, he shot 12-of-20, exploding for 29 points, 14 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, and zero turnovers.

During the post-game press conference, Jeff Van Gundy and Ewing found themselves under heavy questioning once again.

Tonight, the Knicks completely pushed the pace, attempting a total of 86 shots. Charlie Ward’s playing time was trimmed to just 20 minutes, with Li You stepping into a larger role and logging 27 minutes on the floor.

"We have the capability to play at a faster pace, and our offense can be much more dynamic, Jeff. Why not stick to this style of play?"

Reporters from The New York Times had historically supported Jeff Van Gundy, but following the crushing home defeat to the SuperSonics, they too had jumped ship...

In just the span of a single month, the hair on the top of Jeff Van Gundy’s head had visibly thinned. Faced with such pointed inquiries, he could only offer a textbook, formulaic response:

"We face different opponents every night, and the coaching staff formulates different game strategies accordingly."

"Every player goes through periods where they are out of form. The regular season is a marathon, and what truly gets tested in the end is team discipline!"

"I only want to emphasize one thing: defense wins championships. Our goal is crystal clear, and the regular season exists solely to serve the playoffs."

Dropping the shield of the postseason, the media members in attendance swallowed their complaints and refrained from pressing the two any further.

Patrick Ewing watched the shifting attitudes of the crowd with an amused smile, feeling quite pleased with himself. He was still the undisputed alpha dog of this team!

...

On December 1, 1996, the NBA league office announced the recipients of the first Player of the Month awards of the season:

The Chicago Bulls posted an impressive 15-1 record throughout November, and Michael Jordan captured the Player of the Month honors without a single shred of suspense;

He averaged 35.9 minutes, 31.9 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.5 steals, 0.6 blocks, and 1.5 turnovers per game;

He averaged 24.4 field goal attempts with a shooting percentage of 50.3%, hoisted 3.3 three-pointers per game at a clip of 37.7%, and went to the free-throw line 7.3 times per contest, converting at an 84.6% rate.

Michael Jordan’s stat line was in a tier of its own among perimeter players. Shooting over fifty percent from the field was simply out of this world!

Players like Hakeem Olajuwon, Charles Barkley, and Karl Malone—who had previously earned Player of the Week nods—could only remain speechless when faced with these numbers. The weekly accolades were perhaps nothing more than consolation prizes handed out by the league...

The Rookie of the Month award for November was awarded to Allen Iverson of the Philadelphia 76ers:

The 76ers finished November with a 7-8 record. Iverson averaged 37.2 minutes, 21.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, 6.4 assists, 2.7 steals, and 5.3 turnovers per game.

As soon as the announcement was made, the fans in Philadelphia beamed with joy. Even if the team's overall record was mediocre, everyone at that moment believed in the process—the future was bright!

Capitalizing on the hype, the New York media eagerly published Li You’s November statistics:

He averaged 18.5 minutes, 13.1 points, 2.4 rebounds, 6.1 assists, 0.8 steals, and 1.4 turnovers per game;

He averaged 8.8 field goal attempts with a shooting percentage of 47.4%, launched 4.8 three-pointers per game at a 43.3% clip, and shot 2.8 free throws per contest, making 85.8% of them.

Compared to Allen Iverson’s 42% field goal percentage and 36% three-point percentage, Li You was significantly more efficient. The New York media ultimately drew a definitive conclusion:

"Jeff Van Gundy robbed Li of the Rookie of the Month award..."

Voting for the 1997 Cleveland All-Star Game officially opened on this day, and the Knicks seized the opportunity to launch a series of fan engagement events.

Knicks Day was an annual team tradition where fans, players, coaches, and franchise legends all gathered together.

With the NBA celebrating its 50th anniversary during this All-Star weekend, legendary Knicks head coach Red Holzman was guaranteed a spot among the top 10-15 greatest coaches in league history.

Because the elderly coach was in poor health, the fan event held at Madison Square Garden also doubled as a gathering for well-wishes and prayers.

Having been with the franchise for a few months, Li You crossed paths with general manager Ernie Grunfeld for the very first time.

Franchise legends Willis Reed and Walt Frazier, who had led the Knicks to championship glory, were also in attendance.

The two veterans were chatting and laughing with Ewing about the upcoming All-Star festivities, as all three of them had been named to the NBA's 50 Greatest Players list.

"You've been playing well, Li! Trust me, you're going to earn more playing time."

Dressed in a sharp suit, the heavily-built Grunfeld smiled warmly as he tossed out a massive, promising pie in the sky.

Li You possessed a clear-eyed understanding of his current situation. Playing time was only part of the equation; more importantly, his role right now was to support the old guard.

Faced with the enticing yet empty promise, Li You didn't reveal too much emotion:

"I don't care about starting or coming off the bench. Winning games is what matters most!"

"Coach Van Gundy is a good man, and I support whatever decisions he makes."

"..."

Jeff Van Gundy, who was chatting with the coaching staff nearby, noticed Li You and Grunfeld deep in pleasant conversation and instinctively frowned:

"Being a head coach is truly not a good job..."