Chapter Thirteen: The "Conspiracy" on the Court

Lin Fei continued to create miracles on the court, with a 28-point outburst in just three minutes—buzzer-beaters, points raining down! His efficiency was astonishing, nearly a point per minute every time he stepped onto the court. His shooting was so accurate, he didn't even need screens or assists from teammates to keep his percentages high. But why was he still only playing just over twenty minutes a game? Why did his scoring hover around twenty points? If he were given more time, no one could predict what kind of miracle might happen.

Was it really all because of his poor defense? Was his passing really that lacking?

The season was drawing to a close. The Warriors, fueled by an indomitable spirit and Lin Fei's explosive rise, found themselves on the brink of the playoffs.

With the end of the season approaching, some teams had already secured playoff spots, while others had lost all hope. Yet, every team was planning its next move—renewing contracts where needed, parting ways where necessary.

Lin Fei was no exception. As a rookie picked near the end of the second round, truth be told, the Warriors hadn't expected him to remain quiet for most of the season only to erupt into an All-Star caliber player, nearly averaging twenty points per game and becoming the league's undisputed clutch performer.

The Warriors now had to plot their next move. Signing Lin Fei was a given—but for how much? At the end of the season, this undersized player would become a fully unrestricted free agent, free to go wherever he pleased. If only they'd known he'd break out like this, they would have structured his contract differently from the start—offering at least a rookie max deal and focusing on his development from day one. But who could have foreseen his late blooming?

By any measure, Lin Fei was now worthy of a max contract—players averaging over twenty points per game always commanded eight-figure salaries. But Lin Fei was slight of build, and his defense was suspect—shouldn't these shortcomings be taken into account?

Now it was clear to everyone: the reason his playing time remained limited despite his stellar performances was that ownership wanted to keep his market value down, hoping to sign this rising star at the lowest possible cost. The Warriors' owner was always seeking a balance—winning games while suppressing Lin Fei's breakout as much as possible. That meant strictly limiting his minutes, magnifying his weaknesses in defense and passing, and minimizing his role on the team.

So, it wasn’t that Coach Nelson didn’t know how to use Lin Fei—it was all about the money. The NBA, after all, is a business, and few players truly control their own fates. Even the greatest stars sometimes find themselves powerless. And in truth, loyalty is rare—every player has a price.

The Suns reached out to Lin Fei, offering three years and $28 million—a mid-level deal. The salary itself didn’t tempt Lin Fei much, but one thing did: Steve Nash, two-time MVP and a true legend, was there. Many argued it was impossible to say whether Nash made the run-and-gun system or the system made Nash. Few compliments could rate higher. Yet the Warriors scoffed at the Suns’ offer, for now they truly understood Lin Fei's worth. As a Chinese player, his commercial potential was immense—just look at Yao Ming! The league was desperate for another Yao, and Lin Fei now seemed poised to follow in Yao’s footsteps, carving out his own world in the NBA.

The Mavericks also made an offer, but the Warriors wouldn’t consider letting Lin Fei go there—if he joined Dallas, the Warriors could no longer claim to be the Mavericks’ nemesis.

The Hornets came knocking too, knowing Chris Paul’s heart was wavering—he wanted a championship, and the Hornets didn’t look like contenders.

The Jazz were interested, even willing to part with Devin Harris. The Rockets were in the mix as well…

Negotiations between the Warriors and Lin Fei’s agent team continued, scrutinizing every uncertainty.

Deep down, Lin Fei leaned toward staying with the Warriors. He was grateful to the team—for picking him in the late second round, giving him a chance he might not have gotten elsewhere. Besides, he was still adapting to the NBA; he’d just begun to gel with his teammates, and the thought of starting over elsewhere made him reluctant. He knew he couldn’t voice these thoughts, not while negotiations were ongoing.

The Warriors had plenty of salary cap space, thanks to a roster full of rookies and a lack of expensive stars. After weighing everything, Lin Fei ultimately re-signed with the Warriors: three years, $28 million. What did this contract signify? He was officially a household name.

Yet many believed the Warriors overpaid—such a large sum for a rookie who’d played fewer than twenty games was a huge gamble. Every player has hot streaks; maybe Lin Fei’s breakout was just good timing. Some even insisted he wasn’t worth a big contract at all.

Still, the visionaries speculated about Lin Fei’s future. Many saw him as the next Allen Iverson: small, playing point guard but scoring like a shooting guard, blindingly fast. In fairness, Iverson’s drives were even sharper, and he was a bit tougher physically, but Lin Fei’s outside shooting was more formidable. Some compared him to Ray Allen, given his uncanny consistency from three-point range and his habit of breaking records—most threes by a rookie, longest streaks of made threes, and so on. Others saw shades of Steve Nash in his ultra-efficient scoring, nearly joining the fabled 50-40-90 club.

But dreams are only dreams. If they all came true, the NBA would lose its drama. Triumph and failure are what make the league compelling. For now, there was no point in debating who Lin Fei would become—no one could determine his fate. Think of Kobe Bryant, a legendary superstar who always seemed to live in Michael Jordan’s shadow. In the eyes of others, Kobe was always trying to surpass Jordan—scoring, MVPs, championship rings. But even after collecting every honor, living in another’s shadow can never be perfect.

Lin Fei’s new contract felt like a battle, and when the smoke cleared, how were they to face the aftermath?