Chapter Sixty: Aiming for the All-Star

After their bloodless victory over the Grizzlies, the Warriors' reputation soared to new heights. Yet neither the players nor the fans had much time to savor the triumph, for the battle for All-Star votes had just begun.

Analyzing the situation in both conferences, the competition for starting positions in the Eastern All-Star lineup was fierce. Dwight Howard’s spot at center was unshakable. On the forward line, LeBron James’ selection was all but certain, but the other spot was hotly contested, with Anthony, Stoudemire, Garnett, Pierce, and Bosh all in the running. Among the guards, Wade and Rose seemed the most likely to be voted in, though Rondo and Deron Williams were strong contenders as well.

In the West, Yao Ming’s popularity ensured his starting center position, for as long as Yao was on the court, no one could challenge his fan base. The forward slots were up for grabs among the likes of the new sensation Blake Griffin, Duncan, Nowitzki, Durant, and Gasol. Among the guards, Kobe was almost certainly a lock for a starting spot, while the other would likely be determined between Chris Paul and Westbrook—if one were to analyze the situation objectively.

But was someone being overlooked? Yes—Lin Fei! He absolutely had a chance! All three Warriors players—Jobs, X, and Lin Fei—were on the main ballot, but Lin Fei’s odds were the highest. Now in his sophomore season in the NBA, Lin Fei was already a scoring champion, renowned for his blazing speed and dazzling shooting. Adding to his appeal was his identity as a Chinese player. On the guard line, he was so popular that he might even surpass Kobe. When it came to All-Star predictions, no expert dared make any definitive statements about Lin Fei’s prospects.

Many agreed that, given the Warriors’ brilliant performance this season, Lin Fei’s contributions were indispensable and he deserved an All-Star spot. Yet others argued that the league was filled with players who boasted impressive stats but never made the All-Star roster—Kevin Martin, Tyreke Evans, LaMarcus Aldridge to name a few. Though Lin Fei’s rise was meteoric, he was still young and inexperienced, making his All-Star chances uncertain.

The All-Star reserves would be chosen by the coaches, which meant those spots would go to the league's established stars.

Lin Fei was likely to participate in several events. He was a shoo-in for the sophomore list in the Rising Stars Challenge. Given his three-point shooting numbers and accuracy, there was no escaping the three-point contest, and expectations for his performance were sky-high. Many wondered if Lin Fei could break the all-time scoring record in the three-point shootout.

When the results of the first round of All-Star voting were announced, experts were left dumbfounded—Lin Fei led all players in votes, an unbelievable outcome. He had surpassed Kobe, LeBron, Howard, and Yao, those former kings of popularity, to become the new vote leader.

This sent fans of Kobe, Paul, and Westbrook into a panic. Lin Fei was like an atomic bomb exploding in the All-Star voting war. Given the current trends, Lin Fei was an unassailable force among Western Conference guards. After seeing the votes, experts almost unanimously predicted he would be a starter. They recalled what had happened with Yao Ming—once a rookie in the league, Yao had unseated Shaquille O’Neal in his prime to become the Western Conference’s starting All-Star center and the league’s leading vote-getter, shocking everyone—even Shaq himself. Many now believed Lin Fei might be the next Yao Ming.

The media quickly seized on the story, interviewing anyone they could.

A reporter asked Lin Fei, “Lin Fei, how does it feel to be the leading vote-getter for the All-Star Game?”

Lin Fei laughed. “It’s wonderful—better than eating a drumstick! Honestly, it feels as if I became an All-Star overnight. I never really thought about this before! But this is just the first round. Like any game, you never know who wins until the final shot.”

Another reporter asked Kobe, “What’s your opinion on Lin Fei becoming the top All-Star vote-getter?”

Kobe replied, “He deserves this honor. Truly. He’s the most incredible player I’ve ever seen! I can’t wait to be his teammate in the All-Star Game.”

A question for Yao Ming: “What do you think of your young compatriot Lin Fei?”

Yao grinned sheepishly. “Ah! It’s just like the Chinese proverb says, ‘The waves behind drive the waves ahead.’ I remember when I first entered the All-Star Game—now, seeing Lin Fei’s rise, I can’t help but feel that time really flies. Honestly, Lin Fei is amazing—he’s even better than I was back then!” Of course, Yao and Lin Fei played very different positions—one a center, the other a guard—but his words were high praise nonetheless.

Paul was asked, “Do you feel confident about making the All-Star team, now that Lin Fei, the new sensation, leads the league in votes?”

Paul’s answer was brief: “Lin is an outstanding player. He should be in the All-Star Game!” There was a hint of envy in his tone—perhaps Paul was reminded of his own younger days.

The Warriors players clamored for Lin Fei to treat them to a meal—a well-deserved celebration. Truly, it was hard to say who should be buying. With the All-Star spot almost in his pocket, Lin Fei’s meteoric rise owed much to his teammates. Treating them was only right, at least by Chinese custom. But surely, the happiest person of all was the Warriors’ owner. Lin Fei’s arrival had been a lucky break in the draft, yielding tremendous returns. Now, with an All-Star on their roster, even greater rewards awaited. The owner hosting a celebratory feast would be only fitting.

Lin Fei smiled quietly, genuinely delighted. Making it to the NBA had fulfilled one dream; making the All-Star Game was yet another for many players. Now that dream was within arm’s reach—how could he not be happy?

Still, there was a long way to go before the All-Star Game and the final results remained uncertain. Kobe and Howard were not far behind in the voting. Everyone said Lin Fei’s starting spot was all but guaranteed, but in his heart, he knew nothing was certain.

“We need to perform even better in the coming games. The playoffs are our true goal. I know every player goes crazy for All-Star Weekend, but the Western Conference race is as complicated as ever. We can’t afford to relax for a moment!” Coach Nelson told his players. He too was excited, but as a coach, he had to remain clear-headed, neither arrogant in victory nor discouraged in defeat, always ready to face new challenges.