The impact of the lockout was still rippling through the league. Debates raged on everywhere — online, on talk shows, even among players — but Lin Yi, now just a bystander, didn't bother to weigh in.
Klay, Big Mo, and Parsons had all rented apartments in New York. Motiejūnas, however, had made his stance clear: if the NBA didn't resume by December, he'd go sign with a European team. For now, he was training with the Lithuanian national team in preparation for the EuroBasket tournament that summer.
The whole situation felt heavy. The uncertainty was getting to everyone, especially Klay. He'd just settled down in New York, but now he was worried sick that the 2011–2012 season might not even happen.
Players didn't get paid during a lockout — that part hit especially hard for rookies.
At Lin Yi's villa, the usually composed Lin Yi reached over and patted Klay's shoulder. "Relax, man. If things drag on, I'll take you to China for a bit."
Klay blinked. "China? But I'm just a rookie. Would Chinese fans even care about me?"
"As long as you make an effort to connect with them, they'll love you," Lin Yi said with a smile.
Of course, Lin Yi had his reasons. For one, during a lockout, every player was responsible for their own training. Lin Yi didn't want Klay turning into the next Shaq over the summer. And with all the distractions in New York, he wasn't entirely sure how Klay would handle it alone.
Besides, Klay was under Lin Yi's management company. Looking out for him made sense — and Lin Yi couldn't help but think there was something about Klay that would resonate with Chinese fans. Maybe it was that laid-back, genuine personality. In Lin Yi's past life, Klay's popularity in China had skyrocketed — not just because he was humble, but also thanks to his partnership with Anta.
And speaking of connections, Lin Yi had another reason for heading home: he'd invited Curry to come along too. He was curious to see how the Splash Brothers' dynamic would look in real life.
"Then I'll start learning Mandarin!" Klay declared with sudden enthusiasm.
Lin Yi raised an eyebrow. "Oh? And how exactly are you planning to do that?"
"I'll sign up for a class!"
"..."
Lin Yi stared at him for a moment. "Klay, you know, sometimes you surprise me."
Klay nodded. "Yeah, I've always thought I'm pretty sharp."
Lin Yi sighed. "You've got a native speaker right next to you, genius. Why would you need to enroll in a class?"
Still, Lin Yi couldn't help but admire him.
A lot of NBA players treated trips to China as quick cash grabs — do a few events, smile for photos, leave. But with Klay, Lin Yi knew he'd end up winning people over for real.
He just didn't realize yet that bringing Klay to China might end up stealing the spotlight from quite a few other stars in the future.
..
On July 30th, Lin Yi attended Curry and Ayesha's wedding. It was a small, elegant ceremony — nothing over the top. Lin Yi caught up with old Davidson teammates, and nostalgia hit hard. The Davidson Fairy Tale had become a cherished story among new students by now.
Anthony Beasley had bulked up, while McMillan had gone into business for himself. During the reception, McMillan joked that Lin Yi and Curry could come work for him — until both of them teamed up to give him a noogie.
Lin Yi stood as the best man, and Olsen was the bridesmaid. When Ayesha met Olsen, the two hit it off.
For a wedding gift, Lin Yi handed Curry the keys to a custom Koenigsegg. Curry looked at the car in disbelief. "Man, time flies. I still remember when you'd win money off me just to buy burgers."
Lin Yi smirked. "Hey, that was pure skill."
"Hmph."
Dell Curry watched the two with a satisfied smile. Seeing his son married and Lin Yi's career soaring — triple MVP, All-NBA First Teams — he couldn't help but think back to Coach McKillop's old words. The man had once said that both of his star pupils would make it big someday.
Funny thing was, both Lin Yi and Curry knew McKillop was probably just trying to motivate them back then — but they still respected him deeply. He'd been instrumental in shaping who they were.
Meanwhile, Curry's younger brother, Seth, was practically glowing when he met Lin Yi.
"Man, I can't believe I didn't get your autograph back then," he said, clearly fanboying. "An early signature like that would've been worth something."
Watching Seth gush, Curry felt his face heat up. Great — his own brother turning into Lin Yi's biggest fan. To save some dignity, Curry decided to sneak-attack Lin Yi with a kick to the knee mid-conversation.
Lin Yi didn't even flinch. He just grabbed a bottle of champagne and popped it, spraying Curry head to toe.
Ayesha froze mid-sentence when she saw the scene.
Moments later, in a corner of the venue, she was exasperation personified
. "Honey, our wedding hasn't even started yet. Care to explain why you're soaked in champagne?"
Curry looked like a scolded puppy. Thankfully, he had a spare suit. After changing, he shot Lin Yi a glare. "You just wait. Once this wedding's over, I'm getting my revenge."
Lin Yi only grinned and gestured toward his knee. "Come on then, if you've got the guts."
Ayesha sighed, pressing her forehead. Honestly, with the way these two bickered, she sometimes wondered if she was the third wheel.
Still, the ceremony went off perfectly. The only hiccup? The very next day, instead of going on a honeymoon, her new husband ran off again — leaving Ayesha wondering if she'd just married a man or a full-time basketball addict.
...
On August 2nd, somewhere over the Pacific, Lin Yi leaned back in his seat and glanced over at Curry.
"Stephen, are you really not bringing Ayesha on this trip?" he asked, half curious, half teasing.
Curry straightened up, looking every bit the confident husband. "Nah, I'll take her on a trip once we get back. This trip's business, not a honeymoon."
Lin Yi grinned, reached into his bag, and pulled out a thin wooden board. "Then let me give your second wedding gift."
Curry frowned. "A board?"
"In China," Lin Yi said seriously, "we call this a washboard. When you get home, you might want to keep it handy—just in case Ayesha isn't thrilled about you flying off so soon after the wedding."
Curry blinked, confused. Lin Yi just patted his shoulder. "You'll understand when you get back."
Across from them, in the first-class cabin, O'Neal was lounging comfortably with his headphones on, snacking like he owned the plane. Beside him sat Klay, who was quietly watching Curry and Lin Yi chat.
The Big Diesel had officially joined TNT's commentary crew, but with the NBA locked out, there wasn't much to commentate on. The moment he heard Lin Yi was flying home, he invited himself along, claiming he wanted to say goodbye to his Chinese fans.
Lin Yi wasn't buying it for a second. Yeah right, big guy. You just want everyone to know you've caught up to Kobe in rings.
And sure enough, Kobe was also scheduled to visit China that summer. The rivalry clearly wasn't over.
Meanwhile, Klay's vibe was… different. Every time Lin Yi and Curry started talking basketball—especially about shooting—Klay would glance over with a thoughtful look, like he was holding back a comment.
Lin Yi couldn't help but notice. "What's with that look, Klay?"
"Nothing," Klay said, his voice calm but sharp around the edges. "I just think people talk too much about who the best shooter is. I'd rather just show it."
Lin Yi raised an eyebrow. Ah… so that's how it is.
He'd imagined the Splash Brothers meeting for the first time as a legendary moment—chemistry, laughter, instant connection. Instead, it was looking more like a brewing rivalry.
When the plane finally touched down in Beijing, Klay stretched, turned to Lin Yi, and asked, completely serious, "Hey, where's the nearest basketball court?"
Lin Yi blinked. "We just landed. You're not even going to rest?"
Klay shook his head. "Nope. I need to let him know who the real shooter is."
Lin Yi leaned back, staring at the ceiling of the airport terminal as they walked off the plane.
This is definitely my fault. I shouldn't have messed with fate.
If anyone ever learned how things were supposed to go, Lin Yi figured the Warriors fans would hunt him down personally.
...
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