December 23rd.
The Knicks finally got two rest days, but no one was feeling festive.
Why?
Because they had to play on Christmas Day. Thanks, David Stern.
At least they got Christmas Eve to rest, too.
Seriously, the whole team was ready to gift-wrap a carton of eggs and smash it over Stern's front porch.
...
That morning, Elizabeth Olsen dropped by Lin Yi's place.
She was heading out to spend Christmas with her sisters and didn't have time to look after her two pets, Wiggles and Sakazuki.
So Lin Yi volunteered as a temporary pet dad.
When he first met the two furballs.
But somehow, they were chill. Weirdly harmonious.
Wiggles liked to perch on top of Sakazuki's head, grabbing onto his red fur like some miniature knight riding into battle. It was... strangely adorable.
With his agent Zhong Muchen off for the holidays, the house felt pretty empty. Just Lin, Wiggles, and Sakazuki.
So, naturally, he ordered some takeout, played a few rounds of League of Legends, and dunked on some kids in NBA 2K.
Last year, Lin spent Christmas with the Curry family. It felt warm, cozy, festive.
This year?
This year just felt… long.
...
That night, Lin FaceTimed Steph.
The little guy was in good spirits. He hadn't been getting a ton of touches lately, but he was still making the most of his chances—and it showed.
Lin could tell all the shooting work they'd done over the summer had paid off. That new, quicker release?
Yeah, that was the Curry from Lin Yi's memories.
"Wait—Lin, you're just eating takeout alone tonight?" Steph raised an eyebrow mid-call.
"Yep," Lin sighed. "Just me, a bowl of noodles, a hamster, and a dog chilling."
Steph laughed. "Man, you need to get yourself a girlfriend."
Lin smirked. "What, you trying to set me up? Elizabeth?."
Steph gave him that look. "I'm just sayin'. That girl's always at your games…"
Steph did have a point. Lin did like her energy and personality, but he wasn't the type to jump headfirst. He wanted to take it slowly. Plus, his mind has been all NBA lately, so that department of his life has stalled a bit.
Maybe it was time to slow down and live a little.
Then Steph dropped the real bomb.
"Yo, secret time—I'm planning to propose to Ayesha."
Lin blinked. "Wait, for real?"
"Yeah, man! And listen, when the big day comes, you have to be my best man."
Lin smiled, heart warming up a little. "Of course, bro. Wouldn't miss it."
Lin Yi chuckled and nodded. He remembered in his past life that Steph and Ayesha were getting married the next two summers. The marriage wasn't far off.
Steph was one of the few true family guys in the league. Dude was built different. He had a kind of stability and sense of responsibility that wasn't always common, especially among young stars. A lot of that came from his dad, Dell, who raised him and his brother with some old-school discipline.
So, as soon as Steph landed a steady job in the NBA, his first move wasn't nightlife or flashy cars—it was building a stable home.
And in the years to come, Steph would say it again and again in interviews: he loved being at home. It kept him grounded. Gave him peace. Let him focus completely on basketball. His success wasn't some fluke—it was inevitable.
Still, Lin didn't need Steph rubbing it in right now.
After getting lightly blasted by a full serving of Steph's happy-couple energy, Lin glanced at his two co-tenants, who were now cuddled up like old buddies, and sighed as he looked out the window.
Even Sakazuki seemed to pick up on the vibe. The big guy walked over and plopped down beside Lin on the couch. Wiggles, still riding on top of Sakazuki like a tiny furry warlord, let out a few quiet squeaks that sounded so cute.
Lin Yi blinked. Was he being comforted by the hamster and dog?
Tragic.
Oh well, beggars can't be choosers.
He soon embraced them and put on a movie.
..
December 25th. Christmas Day. NBA time.
Madison Square Garden was buzzing as the Knicks hosted the Miami Heat for round two of their season battle.
Wade came out on a mission.
D-Wade went full Flash mode, slashing through the Knicks' defense like butter. Seven drives, seven buckets—he was untouchable. He dropped 33 points and dished out 9 assists, leading the Heat to a 109-95 road win.
The Knicks?
Exhausted even after the rest.
They were running on fumes, whether it was from the Christmas Eve partying or something else. Lin Yi had a quiet night—just 15 points, no rebounds, no assists. He looked like he'd played 40 minutes the night before… because he had.
But honestly, this game wasn't even the main attraction of the Christmas lineup.
The real headline?
Lakers vs. Cavaliers.
LeBron vs. Kobe.
The King vs The Black Mamba
23 vs. 24.
Plus Shaq's return to Staples.
Everyone was hyped. But the game? Kinda flopped.
The Cavs steamrolled the Lakers, 102–87, and LeBron finally cracked a real smile postgame.
The MVP of the night wasn't even Bron, though—it was Mo Williams. Fans had nicknamed him Mo-mentum for his streaky play, and tonight he exploded: 28 points, perfect 3-for-3 from deep, 8-for-13 overall.
LeBron laughed in the postgame presser, clearly pumped.
As for the Lakers? Well, Kobe did his best to drag them uphill. He went full Mamba, putting up 35 points and 8 assists on 33 shots. Not a single rebound, though—he was doing everything else already.
Staples Center's rim must've felt like it went through a full-body massage after that game. Kobe shot from every angle imaginable, but it just wasn't enough.
And his teammates? Yikes.
Gasol disappeared. Artest was ice-cold. Bynum played like he had two left feet. Odom? Not even sure he was awake. Lakers fans were tearing their hair out.
Another mini storyline was Shaq's return to LA.
Before the game, he and Kobe shared a quick hug. Looked like old grudges were finally squashed.
And to their credit, the Lakers crowd gave Shaq a warm ovation. After all, the man helped build a dynasty. One of the greatest big men ever, and a key part of the Lakers' legacy.
...
After the Christmas Day madness, the Knicks got another two-day break.
But Lin noticed something strange—Coach D'Antoni's forehead creases were getting deeper by the hour.
And it didn't take long for Lin to figure out why.
He checked the upcoming schedule...
Next up: the San Antonio Spurs.
Yeah. That explained the frown.
...
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