Chapter 242: Lakers! Champions!

2010 was shaping up to be the year of the NBA free market. With so many stars heading into free agency, a lot of big names chose to skip this summer’s U.S. men’s basketball team.

That left Kevin Durant, the newly crowned NBA scoring champ, as the biggest name on the roster. But it also opened the door for young talents like Curry, Westbrook, Rose, and Love to step up and make a name for themselves at the World Championships.

Before heading to training camp in Las Vegas, Steph stopped by to see Lin Yi. He called first, his voice calm but direct.

“Lin,” Steph said, “Coach K wants me to take on more this summer, maybe even run some point. I’ve got ideas, but I figured you’d have a clearer read. How would you approach it?”

Lin grinned on the other end of the line. “Man, you’re already more ready than you think,” he said. “But yeah, international ball’s a little different. FIBA rules, tighter space, less freedom of movement. You can still get your buckets—but pick your spots.”

Lin kept it friendly and simple. “Play to your strengths. Spot up, move off the ball, shoot from NBA range when you’re open, and when you’re not? Find KD. He’s the go-to guy, no shame leaning on him. Hit your shots, keep the ball moving. You’ll make your mark.”

Steph chuckled. “Sounds like a plan. Appreciate it, man. See you tomorrow.”

“Anytime,” Lin replied. “Safe flight.”

Not long after Lin hung up with Curry, he got a call from Yao Ming.

“Lin,” Yao started, “I’ve already spoken to the Basketball Association.”

Lin grinned. He didn’t even bother to ask.

“But,” Yao continued, “there’s a catch. The men’s team has the Asian Games at the end of the year, and the Association wants to send a group to train in the U.S. over the summer. This time it’s on our home court, so they’re dead set on making a good showing. I’ll cover the expenses… but can you take a few days to work with these guys while they’re here?”

Lin understood what was going on: the Basketball Association was using the World Championships as a tune-up for the Asian Games. If memory served, the 2010 Asian Games would turn out to be Wang Zhizhi’s big redemption arc, finally changing the narrative around him.

But now Lin was starting to worry… it felt like everyone wanted a piece of his summer. Harden, DeRozan, Griffin, Flynn, Cousins, Wall, the Chinese squad prepping for the 2012 Olympics—all lining up to train with him. He joked to himself that maybe he should start charging a fee for these sessions.

Of course, it wasn’t just luck. Yao trusted him because everyone who’d trained with Lin couldn’t stop singing his praises. The guy was a perfect training dummy, playing from the no.5 to the no.1 position.

“Alright, Brother Ming,” Lin finally said. “Just let me know when they’re coming, and I’ll set aside some time to help out.”

Still… he couldn’t help but laugh at himself. Was he a player? A coach? A mentor? Or maybe even a GM?

“Maybe I should just buy my team someday,” he muttered.

...

June 12. Lin and Curry were watching Game 5 of the NBA Finals together at Lin’s villa in New York.

Before tip-off, Curry bet on the Lakers. Lin, surprisingly, picked the Celtics.

“Aren’t you a Kobe guy?” Curry asked, raising an eyebrow.

Lin smirked. “You don’t get it? Reverse jinxing. Gotta poison the other side with my pick.”

The truth was, Lin had already watched this Finals series before—he knew how it played out. The Celtics’ aging core somehow seemed destined to win this one, even though half of them were practically held together with tape and prayer.

Sure enough, Boston pulled it out. Kobe dropped 38 on 13-for-27 shooting, but the Lakers still fell short. Gasol struggled under Garnett’s relentless defense, and the Lakers couldn’t count on Artest to bail them out every night. KG turned back the clock, finishing with 2 blocks and 5 steals.

“Phil overplayed his hand tonight,” Lin remarked. “Fisher playing 34 minutes? That’s asking for trouble. He might’ve gotten away with it against the Suns because Nash can’t defend, but against Rondo? C’mon. Rondo’s practically a center at the point guard spot with that ridiculous wingspan to height ratio.”

Curry nodded his head in agreement.

Rondo, hitting 9 of 12 in this game, completely tore Fisher apart. The three big men teamed up to put the Celtics up by one, and now the Lakers were right on the edge of the cliff.

Rondo shot 9-for-12 in this one, completely leaving Fisher in the dust. The Celtics’ big three combined forces to take Game 5 and push the Lakers to the brink.

Luckily for L.A., the Finals used the 2-3-2 format. If it came down to a Game 7, the last two games would be back at Staples.

Plenty of people argued the Finals should use the 2-2-1-1-1 playoff format instead, since 2-3-2 dampened the top seed’s home-court advantage.

“You know, Lin, the way you break this stuff down is really good,” Curry said, impressed as Lin kept casually explaining tactics throughout the game.

Lin grinned. “Hey, don’t sell yourself short. You’ve got great instincts, man. You read the floor on your own. That’s big.”

Curry nodded. He wasn’t just soaking it all in—he was chiming in with his own takes too, and Lin could tell he was sharp.

“So who you got to win?” Steph asked, a little grin on his face.

“The Lakers,” Lin replied as he passed Steph a bag of chips.

Steph asked before stuffing his mouth with food. “Yeah? Why’s that?”

“Next two are at Staples,” Lin said with a shrug. “And Perkins’ injury. That’s gonna hurt Boston. KG’s already carrying so much in the paint, they can’t keep this up forever. They’re running on fumes.”

The Celtics’ veterans? They’d already emptied the tank tonight.

It was one hell of a Finals, though.

...

In Game 6, Kobe once again led all scorers with 26 points, and the Lakers held serve at home, forcing a winner-take-all Game 7.

David Stern was thrilled. A Game 7 meant sky-high ratings, and he was already popping champagne to celebrate the record-breaking numbers.

Meanwhile, after Game 6, the next day, Zhong Muchen — the one who’d placed that cheeky $100,000 bet on Switzerland at Lin’s suggestion — called Lin, completely stunned.

“Boss! You’re a genius. They beat Spain in their opening match! One–nil! Switzerland actually pulled it off!”

Thanks to the long odds at the bookie Zhong used, even after taxes and fees, Lin pocketed roughly $1.35 million.

“We’re loaded!” Zhong exclaimed, practically shouting down the line.

Lin chuckled lightly. “Good work. Just keep following the plan for the next few matches. And remember — sprinkle a few losses here and there, don’t make it too obvious. No need to attract unwanted attention.”

To Zhong, it was like Lin could see the future.

What Lin didn’t bother to explain was that even without him, one seer was already stealing the show at this World Cup: the infamous Paul the Octopus.

Of course, gambling’s fine in moderation — but Lin knew better than anyone that one minute you’re on top of the world, the next you’re standing in the rain on the rooftop.

...

On the evening of June 17, Game 7 tipped off at Staples.

Bryant struggled with his shot, going just 6-for-24, but still finished with 23 points. The Celtics, remarkably, got all five starters into double figures — but the grind of the series had drained them. In the end, the Lakers just had more left in the tank.

And just like that, the 2009–10 NBA season came to a close.

Kobe led the Lakers to back-to-back titles, cementing what fans began calling the second dynasty of the Lakers in the new century. He won his second career Finals MVP, and as he wept with joy on the floor, he looked more like a kid than a legend.

Gasol, too, shed his soft label with a gritty, clutch series, while Boston’s proud veterans fell just short yet again.

LeBron’s place in history would have to wait.

The crowd at Staples roared: “Lakers! Champions!”

...

On June 24, the NBA Draft would take place at Madison Square Garden, ushering in the summer of 2010 — a summer about to be rocked by one headline after another.