Lin Yi was going to be a father.
No warning, no hesitation…
Lin Yi, who had always been fearless, suddenly felt a little overwhelmed when he heard the news.
He and Olsen had once casually talked about having a child after Summer returned from China, but when reality hit, the excitement came with a side of nerves.
It was an indescribable feeling. Lin Yi had zero experience in this area.
Olsen was ecstatic too, imagining a little life soon filling their large villa.
During the off-season, Lin Yi and Olsen started talking wedding plans. Olsen didn't want to get married while pregnant, so they tentatively agreed: baby first, wedding in the summer of 2014.
Olsen found Lin Yi adorable. Most guys would take charge of proposals, but here he was—still figuring out relationships, yet somehow making it work.
After Lin Yi shared the news in the 2009 Draft chat group, Curry couldn't resist giving him advice.
The younger player said, "Lin, girls care about the ceremony itself. Make sure you propose properly to Liz. She'll say yes, sure, but the meaning matters."
Curry's timing was perfect.
He also suggested hiring two nannies to help with Olsen, and while Lin Yi and Curry were on the phone, Ayesha, sitting nearby, nearly jumped out of her seat to say.
"Go to hell, Stephen! Didn't see you putting in this much effort when you married me!"
Curry, now a father himself, chuckled. "Riley's finally getting a playmate."
Lin Yi remembered holding Riley once, back after the Olympics. Still, despite all his planning, he now felt like a rookie. Olsen quietly laughed at his flustered expression; his nerves showed how much he cared.
On Twitter, Lin Yi announced the news. O'Neal was the first to like it, commenting, "Haha! Maybe he can play in the NBA with Shareef someday!"
Fans flooded the post with congratulations. Kobe had meant to reach out, too, but seeing O'Neal's comment, he quietly put his phone away. He chose to have a personal call with Lin later.
(T/N: No boys, Kobe.)
Within the Knicks, veteran players were quick to share their advice. Livingston and Yao Ming reminded him that moods can be unpredictable during pregnancy and that he needed to spend more time with Olsen.
D'Antoni told him, "If anything comes up, take time off. Family first."
Seeing his protégé about to start a family, Coach D was genuinely happy for him.
D'Antoni grinned one day and said, "You remember when Liz came to the Garden to watch you play? Danilo asked if she was your girlfriend. You said no. Lin, that was not your most honest moment."
Lin Yi raised both hands in surrender. "That's a misunderstanding. At that time, she really wasn't my girlfriend."
Coach D just laughed. "Sure. I'll let you explain that one at the wedding."
On the 11th, the Knicks beat the Pacers 113 to 97 in Indianapolis. Lin Yi logged 33 minutes, went 13 of 23 from the field, 3 of 6 from deep, and 7 of 8 at the line. He finished with 36 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists.
Barkley shook his head during the broadcast. "He was flawless on both ends tonight. People say a man matures when he becomes a father. If that's true, the league should be worried. That kid is lucky. His dad is building something special."
O'Neal nodded in agreement, though lately Shareef had been wearing him out at home.
"Enjoy it while they're small," Shaq muttered with a smile. "Next thing you know, they're dunking on your furniture."
He remembered an old conversation with Kobe about coaching after retirement. Kobe had said the player he most wanted to coach was his own child.
Shaq smirked.
The only problem is, Mamba might have to coach girls' basketball.
. . .
On the 12th, the Knicks returned home and handled the Bulls again. Since Noah's return, Chicago had stabilized, but with Rose officially out for the season, their direction had shifted.
Bulls fans publicly backed Rose. The team itself looked calmer. Thibodeau gave extended minutes to younger players. The focus was clear: make the playoffs, develop talent, reduce pressure.
It was different from what Lin Yi remembered. In another timeline, the weight on Rose's shoulders had been crushing. If this version healed properly, this rose might bloom longer.
On the 13th, the Knicks beat the Hornets at home. Last season, Gallinari and Lou Williams had powered a surprise playoff run. Repeating that magic this year looked unlikely.
Back in New York, Gallinari exchanged jerseys with Lin as he joked after the game, "So being single makes you stronger. Now being a father does too?"
Lin Yi laughed. "I'm still figuring that out."
Nearly half of the 2012 to 2013 season was gone, and the Knicks stood at 36 and 1. After opening with a 22-game winning streak, they had stacked another 14 straight. Talk of chasing 72 and 10 was getting louder.
Commissioner Stern did not mind at all. A team threatening the Bulls' record was good for business. The league could not live forever in the shadow of Jordan.
As for three straight MVPs for Lin Yi, Stern found himself warming to the idea. If the dominance continued, why fight it?
He even smiled at the symmetry. His tenure had begun during Bird's run of three MVPs. If it ended with Lin Yi doing the same, that felt fitting.
At over 70, Stern was already preparing to step down in 2014, ready to pass the league to Silver.
"What kind of numbers will this kid end up with?" Stern wondered privately. "How far can this go?"
He never believed basketball should belong to one country. If the NBA wanted to stand tall against the NFL, MLB, and NHL, it had to be global. Players like Lin Yi helped make that possible.
That night, as the Knicks flew to Golden State, Lin Yi had no idea that the second half of this season was about to become far more intense than anything he had planned for.
. . .
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