Breaking Records, Breaking Backboards
Lian Dao, fresh off his 63-point performance, faced a sea of reporters eager to capture his thoughts.
"Sickle, congratulations on breaking the record for the highest points scored in a single game by a rookie. How does it feel to hit 63 points?" asked a reporter from the New York Times. The question was typical of New York's media when addressing the home team's star players—especially when they're performing well.
Lian Dao knew that if he weren't a Knicks player or wasn't playing at such a high level, he'd likely be facing the harshest scrutiny from the New York press, known for their relentless questioning.
"It feels amazing," Lian Dao replied with a smile. "Tonight, the basket felt as wide as the ocean. The energy from the Knicks fans pushed me to play my best. I can't thank them enough for their support!"
In this game, Lian Dao had shattered multiple records.
He became the youngest player to score 60 points in a game, earning him the title "Mr. 60 Cent." He also drained 13 three-pointers, breaking Kobe Bryant's 2003 record of 12 threes in a single game.
It was clear—since the start of the season, Lian Dao had become a record-breaking machine, achieving in just six games what many players never accomplish in their entire careers.
"Are you planning to challenge every record like Chamberlain?" another reporter asked.
Lian Dao recognized the trap hidden in the question. While Chamberlain had set numerous records, his reputation was sometimes clouded by the perception that he had padded his stats during "garbage time"—even if it wasn't always intentional. For instance, in his legendary 100-point game against the Knicks, Chamberlain had 69 points by the end of the third quarter, with the Philadelphia Warriors already leading by a large margin. The game's outcome was never in doubt.
However, instead of resting Chamberlain, the Warriors' coach, Frank McGuire, instructed his team to keep feeding him the ball, even employing quick fouls to regain possession, all to push Chamberlain to the historic 100-point mark. This left Chamberlain's legacy somewhat tainted by the notion of stat-padding.
If Lian Dao said "yes," the media could easily twist his words, branding him as a "stat-chaser."
Understanding this, Lian Dao shook his head and responded, "I never chase records. I scored 63 points tonight because those 63 points helped the Knicks secure the win. That's all that matters. As long as the team wins, I don't care how many points I score."
At this point, the reporter didn't press further. In this game, Lian Dao had fought until the very end, clinching the victory with a game-winning shot. Moreover, in the previous five games, Lian Dao hadn't padded his stats during garbage time, proving he wasn't focused on chasing numbers.
With his buzzer-beater securing the win, there was little reason for the media to criticize his performance.
Lian Dao continued to answer a few more questions, most of which were straightforward. After all, with the 63-point record on the line, there wasn't much need to set traps for a player who had just made history—it would only make the reporters look petty.
Meanwhile, the atmosphere in the Cavaliers' camp was markedly different. LeBron James, the "King" himself, had been outshined by a rookie, which was a tough pill for the media—and James himself—to swallow.
Adding insult to injury, James had been the centerpiece of several unfortunate highlights in the game: getting dunked on, blocked like a volleyball, and even knocked down by the rookie.
The media, of course, had a field day with it.
"LeBron, how does it feel to be dunked on by a rookie who just entered the league?" asked a reporter from Los Angeles Sports.
"Next," James replied curtly, his expression unreadable.
"How does it feel to be overpowered by a rookie?"
"Next."
…
"What do you think of the rookie, Lian Dao?"
James paused for a moment before responding, "Next... he's excellent." Acknowledging the rookie's talent was one way to soften the blow of his own defeat.
Despite his usual composure and media-savvy demeanor, this time, James found himself at odds with the reporters. It wasn't entirely his fault—the sting of losing combined with the relentless questioning was enough to push even the most composed athletes to their limits.
The media, particularly in America, has a knack for stirring the pot. They're relentless in their pursuit of headlines, sometimes crossing the line to create a story.
The next day, both online media outlets and traditional newspapers were flooded with headlines about the Knicks vs. Cavaliers game.
"63 Points and a Buzzer-Beater: The Youngest Mr. 60 Points."
"Supernova's Deathly Finish."
...
For the Knicks, the media frenzy was at an all-time high.
The image of Lian Dao turning around and holding up three fingers after sinking the game-winning shot dominated the front pages of major outlets. This iconic photo quickly became the highest-clicked image of the day, with countless fans downloading it as the background for their computers and phones.
Headlines blared:
"The King Falls to the Rookie: LeBron Defeated and Buzzer-Beaten on the Road."
"Total Domination: LeBron Lashes Out After Game."
...
On the Cavaliers' side, things were rough for LeBron James. The media, particularly the more sensational outlets, exaggerated his defeat, portraying him as completely outplayed by the rookie. However, both Lian Dao and LeBron knew better than to let the media's praise or criticism get to them.
While everyone was still talking about the rise of Lian Dao, Andrew Bogut of the Milwaukee Bucks took to social media with bold words, promising to teach Lian Dao a lesson and end the Knicks' winning streak. His teammate, Brandon Jennings, chimed in, adding fuel to the fire.
That same night, the Knicks faced the Bucks in a back-to-back away game.
Lian Dao erupted once again. Playing like a man possessed, he repeatedly shredded the Bucks' defense, driving into the paint and throwing down powerful dunks, including one over Bogut himself.
In the third quarter, tensions boiled over. Frustrated by Lian Dao's dominance, Bogut attempted a dirty foul as Lian Dao went up for another dunk, aiming a low blow. But Lian Dao, anticipating such a move, adjusted mid-air to avoid the foul while simultaneously swinging his elbow, making discreet contact with Bogut.
Bogut crumpled to the floor, writhing in pain, just as Lian Dao completed his thunderous dunk—shattering the backboard in the process. As the glass rained down, Lian Dao narrowly dodged the falling shards, but Bogut, curled up beneath the basket, took the full brunt of the debris.
The Bucks' fans were stunned. They hadn't expected to witness a player smash a reinforced backboard—a feat not seen since Shaquille O'Neal's prime. The fact that it happened in an era where backboards had been significantly strengthened only underscored the raw power behind Lian Dao's dunk.
As the arena buzzed with shock, attention quickly shifted to Bogut, who lay on the floor, clearly injured. The team doctor rushed to his side, and after a preliminary examination, it was suspected that Bogut had suffered broken ribs. He was quickly stretchered off the court and taken to the hospital.
Meanwhile, arena staff worked swiftly to replace the shattered backboard. Replays of the incident confirmed that Lian Dao's dunk was clean, and that Bogut's injury was the result of his own attempted foul.
But that wasn't the story the fans or the media focused on. Instead, they were buzzing about the fact that Lian Dao had now sent a second player to the hospital since entering the league. Despite his undeniable talent, a new reputation was forming around Lian Dao: that of a player who left destruction in his wake.
Many had anticipated an exciting matchup between the 2005 first overall pick and the 2009 first overall pick, but what they witnessed was a one-sided domination that ended with another player hospitalized.
With Bogut out and the Knicks up by 33 points at the end of the third quarter, Bucks head coach Scott Skiles threw in the towel, subbing in his bench for the fourth quarter.
Before the final quarter began, Knicks head coach Mike D'Antoni asked Lian Dao if he wanted to keep playing. Lian Dao declined; padding stats during garbage time just wasn't his style.