Chapter 119: A Lifetime Ban

(I was too busy today; my apologies for the late update...)

"Lin, why did you stop shooting?" Coach Philce asked as Lin Feng walked off the court.

"Because I had already won," Lin Feng replied.

"But you should have finished the drill. It’s a matter of respect for your opponents," Philce said in a low, stern voice.

Lin Feng shrugged and replied coldly, "Coach Philce, I think you need to understand one thing: respect is mutual. If they don't respect me, why should I respect them? You know what their attitude was before this scrimmage began."

Philce frowned. He hadn't expected that Lin Feng, an Easterner who appeared gentle on the surface, possessed such a stubborn and unyielding core.

"Very well, you have your principles. You won this scrimmage," Philce said with a serious expression. "However, your tryout isn't over. Next, you will participate in the team's half-court scrimmage."

"No problem," Lin Feng nodded.

"Maca, take him to the locker room to change into a jersey," Philce instructed.

"Okay!"

Maca complied, led Lin Feng to the locker room, and provided him with a jersey without a number.

The following scrimmage was a last-minute addition by Philce, intended to further evaluate Lin Feng and Lehman. The two were placed on opposing teams to face each other directly.

"There's no denying you have a knack for three-pointers, but that wasn't real game action. In a competitive match, I won't let you make a single shot! Just watch, you yellow pig!" Lehman walked up to Lin Feng, hurling insults incessantly.

Lin Feng rolled his eyes at him and said coldly, "You already lost, so you should be thinking about how to send your sisters to my room instead..."

"F*** you!" Lehman gave Lin Feng the middle finger.

Lin Feng returned the gesture with his own middle finger.

The half-court scrimmage began.

Lin Feng’s team had the opening possession. Since the scrimmage was primarily to evaluate Lin Feng and Lehman, both players were given heavy usage of the ball.

The ball reached Lin Feng, with Lehman guarding him.

"Kid, do you dare to shoot? Right in my face!" Lehman taunted, sticking out his tongue.

"As you wish!"

Lin Feng held the ball, leaped high, and launched a three-pointer over Lehman’s defense.

"This guy is a madman..." his teammates whispered in shock.

However, amidst the gasps, the ball swished cleanly through the net!

"Is that what you call defense?"

After the basket, Lin Feng shrugged and shot a cold look at Lehman.

"F***! Watch this!"

On the next possession, Lehman had the ball with Lin Feng defending. He wanted to retaliate, so he launched a three-pointer in Lin Feng’s face—only to clank it off the rim.

Holman, Lin Feng’s teammate, grabbed the rebound.

By then, Lin Feng had already sprinted to the corner for an open spot. Holman decisively whipped the ball to him.

Lin Feng caught the ball and immediately launched.

Another three-pointer, nothing but net!

"Yes!"

Holman, having provided the assist, pumped his fist. By now, the perception of Lin Feng among all the Knicks players had shifted. The earlier three-point drill had been open shots; while hitting twenty in a row was incredible, there was a vast difference between that and shooting in live, competitive action. Otherwise, Jones’s 42.5% three-point shooting percentage wouldn’t rank in the league’s top ten.

The fact that Lin Feng continued to bury three-pointers in a real scrimmage proved that his shooting prowess was the real deal.

As the scrimmage continued, Lin Feng maintained his divine accuracy. In the twenty-minute session, he attempted eleven three-pointers and made ten. This terrifying shooting percentage stunned everyone once again.

In contrast, his rival, Lehman, only made one measly three-pointer out of seven attempts, and went zero-for-three on two-pointers. It was safe to say that Lehman’s performance in the scrimmage was abysmal.

"How about it, Philce? That guy I recommended to you isn't bad, right?" Walker said smugly to Philce once the scrimmage ended.

Philce nodded, "Not bad at all. However, we still need to deliberate carefully."

"I trust you will make a wise choice." Walker smiled. He knew Lin Feng’s performance had already won Philce over, but bringing in a player and strengthening the team were matters that required consultation with the coaching staff and the front office.

In the NBA, every team's situation is different. Some coaches serve as general managers, wielding absolute power over roster moves. The Knicks were not such a team; although Philce had significant influence on recruitment, the final decision rested with the front office. While his coaching staff's recommendations were usually adopted, there were always exceptions.

Therefore, whether Lin Feng would ultimately receive a contract remained an unknown.

"Alright, the tryout for Lin is over. I will notify you of the results by tomorrow afternoon at the latest," Philce asked Walker, "By the way, are you Lin’s agent?"

"Of course." Walker shrugged; he had every intention of signing Lin Feng to his roster.

"Very good. Wait for my call."

...

The tryout concluded.

Lin Feng and Shen Mengfei left Madison Square Garden with Walker and Harris.

"Lin, I have something I want to discuss with you," Walker said, getting straight to the point. "You know, if you want to develop your career in America, you need an agent, or even an agency team, and I have the ability to provide that. How about it? Are you interested in working together?"

"No problem. I can sign a one-year agency contract with you. As for the future, it will depend on how happy we are working together," Lin Feng agreed readily.

In fact, he had the same intention. To make it in America, an agent was essential. He wasn't familiar with anyone else, and he found Walker quite agreeable. Plus, it was Walker who had given him the opportunity to try out for the Knicks, so Lin Feng decided to give this guy a shot.

"I like your straightforwardness." Walker stroked his thick beard and laughed. "Let's go celebrate, my treat! Barring any accidents, you'll be signing with the Knicks tomorrow."

"I hope so," Lin Feng smiled, then rubbed his stomach. "Let's go eat soon, otherwise I’m afraid I’ll starve to death here."

The group found a nearby Western restaurant.

Both Lin Feng and Shen Mengfei had been hungry all day, so they didn't stand on ceremony with Walker and ordered a feast.

The four chatted while they ate.

Walker was a cheerful man, frequently cracking American jokes, and soon Lin Feng and Shen Mengfei grew comfortable with him.

Just as they were enjoying their meal, Lin Feng received a call from Lin Wen.

"Brother, it's bad! Something terrible has happened!" As soon as the call connected, Lin Wen cried out urgently.

Lin Feng was startled. "What’s wrong, Wenwen? Don't panic, your brother is here for you!"

"Brother, it's not that something happened to me, it's you!" Lin Wen said.

"Me?" Lin Feng was bewildered.

"Hurry up and look online! You've been banned for life!" Lin Wen said, her voice choked with tears.

"What?!?" Upon hearing this, Lin Feng was stunned. "Banned for life?? How did this even come about?!?"

"Brother, check Weibo first. Qin Han and I are already on our way back. Let's talk when we get home."

Lin Wen hung up, and Lin Feng quickly logged onto Weibo.

Real-time trending news:

"Basketball Association Issues Harshest Penalty in History: Lin Feng Banned for Life!"

"Lifetime Ban! Lin Feng’s Professional Career Might End Here!"

Two striking headlines caught his eye. Lin Feng frowned—how could he be banned for life without any reason?!?