NBA: The Dynasty Crusher (Basketball)

When Karl Malone checked out to get his eyebrow stitched up, Philadelphia brought in veteran forward Toni Kukoc. Though past his prime, Kukoc still had flashes of his Bulls-era brilliance. Coming off the bench, he'd been averaging 12 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and over a steal per game this season—solid numbers from a seasoned sixth man.

But against Zhao Dong, he was overmatched. In just five minutes, Zhao put him through a two-way clinic—outscoring and outmuscling him on both ends of the court.

By the 9-minute mark of the first quarter, Malone returned, and the Knicks were up 20–12.

With rotations kicking in, both teams shifted lineups.

Zhao Dong stayed on the floor to anchor the Knicks' bench. He was joined by veterans Charles Barkley and Kevin Willis down low, Sprewell (the Madman), and John Wallace on the wings. Zhao shifted to point guard.

Philly kept Iverson and Malone in while subbing in Tyrone Hill, Larry Hughes, and Kukoc.

On the CCTV broadcast, Zhang Heli commented, "A lot of American media say the Knicks' bench is weak, but honestly, if Barkley and Willis can hold their own, this rotation isn't bad."

Su Qun added, "Still, it's a ticking time bomb. Barkley's put on too much weight this season, and Willis is pushing 38. If either of them goes down, New York's interior depth will collapse."

Right on cue, Barkley rose for a rebound clash with Malone—then came down screaming, clutching his left thigh.

Zhao Dong rushed over. "Charles, can you stand?"

Barkley was drenched in sweat, writhing on the floor. "Damn it, Zhao… I regret everything. Should've never bulked up this much."

Zhao snapped, "You didn't bulk up. You just didn't stop eating."

Barkley tried to sit up, failed, and groaned. "I'll bounce back. Just need time."

Zhao crouched and poked at his thigh. "It's already swollen. Best case, it's a partial tear. Get ready to retire."

In his past life, Barkley had torn his left quadriceps and retired that same season. And in this timeline, the guy didn't even manage his weight.

"No way, Zhao. I still got a few games left in me."

"You'll be fine," Zhao said. "I'll wire you five million. Retire in style. Go back to commentary. You've got your ring—career's complete."

"For real?"

Zhao and Willis helped him off the court as the team doctor delivered the crushing verdict: torn quadriceps.

"Zhao!" Barkley shouted from the bench. "I'm wiring you that five million the second I get reception!"

"I got you covered. Tell your family I'll take care of them," Zhao replied.

"Not dying, you ass. Just going to surgery!" Barkley shot back, smiling through the pain.

On NBC, Hubie Brown chuckled. "Well, Barkley's still cracking jokes, so it can't be that bad."

"Probably thinking it's just a sprain," Cook added.

As Barkley left for immediate surgery in New York, Nelson Sr. subbed in Gary Trent.

"Ernie, we need to make moves—our frontcourt's crumbling," Nelson told GM Ernie.

Ernie asked, "What trade assets do we have?"

"Pick one of the three guards," Nelson replied. "Willis is done. Do what you have to."

Ernie nodded. "I'll get it done."

The game resumed, but the Knicks couldn't recover. Despite Zhao Dong dropping 40 points, 16 rebounds, and 8 assists in 48 minutes, the Knicks lost 100–108. Their bench had collapsed—again.

Iverson was red-hot, scoring 42 points on 53% shooting. But the real difference was Philly's bench.

The Philly Team's subs put up 31 points and 19 boards.

The Knicks' bench? Just 14 points and 11 rebounds.

Zhao Dong shook his head postgame. "Damn, we came to Philly to make a statement and ended up getting shut down."

The weaknesses were obvious. Zhao could feel it—but he also knew New York had room to maneuver. He wasn't panicking.

Postgame Interviews

Iverson stood in front of the cameras.

"Allen, thoughts on beating the Knicks?" a local reporter asked.

Iverson smirked. "They're nothing special."

"Even Zhao Dong?"

"I beat him tonight, and I'll beat him next time too."

Across the room, Karl Malone, bandaged but beaming, gave his thoughts.

"What does this win mean to you, Mailman?" a local reporter asked.

"It means we've got momentum," Malone said confidently. "We're gonna keep pushing till we raise the trophy."

A New York reporter jabbed, "So you're that hyped from just beating Zhao Dong?"

Malone paused, then muttered, "A win's a win. I want them all."

---

At the Knicks' postgame presser:

"Zhao Dong, what's your take on the roster situation? Will you ask for trades?" asked a New York Times reporter.

"Barkley's injury leaves a gap. He was key to our rotation. We're short on bigs now—of course I want the front office to act. But I trust them. No need for me to say more."

"You said you were 100% confident in a three-peat. Still feel the same?" New York Sports Daily asked.

"One loss doesn't change my mindset," Zhao Dong replied firmly.

"How many wins are you expecting on this upcoming road trip: Spurs, Mavericks, Lakers?" asked a Philadelphia Daily News reporter.

"There's gonna be challenges. We'll get the one in Houston for sure. We'll fight hard against San Antonio and L.A. It's winnable."

"Sounding less confident than before," the reporter teased.

Zhao Dong shot him a look. "Confidence isn't arrogance. No team goes undefeated—certainly not you."

The room burst into quiet laughter. The reporter sat down.

---

Back at the hotel…

Ernie invited Zhao Dong to his room.

"Nelson wants to trade one of our three guards," Ernie said. "I'm leaning toward Ginobili. He's talented, but still adjusting to the NBA. The other two are more consistent. Your thoughts?"

Zhao Dong thought for a second.

"They're all good players. I trust your judgment. Do what you have to."

Zhao Dong had always respected boundaries. As the franchise star, he still avoided meddling in team operations. He knew better than to put management on the spot.

Besides, all three guards were good. Trading any one of them would be a loss. But if it had to be done for the greater good, so be it.

Ernie Grunfeld nodded. "I'll try to improve the bench first. If that doesn't pan out, I'll pull the trigger on a trade. But until then, don't be surprised if the results dip."

Zhao Dong didn't respond. But deep down, he couldn't afford to let up—not now.

This season, the MVP wasn't just about numbers. It was about wins. Without a top-tier record, his dream of a third consecutive MVP would vanish, no matter how dominant he looked on paper.

After leaving, he didn't rest. He went straight to Don Nelson's suite.

"Coach, I have a request," Zhao said. "Even if the roster doesn't change, I want us to push for every win."

Old Nelson looked puzzled. "Why?"

His plan was to sacrifice some regular season games—especially the upcoming road trip against Western Conference teams like the Spurs, Mavericks, and Lakers. These matchups didn't affect Eastern standings, and preserving health for the playoffs was the priority.

Zhao Dong's voice was calm. "Because I don't want to give up."

Nelson paused. There was no loud speech. No grand gesture. Just resolve.

That was enough.

This was Zhao Dong's team. His words carried more weight than the front office or even ownership. Nelson knew better than to push back.

"Then we go all-in," Nelson agreed.

Zhao nodded. "I'll take on more minutes. Keep everyone else's rotation the same. No injuries."

Nelson raised an eyebrow. "You better not get hurt, kid."

"I won't," Zhao replied.

He leaned in slightly. "Let's keep Fordson and me in the paint. Willis can rotate from the bench. The three guards—Sprewell, Stackhouse, and Ginobili—can handle the perimeter. The core is solid. We just need bench support."

Nelson grinned. "Agreed. Honestly, Ginobili's still adjusting to NBA pace. But the other two are All-Star-caliber. We're missing size at the three, sure, but with you and Fortson, our rebounding's still elite."

Zhao's eyes lit up. "If we get two strong bench guys, we're back on top."

—

Meanwhile in New York...

Ernie Grunfeld was on a call with owner James Dolan.

"Boss, we're looking at possible moves. We might need to dip deeper into the luxury tax."

"Luxury tax?"

Dolan rubbed his temples. Under normal circumstances, he wouldn't care. The Knicks practically printed money. But this time, Wall Street had taken a bite out of him.

With the U.S. stock market in freefall, his net worth had dropped by 40% in three months—more than $2 billion lost. He was trying to recoup losses through Knicks revenue. Paying even more luxury tax? Not ideal.

Grunfeld sensed the hesitation. That's new.

"When Zhao Dong re-signed, you promised you'd back the team—whatever it cost," he reminded him.

This season's salary cap was $34 million. The Knicks were already paying out over $49 million—$36 million to Zhao Dong, Sprewell, and Stackhouse alone. That meant nearly $15 million in luxury tax already paid.

Grunfeld's plan? Spend another $10 million to reinforce the bench. The revenue could absorb it, even if the margins weren't pretty.

Dolan was quiet. Then finally: "Do what you need. I meant what I said."

"Thank you, sir," Grunfeld said, relieved.

Dolan sighed. Losing Zhao Dong would cost far more than any tax bill.

—

December 24 – San Antonio

The Knicks landed in Texas. A rematch of last year's Finals.

The Spurs had drafted Kirilenko, but he refused to sign, insisting on playing for Utah instead. Gregg Popovich had a headache—especially with Tim Duncan entering a contract year.

If they maxed out Duncan, they wouldn't have money left for roster upgrades. That loss in the Finals to New York still haunted them.

The media buzzed. This was the first clash between the Finals rivals, and most reporters favored the Spurs.

—

Press Conference – San Antonio

Reporters packed the hotel ballroom.

"Coach Nelson, how serious is Barkley's injury?" one asked.

Nelson answered plainly. "It's a ruptured quadriceps. He's had surgery. It went well."

"Will he return?"

Nelson shrugged. "That's his decision."

Privately, Barkley had already informed both his new agent, David Falk, and Grunfeld—he was retiring. The announcement just hadn't gone public yet.

"How confident are you about tomorrow's game?" another reporter asked.

Nelson looked at Zhao Dong, then back at the crowd.

"We'll go all out. No holding back."

—

Thirty minutes later, New York.

David Falk held a press conference to formally announce Charles Barkley's retirement.

The news made headlines across the U.S. Superstars and media figures expressed support and regret.

ESPN responded swiftly, updating its championship projections. The Knicks, previously at #1, dropped to #3. The Spurs jumped to the top. The Lakers were second.

"Only a 40% chance now," the ticker read.

"ESPN's a joke," Zhao Dong told a reporter via phone. "Their analysis is just vibes."

—

Game Night – December 25, San Antonio

Tip-off was at 7:30 PM.

Starting Lineups:

Knicks: Zhao Dong, Danny Fortson, Latrell Sprewell, Jerry Stackhouse, Manu Ginobili

Spurs: David Robinson, Tim Duncan, Jerome Kersey, Mario Elie, Avery Johnson

On NBC, Bill Walton was breaking it down.

"Even with Barkley out, the Knicks don't lose much. He was only a bench player and clearly out of shape this season. For a big man, poor conditioning is dangerous."

Matt Goukas added, "Still, they need bench help. They can't run their starters into the ground just to chase regular season wins."

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