It was media day, which meant no real basketball—no drills, , no hard coaching and maybe a scrimmage. Just cameras, interviews, and checking in to see who actually kept up with their training over the summer.
At the Knicks' practice facility, Lin Yi spotted a familiar face—or rather, a familiar shape. Eddy Curry. Technically still an NBA player, named "Curry," but the resemblance ended there. Lin couldn't help but wonder how two Currys are so different. Steph was lean and lethal. Eddy looked like he'd spent more time at buffets than in the gym. Forget running—Lin thought the poor guy looked winded just walking.
Then there was Darko Miličić. Man, that guy had checked out. Once the second overall pick of the 2003 draft—the same class as LeBron and Wade—Darko now looked like he'd rather be anywhere else. He hadn't started farming or kickboxing yet, but mentally? He was already halfway there. Dude had fully embraced the Surfer mindset: just... vibes.
Jared Jeffries, on the other hand, was all smiles and small talk. He made a point to chat with Lin every chance he got. He was a blue-collar player, sure, but that $6.47 million contract? Didn't exactly scream "blue-collar" to Lin. In today's market, that kind of deal would've been torn apart by cap analysts online. Still, Jeffries was chill, and Lin didn't mind the company.
But what Lin wondered about was how his arrival might shift the Knicks' future. In his memory, New York would end up trading Jeffries and Curry for Tracy McGrady's expiring contract later in the season—just a move to free up cap space for the 2010 free agency frenzy. McGrady wasn't the superstar he once was, but still, Lin had grown up watching T-Mac. That'd be kind of surreal.
Oh, and the Knicks had just signed Earl Barron from the Summer League—the same big man who'd played alongside Lin. So, at least he wasn't completely alone here.
Looking at this squad, Lin honestly felt bad for D'Antoni. Getting 29 wins with this group in his previous life? That was a miracle. People always roasted the Knicks, called them a dumpster fire, but this roster was kind of cursed.
Still, it wasn't all bad.
Danilo Gallinari was a legit shooter. In 09–10, the guy averaged over 15 points and was launching six threes a game, hitting more than two. Sure, he was shaky on defense, but his size helped a bit.
David Lee was another bright spot. Offensively, the guy was super versatile—an "offensive kaleidoscope," Lin liked to call him. Put up 20 and 10 that year, if Lin remembered right. Solid teammate, too.
Then there was Al Harrington—a forward who could stretch the floor, take guys off the dribble, or spot up. Useful, for sure.
And Wilson Chandler? Great athlete. Word was, he'd spent the summer working on his three-point shot, trying to morph into a 3-and-D guy for D'Antoni. Smart move.
...And then there were the others: Larry Hughes, Tony Douglas, Chris Duhon. Just hearing the names gave Lin a headache.
Back on the media side, Gallinari was trying hard to be the star of the day. With not many high-profile wings on the roster, he saw a chance to step up. Unfortunately, his English was still rough, so his charisma didn't always land. But hey, good looks go a long way. After Lin, Gallo was probably the most photogenic Knick, and the local press loved that.
When it was time for the team photo, Coach D'Antoni put Lin right in the center. No surprise there—this Knicks team didn't have a "face of the franchise," and the front office had big plans for next summer's free agency. That's why guys like David Lee and Harrington weren't planning to stick around.
Lee and Gallinari stood beside Lin. Lee was quiet, humble—typical for a guy who'd been overlooked most of his career. He'd worked hard to get here. Gallo, meanwhile, was beaming. He loved playing for D'Antoni and had no intention of leaving New York. The city, the system, the spotlight—it all suited him.
After the shoot, Lin got swarmed by reporters. He kept his answers short and sweet. Despite all the hype from the draft, the media still didn't believe in this team. Honestly, who could blame them?
Lin also met Javier Stanford that day—his guy and, apparently, now a Knicks executive. Donnie Walsh had brought him in after years of Thomas's chaos. Stanford was passed over for GM back then, but now he was back as a VP. Lin figured that could work to his advantage. Javier supported him and might help push back against the mess that was Isaiah Thomas.
Speaking of Thomas, he was still around, but totally powerless. Donnie had stripped him of any authority. Fans hated him. Reporters hated him. If not for all the bad contracts he left behind, New York wouldn't be in this deep.
A couple of days later, the Knicks held their first open practice, letting fans in to watch the new season kick off.
"Dan, let's run a scrimmage. You pick seven, I pick seven. Five-on-five. Let's see how your coaching's coming along," D'Antoni joked, slapping assistant coach Donaldson on the back.
Dan smirked. "Sure thing, Mike. But I get first pick."
"Deal," said D'Antoni, arms crossed.
No surprise—Dan took Lin Yi first. Then came Gallinari, Earl Barron, Tony Douglas, Darko, Marcus Landry, and Pat Ewing Jnr.
D'Antoni raised an eyebrow. "Trying to set me up, Dan?"
Dan shrugged. "Just picked guys I'm familiar with."
He wasn't lying. He'd coached Lin and Barron in the Summer League. And he knew if he wanted Lin to shine, he needed shooters—hence Tony Douglas. As for Darko and Landry? Pure filler.
"We're running everything through Lin," Dan told his squad. Barron and Ewing nodded—role players don't argue. Darko zoned out immediately. Landry looked like he was ready to check out. Tony Douglas, on the other hand, was excited. He wanted to prove himself as the starting point guard and knew sticking close to Lin might help his case. He spent the whole warmup talking pick-and-rolls.
Gallinari was bouncing with energy—he was ready to ball.
Game time.
The White Team: Lin Yi (C), Earl Barron (PF), Gallinari (SF), Pat Ewing Jnr (SG), Tony Douglas (PG).
The Blue Team: Jared Jeffries (C), David Lee (PF), Al Harrington (SF), Wilson Chandler (SG), Chris Duhon (PG).
The fans in the gym leaned forward in their seats. They'd seen the clips, read the articles—but this was their first chance to see Lin Yi live.
And hey, highlights are fun, but nothing beats the real thing.
....
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