That night, a whole lotta folks couldn't sleep. They were glued to their TVs, watching the replay of that wild-ass game over and over again.
And we ain't just talkin' fans—coaches from every team that might run into the Knicks next were locked in. Pat Riley down in Miami, Phil Jackson in Chicago, Larry Bird with the Pacers, Jerry Sloan in Utah, Popovich with the Spurs, and even Del Harris from the Lakers.
All of 'em knew the same thing—Zhao Dong damn near dropped a 5x5 in just the first half. That had every coach in the league stressin', burning the midnight oil, trying to cook up some kind of answer.
Phil Jackson, ever the Zen Master, came out with a solid read: "Defense down low got better, but offensively, not much changed." That told him one thing—Zhao Dong was prepping to clamp up Ewing. Which also meant, once they face off against the Bulls, Zhao was probably gonna slide back to the low post, just like he did when he punished the Cavs.
Phil ain't like that one bit.
'Cause Zhao Dong's interior D looked even nastier now. And offensively? Dude's low-post bag is deep—he's strong, got touch, and grabs boards like a vacuum. Just ask the Jazz—he cooked them with second-chance buckets in the Finals.
But it's a double-edged sword.
Phil also knew that if Zhao Dong's posting up more, it'd slow down the Knicks' fast break game. That killer transition threat would dip. Plus, even though Zhao can pass out the post like a damn point forward, his playmaking's still not as deadly there compared to when he's running it from the wing.
Larry Bird? Man was quiet, but his mind was spinning. He kept running the game tape back for an hour before finally muttering, "Yeah... we can't go at him straight up."
Pacers just ain't got the dudes for it. Nobody on Bird's roster was even in Zhao Dong's stratosphere, talent-wise. Hell, he wasn't even sure what position Zhao was gonna play when they face off.
And if you can't even guess a guy's position... how the hell do you gameplan for him?
Larry just sighed, turned off the TV, and hit the sack.
Down in Miami, Pat Riley was having the same thoughts as Phil. He figured Zhao Dong would body up against Alonzo Mourning in the post when they meet. So Riley's plan? Steal from Utah's playbook—have Zo lean heavy on Zhao, let Dell Curry attack from the wing and try to stretch the floor.
And just like these head coaches, the folks at ESPN weren't sleeping either.
After Zhao Dong's injury, ESPN basically kicked the Knicks off their title radar. But now? They were scrambling like crazy to update that list before they became the internet's next punchline.
Next morning, Zhao Dong's comeback performance was everywhere. It lit up the media like Times Square.
New York Times: "After smashing the Cavs in just one half, Golden Tyrant's back. Knicks reclaim their throne—title hunt is back on."
New York Sports Daily: "The Tyrant dominated both ends. Meanwhile, Shawn Kemp looked like a plucked bird—lost, cold, and gettin' cooked."
Then at 8 a.m. sharp, ESPN updated their championship odds. Knicks were back in the top three—and not just top three—they jumped past the Pacers to lead the whole damn list with a 55% shot at winning it all. The reigning champs had officially reloaded.
At the same time, reporters confirmed what Zhao Dong said at the press conference—dude definitely wasn't on any banned substances. Ain't no way you put your whole rep on the line with that level of confidence if you're juicing.
Still, the rumors had people digging.
Pharmaceutical companies were gettin' hit up left and right. Folks wanted answers. Was he using something slick? Was there a cover-up?
Even the big sneaker dogs like Adidas, Nike, and Reebok got involved. They were stirring the pot, hoping to catch Zhao slipping. They had the most to gain if he went down.
But nah—every single company came up empty. No sales records, no transactions, no trails to follow. Nike was especially salty. They wanted to be the ones to bury him.
And then came the ripple effect.
After Zhao Dong's insane Game 1 comeback, the league lit up again with debates around the "anti-isolation rule"—a rule that had been collecting dust but was now getting serious traction.
That same afternoon, Commissioner David Stern pulled up in person for a rule revision meeting at league HQ.
He was in favor of dropping some restrictions in. Not because he was out to kill Zhao's game—but because when a guy becomes too dominant, the balance of the league gets wrecked.
Yeah, fans love blowouts—for a while. But when every playoff series becomes a foregone conclusion? That's bad for business.
To Stern, this wasn't about suppressing Zhao Dong.
Hell, he brought up the Jordan Rules as proof—how Jordan still thrived, broke through the defense, and built a dynasty under that pressure.
He believed Zhao could do the same. Throw the kitchen sink at him, and if he still shines, that's when he earns the right to stand shoulder to shoulder with MJ.
Later that night, the Bulls swept the Hornets, 3-0, punching their ticket to the second round.
Then on the 29th, Zhao Dong led the Knicks back to smoke the Cavaliers again, closing the series 3-1 and cruising into the second round.
Coach Don Nelson didn't even switch things up. He ran it back with the same exact game plan from Game 3—and it worked again.
Zhao played 30 minutes and went nuclear. Dude dropped 40+ while dominating the stat sheet like a Golden Tyrant. The system recognized his all-around impact and rewarded him with the second fragment of Dominance.
And as that final buzzer sounded, the voices calling for rule changes got even louder. It wasn't just chatter anymore—it was a storm, and the league had no choice but to listen.
Pat Riley stood up, looking dead serious. "I think the league needs to seriously consider bringing in zone defense."
Boom. Just like that, the entire NBA community—from media heads to front office execs—started buzzing.
Over in L.A., Jerry West was stressin'. If the league really pushed through with the zone defense, it could seriously clip O'Neal's wings in the paint. But on the flip side, zone D would also be a huge L for Zhao Dong. So, yeah, pros and cons.
April 30, the Knicks touched down back in New York, and man, the fans showed mad love. MSG was electric.
But forget that for now. Let's talk big business.
Nike, Adidas, and Reebok had been busy these past couple of days—pushing hard for restrictive rule changes. They had money, influence, and people in all corners of the league. Public voices started speaking up, lobbying for the "restart" of the anti-isolation rules.
Only, the real mission wasn't just about bringing back the rule. Nah. What they really wanted was a modified version that put a full clamp on Zhao Dong. They wanted rules that could seriously mess with his bag.
But here's the twist—Nike and Adidas started beefin'. Hard.
Thanks to Jordan, Nike had been dunking on Adidas in the shoe game for like, over a decade. Straight domination. So to Nike, Adidas wasn't just some rival. It was the rival. And despite Zhao Dong coming up hot, Nike still saw Jordan as their golden boy.
So this whole anti-iso talk? Nike was sweating bullets. That rule was built to target Jordan back in the day. If it came back, MJ could get boxed in too. And Nike couldn't let that slide.
Adidas and Reebok? They didn't care about Jordan. They wanted both Jordan and Zhao Dong slowed down. They weren't trying to free up MJ—they wanted the whole court on lockdown.
So yeah. Instead of being allies, Nike and Adidas were now on opposite ends. The so-called "anti-Zhao Dong alliance" just got split down the middle.
"Damn Adi…" Phil Knight cursed at Nike HQ. He wasn't happy, but he saw it coming. The anti-iso rule? It was coming back, and MJ would have to deal with it all over again.
Nike was cornered. The best they could do now? Try to slide in a few clauses that specifically locked down Zhao Dong, while carving out loopholes that let Jordan breathe.
3 p.m. rolled around and Zhao Dong pulled up to the Hummer endorsement signing ceremony.
Hummer was goin' all in. They dropped a six-year deal worth a jaw-dropping $280 mil. Paid in three parts—with the first two years' cash hitting the moment the ink dried.
They also handed Zhao Dong three beastly off-road trucks. We're talkin' military-grade specs, luxury interiors, and elite suspension systems that made 'em drive like clouds.
That same day, NBA execs gathered at league HQ for another closed-door meeting.
Ever since the regular season ended, they'd been at it—meeting after meeting—trying to figure out the rule changes. The anti-iso rule, the illegal defense rule, everything was on the table. But now a new bomb was dropped.
Should the league ditch man-to-man D and bring in full-on zone?
"Zone defense kills the flow of the game," one exec said. "I don't think we're ready."
"We can work around it," another chimed in. "Just add defensive three seconds to stop bigs from camping under the rim."
"I say scrap illegal defense altogether. Let 'em double team off-ball players."
Big moves were being discussed—zone defense, defensive three seconds, and canceling illegal D entirely.
But someone couldn't keep their mouth shut. During a break, word slipped out to the media. Some reporters even called up the league office.
"Mr. President…" Vice President Russ Geanik—whoops, now that info's hot—rushed over to David Stern with a tight face.
Stern's face darkened. "Tch…"
He scanned the room, eyes sharp. Someone in here was leaking stuff. Some execs were clearly selling out the league for corporate agendas.
By the time the meeting ended, the full scoop was already in the wild. Every team, every sports show—everyone knew what was being cooked up.
"This can't go through…" Jerry West muttered, rubbing sweat off his forehead.
If the new rules passed—zone defense, defensive three seconds, off-ball double teams—Shaq might not even get touches inside. Forget Zhao Dong for a second, O'Neal was gonna get nerfed hard.
The Lakers moved fast. They called a press conference to go full stop on the proposed rule changes.
At the mic, Jerry West was calm but direct. "If zone defense is legalized, you're gonna see the paint completely clogged up. Offenses will stall. Stars won't be able to create like they used to. The game won't be the same."
But the Lakers only represented, well, the Lakers. Other teams? They had their own agendas.
The Pacers, for instance, were all in on the rule change.
Larry Bird spoke up proudly. "We don't have a superstar. These changes—anti-iso, zone D, defensive three seconds—they work in our favor. We support them fully."
Facing the press, Bird laid it out. "It's time. The league's been outlawing zone D for decades. But basketball evolves—we gotta move with the times. And while we're at it, how come there's a three-second rule on offense but not defense? Let's fix that. Balance the damn game."
Just like Zhao Dong, a lotta teams started speakin' up too, each lookin' out for their own interests.
Teams stacked with superstars? Hell nah, they ain't down with zone defense. But the ones without any big-time players? They're all for it.
And when it comes to that defensive three-second rule? The defensive squads ain't havin' it, but the offensive teams? They love that idea.
Take the Knicks for example—they're not just against bringin' back the anti-iso rule, they're also sayin' no to zone defense and that defensive three-second nonsense.
Why? 'Cause the Knicks got a killer paint defense right now—top-tier stuff. If that three-second rule hits, it's gonna mess 'em up bad.
Nike and Adidas? Yeah, they pushed hard to bring back the anti-iso rules, but now? They're just sittin' back, watchin' the whole thing spiral outta control.
April 30th, Stern ain't messin' around—dude called a meetin' in the afternoon, and then had everyone workin' late into the night to keep it goin'.
At the same time, he's out here collectin' feedback from every team, tryin' to juggle all their interests like a damn circus act.
That same night, the Heat took care of business, knockin' out the Hawks 3-1 to move on to Round 2. Guess who they're facin'? Yep, the Knicks. And the Knicks got that home-court edge locked in.
May 1st rolls around, and reporters catch up with MJ.
"Michael," one of 'em asks, "word is, it's pretty much confirmed the league's bringin' back the anti-isolation rule. What's your take?"
Jordan's cool with it. "That just means superstars gonna be dealin' with real lockdown defense, not that soft double-team stuff from last year. Their efficiency? Yeah, it's gonna dip."
"You talkin' about the New York Tyrant?" the reporter presses.
"Yep. That Chinese kid—Zhao Dong." Jordan ain't dodgin' nothin'.
"How much you think it'll affect him?" another one jumps in.
"Look," Jordan says, "he's known for shakin' dudes off, best in the league at it last season. That's why he's so efficient. But if this rule goes through? He's gonna get swarmed faster. That's gonna hit his numbers, no doubt."
"So you down with the rule change or nah?"
Jordan thinks for a sec, then nods. "I liked playin' with those rules before. I wanna feel that again."
"Feel?"
"Yeah, man. It's a damn experience. The top-tier kinda thrill," Jordan says, flexin' some pride.
"What about zone defense and the three-second rule?" someone else asks.
"I've played zone before, like in the Olympics. I can deal with it, so whatever. As for the three-second rule? That's just to clip the bigs in the paint. I'm a perimeter guy—hell yeah I support it," Jordan answers.
Back in New York, Zhao Dong's house becomes media central.
Reporters from the Times, New York Times, L.A. Times, Washington Post, Chicago Daily News—everywhere.
Except for the New York Sports Journal, all of these are heavyweight media, runnin' the show across the U.S. and beyond.
It's crystal clear—Zhao Dong ain't just NBA famous no more. He's a damn global icon. Surviving that shooting, only takin' minor injuries, and earnin' the "Iron Man" title? Yeah, that boosted his stock crazy high.
"Zhao Dong, what's your take on this anti-iso rule?" asks a New York Times reporter.
"Bring it on," Zhao Dong says, grinnin'.
That catches everybody off guard.
"Wait, for real?" someone blurts out.
"Why?" the Times dude asks.
Zhao Dong smirks. "If the league's out here makin' custom rules to shut me down, that's a crown. That means I'm different. That's Jordan-level respect right there."
"The only one, huh?" the reporter raises a brow.
"Ain't I?" Zhao Dong grins.
"No doubt," the guy agrees.
Then the Washington Post reporter jumps in. "What about zone defense and the three-second rule?"
Zhao Dong's still smilin'. "Zone defense? That's just another obstacle after the anti-iso rule. Bring that on too. I ain't scared of tougher defense.
And the three-second paint rule? That's O'Neal's problem, not mine. I post up sometimes, but that ain't where I live."
Then the Chicago Daily News guy goes in. "Zhao Dong, people say your post-up game's weak. When this rule hits and defenses tighten up, you don't have Jordan's all-around scoring. You think your numbers gonna tank?"
Zhao Dong laughs. "Sure, I'll dip a little. But you really think I haven't been workin' on my post game all year?"
"But you haven't used it," the reporter points out.
"Maybe I didn't need to. My post-up game's already enough to bust most defenders," Zhao Dong shrugs.
Then comes a playful voice from the L.A. Times. "Iron Man—can I call you that?"
"Go for it," Zhao Dong says with a wink.
"So Iron Man, how'd you heal from a damn gunshot in under ten days?"
Zhao Dong leans back. "Doc said I got some next-level body type. He's seen faster recoveries, but not many."
"Damn, so your injury resistance is elite," the reporter nods.
"Yup," Zhao Dong replies.
"You ever mess with Kung Fu? Like that hard Qigong stuff Kareem mentioned?"
Zhao Dong puffs his chest playfully. "Hell yeah. I trained Iron Shirt and that Thirteen Taibao stuff. Built my body like a damn tank…"
"Oh! So when you beat Karl Malone's ass and he had to sit for months, while you walked away clean—that was that Qigong magic?" the guy says, hyped.
"Only a dumbass would come swingin' at me," Zhao Dong chuckles.
"What about Tyson? Heard he called you out and you accepted?"
"Yeah, that's facts."
"You gonna turn Tyson into a joke? Is it official yet?"
"Not yet. Let's wait till playoffs wrap," Zhao Dong says, cool as ever.
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