Chapter 288: Chapter 72: [Why Am I Always the One Who Wins?]

Kobe was a defiant man, but he envied Su Xi. He envied any young player who got star treatment the moment they entered the league.

Although the Lakers had also meticulously groomed him during his own development, anointing him as the "Crown Prince" early on.

But his path forward had been ’slow’. Even now, he hadn’t become the team’s absolute leader. He still lived under the immense pressure of Shaquille O’Neal’s presence. No one would say the Lakers were Kobe’s team; at most, they’d say it was the team of the OK Combination.

In fact, the vast majority considered it Shaquille O’Neal’s team.

This had become Kobe’s inner demon.

Kobe was a proud and arrogant man.

"You’ve faced almost no challenges within the Pacers. For someone to so quickly become the leader of a championship team... it’s unprecedented in history," Kobe remarked to Su Xi after another session with Arenas.

Arenas had been constantly challenging Kobe Bryant to one-on-ones; the guy was somewhat obsessed. Before Kobe had arrived, he had smugly told Su Xi that he was the best active scorer in the NBA.

But since Kobe’s arrival, he had already lost seven straight games.

Kobe wasn’t even very keen on playing him, telling him, "With that one-dimensional game of yours, you’ll never even see my taillights when it comes to scoring."

"Besides, your skills are built on your athleticism. Once that’s gone, you’ll struggle to even stay in the NBA."

Kobe Bryant wasn’t exactly tactful.

After saying that, he seemed to try and soften the blow for Su Xi’s sake. "It’s nothing personal. You just represent a common phenomenon."

"..."

Su Xi was dumbfounded. ’Kobe’s EQ really is... a bit too direct, isn’t it?’

’Arenas didn’t do anything to deserve that.’

Fortunately, Arenas was mentally tough. He got fired up. "I’ll definitely stick to my own path. I’ll beat you my way."

"Whatever," Kobe Bryant replied, not really wanting to talk to Arenas anymore.

Obsessive competitors don’t usually like other obsessive competitors, and Arenas was the extroverted kind.

In contrast, Kobe enjoyed chatting with Su Xi.

Su Xi was quieter, understood him, and could provide a lot of emotional support.

"I feel like your offensive skills have already reached a sublime level. You’re about to break through to the next realm."

Su Xi told Kobe, "In terms of pure offensive skill, I think you might be even better than Jordan. After all, Jordan was physically more gifted than you. You’re the epitome of hard work. You’ve maximized your talent, and your technique has surpassed your own top-tier natural gifts."

Su Xi was speaking from the heart.

As everyone knows, sincerity is the ultimate weapon.

The conversation got a little deep, and Kobe sighed. "It all comes from practice. Without taking a ton of shots in real games, how could you ever master your craft? Jack, if you want to become a true superstar, you need to be taking at least 22 shots per game."

"Shoot with confidence, make your moves boldly, and don’t worry about whether it goes in or not."

Kobe encouraged Su Xi, "If you want to be a superstar, an all-time great, this is the only path. The way you’re playing now, you’ll never become an all-time great."

Su Xi first nodded.

Then he looked up. "Wait a minute, Kobe. Are you playing mind games with me?"

HAHAHAHA.

Kobe laughed heartily. "Weren’t you the one who started it with me?"

The two of them were trying to get into each other’s heads.

It was clearly a training session for three people, but Arenas felt completely out of place. ’Is it because I’m sponsored by Adidas?’

...

On the evening of June 6, 2004, the eyes of basketball fans all over the world were focused on Indiana Conseco Arena. Pacers fans, having come from all directions, packed the home stadium.

The arena was already roaring with noise long before the game began.

The excited Indiana People waved all sorts of banners around the arena, the most conspicuous of which read: ’It’s time!’

For the Pacers fans, they had been waiting for far too long. Their desire for the franchise’s first-ever championship had reached a fever pitch.

This was despite facing a Lakers team that boasted at least three all-time greats.

The players from both teams soon took the court. The cheers were loudest when Su Xi and Reggie Miller made their entrance.

One represented the past, the other represented the future.

Tonight, the Pacers’ starting lineup was: Su Xi, Artest, Reggie Miller, Little O’Neal, and Foster.

The Lakers’ starting lineup was: Gary Payton, Kobe Bryant, Devin George, Carl Malone, and Shaquille O’Neal.

Setting Carl Malone aside, Su Xi had no off-court beef with the other Lakers players. During the pre-game greetings, O’Neal even gave Su Xi an exaggerated hug and said with a smile, "Jack, thanks for eliminating the Pistons."

"You’re welcome."

Su Xi replied with a smile as well.

BWEEP!

The whistle blew, and the game began.

Shaquille O’Neal and Foster went up for the jump ball.

O’Neal successfully won possession for the Lakers.

Gary Payton dribbled the ball past half-court.

Payton was Su Xi’s defensive mentor. As he brought the ball over, Su Xi moved up to defend him, but Payton didn’t force the issue, passing it to Carl Malone.

Carl Malone faced Little O’Neal at the free-throw line. When Shark got position in the paint, Malone immediately fed the ball into the post.

Shark received the ball, and Artest hurried over to double-team him. But Shark just backed down Foster... Foster was already in good defensive position.

However, in the face of sheer size and power, he was knocked out of his defensive stance.