O'Neal nodded, took off his jacket, changed into his training gear, and walked onto the practice court with Kobe.
From then on, another towering figure became a fixture at the Lakers' practice facility. Kobe relentlessly worked on his shooting, drives, and defense, while O'Neal relentlessly practiced scoring in the paint, rebounding, and shot-blocking. They worked together and pushed each other, their enthusiasm for training growing stronger by the day.
Sometimes they went one-on-one, pitting Kobe's speed and accuracy against O'Neal's strength and height. Every matchup crackled with intensity, and every matchup made them both stronger.
Kobe specifically practiced breaking through O'Neal's defense and hitting midrange shots and three-pointers against him. O'Neal, meanwhile, focused on containing Kobe's drives, establishing an advantage under the basket, and complementing Kobe's offense more effectively.
During breaks, they also discussed tactics together, talking about how to beat the Knicks and Li Fei. They had only one goal: next season's championship.
"Kobe, in the next NBA Finals, I'll give you all the support you need inside so you can get more shooting opportunities," O'Neal told him earnestly.
Kobe nodded. "Shaq, I'll work hard to improve, too. I'll space the floor for you from the perimeter and get you more good passes. Together, we'll beat Li Fei."
They exchanged a smile, determination shining in both their eyes. They knew that as long as they worked hard and played together, they would have a chance to beat Li Fei, win the championship, and erase their previous humiliation.
Word of Kobe and O'Neal's relentless training soon reached the Lakers' front office.
The Lakers' executives were deeply heartened by the news, and a conviction quietly took hold in their minds: although they had lost this year's NBA Finals, the OK Duo's future was definitely worth looking forward to.
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