But after rigorous offseason training, Li Fei's three-point shooting had long since entered the league's elite tier.
Kobe leaped with all his might to contest it, exhausting every bit of his height and leaping advantage.
But a height of 2.24 meters combined with an extraordinary wingspan created a natural, absolute mismatch.
Kobe's fingertips still fell half a palm short of the ball, leaving him completely unable to interfere.
Li Fei calmly let it fly, his shooting form textbook and fluid, the arc high and smooth.
The three-pointer swished through the net!
The cheers at Staples Center abruptly fell silent, and the fans throughout the arena wore stunned expressions.
A towering, heavyweight interior beast could actually hit deep threes consistently!
The TNT commentary booth erupted as Bill Walton cried out in amazement.
"My God! Li Fei's evolution is terrifying!"
"The league's most unstoppable interior dominance has now been paired with reliable three-point shooting!"
"At 2.24 meters tall, nobody in the league can effectively contest his three-pointer!"
Kevin Harlan sighed repeatedly, cutting straight to the heart of the game's changing dynamic.
"Kobe changed the game with threes, and Li Fei answered with the strongest possible response!"
"That is the confidence of the league's number one player—complete dominance without a single weakness!"
Having been forcibly tied, Kobe's fighting spirit surged once more.
He had never feared any matchup. The stronger the opponent, the more it awakened his Black Mamba ferocity.
On the Lakers' offensive possession, Kobe held the ball at the top of the arc, facing Li Fei after the switch.
One tall, one short; one inside, one outside. The top aces of the old and new eras stood face-to-face.
Kobe strung together rapid crossovers, using extreme changes of rhythm to try to shake Li Fei's balance.
But Li Fei's Titanium Alloy Physique