Kobe's gaze was focused to the extreme. He lowered his center of gravity and spread his arms, like a black panther poised to strike, staring intently at the basketball in Li Fei's hands.
He knew the whole world was watching this matchup. This was his best chance to prove himself!
Yet against Kobe's intensely suffocating defense, Li Fei's movements appeared remarkably effortless.
He did not choose to use his height and weight to force a post-up. That would have been far too lacking in "aesthetic appeal."
With the ball in his left hand, he made a slight probing step to the left, and Kobe's center of gravity immediately shifted with him.
Now!
Li Fei suddenly changed his dribbling rhythm. The basketball went from his left hand to his right beneath his legs, while his massive body glided sharply to the right like a butterfly weaving through flowers!
Kobe's reaction was already as fast as it could be. He immediately slid over, once again blocking Li Fei's driving lane.
But driving was never Li Fei's goal!
As he slid laterally, his right foot had already become his pivot, while his left foot used the momentum to push violently backward—
A step-back!
A standard step-back move belonging to an elite guard was executed as smoothly as flowing clouds by a 7-foot-4 giant!
Kobe's pupils shrank sharply. He wanted to rush in for the block, but that single step now seemed like an uncrossable chasm!
Li Fei had already adjusted into the perfect shooting form during his step-back. His body stretched out in midair, and with a gentle flick of his wrist, the spinning basketball traced an arc that made every Los Angeles fan's heart leap into their throat!
Staples Center fell into an eerie silence at that moment.
Everyone held their breath,