Staples Center was somewhat dim this year.
Ever since the 2012–13 season, the Los Angeles Lakers had embarked on a long rebuilding road.
Over the past three seasons, the Lakers had not won more than thirty games in a single season.
But even during those tanking years, Kobe Bryant, the soul of the Lakers, had always remained with the fans.
In those seasons, as long as they could see Kobe playing healthily on the court, Lakers fans were satisfied even if the team could not win.
Especially last season, when the entire Lakers team had practically been playing for Kobe's retirement tour.
But now, number 24 was gone, and his legend would never again unfold inside Staples Center.
As a result, the Lakers' tanking journey looked all the more miserable. The games at Staples Center no longer carried the same passion.
At present, the Lakers stood at 10 wins and 11 losses. In the West, that was hardly a record worth celebrating.
Ingram, Russell, Randall, and the Lakers' other young players still needed more time to restore the Purple and Gold Legion's former glory.
Therefore, this Grizzlies-Lakers game had not drawn much attention.
Most people watching were not interested in the game itself, but in witnessing the Grizzlies tie the record for a 24-game winning streak to start a season.
When Link returned to Staples Center and could no longer see Kobe, he could not help feeling wistful.
Come to think of it, the last time he had met Kobe had been at his wedding to Rachel that summer.
Although he had become the spokesperson for Kobe's beverage brand, he had not seen the man behind it all in quite some time.
Without that stubborn number 24, even playing the Lakers did not feel quite as interesting.
Before the game