Slam Dunk Rehearsal

Link knew the game on the 28th would be a tough battle, but not because the Trail Blazers ranked fourth in the West, not because they boasted an excellent 33-12 record, and certainly not because they had an almost perfect starting five.

It was because of Damian Lillard.

At last summer's training camp, Link had gotten along well with every star who attended. Naturally, that included Lillard.

Obviously, anyone who didn't get along with Link wouldn't have come to a camp hosted by Link in the first place.

After spending time with Lillard, what impressed Link most wasn't his basketball skill, but how desperately the guy wanted to show himself off! Just as Kobe desperately wanted to win, Lillard had an almost terrifying obsession with proving himself.

Like Link, Lillard was an older rookie. He had played four years in college, so he entered the league later than many others.

Unlike Link, however, he had also been a highly touted lottery pick. Starting later than everyone else was a huge disadvantage.

Most of the players drafted alongside Lillard had only been nineteen or twenty. Paul George, who was the same age as Lillard, was already an All-Star by the time Lillard entered the league.

Lillard knew he didn't have much time to waste. So he was willing to seize every opportunity to show himself, eager to tell everyone, "I can do it!"

His desire to prove himself ran deep in his bones.

At last summer's training camp, whenever Lillard mastered a new move, he loved challenging Link one-on-one. He was always impatient to let Link know, "Hey, man, look—I can do this move too now!"

And in games, Lillard never let a single opportunity to showcase himself slip away.

Last season, he had edged out Anthony Davis to win Rookie