In-Team Conflict

September arrived quietly in Los Angeles. Kobe Bryant had been following the Mamba Plan for more than three months, and his day-and-night training had paid off handsomely.

"System, use the ability inspection function."

Kobe Bryant, basketball player. Position compatibility: PG 95%, SG 100%, SF 100%, PF 85%, C 75%.

Physical attributes: A-. Layup skill: S. Dunking skill: S. Mid-range skill: S+. Three-point skill: A. Ball-handling skill: S-. Playmaking skill: A. Defense: S.

Current physical condition: normal. Low injury risk.

First, his compatibility as a small forward had risen to 100%, while his physical attributes had improved from B+ to A-. Kobe felt that his current body was roughly comparable to his second year in his previous life. His speed and leaping ability were both elite, though his ability to handle contact was still weak.

His injury risk had changed from extremely low to low, presumably because his training intensity had been too high. Kobe did not care much. In the NBA, fatigue was inevitable if you did not rest, and injuries were part of basketball. As long as he avoided major injuries, that was enough.

Kobe was the first to toss aside the bruising, inside-and-midrange style of play. It might work against the defensive intensity of the summer league, but it definitely would not cut it in the regular season.

His three-point skill had not improved, but Kobe could feel that his outside shooting had reached a bottleneck. Perhaps he would break through it soon.

Kobe's three-point percentage was extremely high when he was left open, but his flaw was poor consistency. Being godlike or dreadful was only a thought away.

But if he got hot, things were different. A hot Kobe could make shots from anywhere on the court.

After checking his abilities, Kobe asked the system.

"System, why haven't you issued any new side quests?"

"New side quests will unlock after the regular season begins."

Kobe and his group had practically lived in the training facility that summer. Kobe naturally knew each of their shortcomings, as well as what sort of player template each of them should train toward.

Kobe had an exceptionally sharp eye. Many players around the league sought his advice when they were lost, and Kobe could always pinpoint their problems with a single remark.

For Fisher, Kobe had set goals of improving his three-point shooting and strength against contact that season. The template he was aiming for was a quality 3-and-D player.

Ben Wallace, meanwhile, needed to put on muscle and read tactical books. Though Big Ben protested again and again, Kobe still forced him to improve his tactical awareness. He believed Big Ben had the talent for it.

Bruce Bowen was already highly polished in every aspect. Having spent years in professional leagues, he only needed to maintain his physique and work on his three-point shooting.

Travis Knight needed to add muscle while training his defensive focus. His tendency to go soft under the basket was a fatal flaw.

Time passed as the group buried themselves in training, and before they knew it, late September had arrived.

NBA team training camps generally began in mid-to-late September. Players had to report before then and get their bodies into shape. After a summer of vacations and relaxation, many players urgently needed to get their physiques and competitive form back on track.

The coaches would also begin putting together the team's tactics, help new players integrate, establish tactical roles, and build chemistry.

As team staff and players gradually reported in, the training court that had once belonged exclusively to Kobe's group became crowded.

"Kid, clear the court. This belongs to the adults." Cedric Ceballos stepped forward and provocatively confronted them. He was the team's top star who had led them to the playoffs last season.

At 1.98 meters tall, he had a very muscular build and weighed 96 kilograms. As a small forward, he had put up All-Star numbers of 21+7 for two straight seasons. It could be said that he had been the Lakers' primary closer and centerpiece last season.

Kobe did not even glance at Ceballos, continuing to shoot on his own. He knew NBA teams had a tradition of hazing rookies, and he had no respect for these old toughs.

Ben Wallace was the first to step forward, glaring fiercely at Ceballos.

"Old man, get lost." Ben Wallace was a man of few words, his voice deep and rumbling. Kobe Bryant had given him the chance to play basketball, and Kobe Bryant had secured him a contract that could support his family. Ben Wallace might not have been clever, but he knew gratitude. From then on, on and off the court, he would be the first wall standing in front of Kobe Bryant.

Cedric Ceballos looked thoroughly displeased. Did these rookies have no concept of seniority at all? O'Neal had not reported yet, so wasn't he the team leader?

"An undrafted scrub. Looks like I need to teach you the team rules." Cedric Ceballos charged at Ben Wallace and threw a punch at him.

Ben Wallace showed no fear. He ducked beneath the attack and immediately took Ceballos down with a football tackle, flipping him onto the floor. Ben Wallace's achievements on the football field in high school had been no worse than his accomplishments in basketball.

Seeing the conflict erupt, Kobe and Fisher hurried over to surround them. Bruce Bowen had already sneakily circled into the crowd, pretending to break things up while accurately driving kick after kick into Ceballos.

The flamboyant Ceballos was not well liked on the team. His dirty style of play had earned him poor relationships with his teammates. The veteran players only watched from the other half of the court.

"What are you doing?!" Team coach Del Harris appeared at the sideline and roared at the players tangled together.

"Coach." The players respected Harris greatly and did not dare act out before the veteran coach. Ben Wallace quickly released Ceballos.

"Kobe, tell me what happened here." Del Harris frowned. He strongly disliked internal conflicts within the team.

"Coach, Ceballos wanted to wrestle Ben Wallace, but it looks like he came out on the losing end." Kobe brushed it off in a single sentence, secretly giving Big Ben an encouraging look.

Ceballos's face turned red. He had thought handling a young kid would be easy, and that after making an example of him, he could win over a group of followers. He would even have gained the capital to challenge O'Neal. He had never expected to embarrass himself like this. Under Ben Wallace's powerful arms, he had been completely unable to fight back.

Damn it, who had attacked him from behind? Ceballos's waist hurt somewhat. Wallace had merely restrained him and had not gone too hard. But the person kicking from behind had been different—his toes had specifically targeted the soft flesh around Ceballos's waist and abdomen.

Del Harris knew Ceballos's habits. This guy always liked showing off, so he had probably been bullying the newcomers for no reason again. But since neither side was injured and the incident was not too serious, Harris merely made a mental note of it.

"I don't care what you were doing, but conflicts are not allowed within this team. You are teammates—teammates who will fight side by side for the next year! If I see this again, forget about getting on the court. Understood?"

"Understood, Coach."

"Now, start training!"