Debut 31 Points

At halftime, O'Neal joked around and horsed about with Van Exel, and the locker room atmosphere was utterly relaxed.

Rambis walked into the locker room. "Guys, I have two pieces of news for you. Bulls 107, Celtics 98."

"That was expected." O'Neal was unconcerned. He believed he was the only one capable of defeating the Bulls. In fact, during the four years after Jordan's return, only Hardaway and O'Neal had beaten them in the playoffs.

"This year's number-one pick, Allen Iverson of the Philadelphia 76ers, went 12-for-19 and 2-for-4 from three in his first game against the Bucks, putting up 30 points and 6 assists."

Kobe's expression changed. Iverson's phenomenal debut was far better than Kobe's first-half performance.

Kobe had no intention of losing to Iverson. He didn't believe he was inferior to this year's top pick. If Iverson could score 30, couldn't Kobe do the same?

Iverson's performance had fired up Kobe's competitive spirit. There was only one half left in this game against the Suns. How could he make his performance surpass Iverson's?

"Hey, Kobe. Iverson played well, but I don't think you're any worse than him. You understand?" Seeing that something was off with Kobe's expression, O'Neal stepped forward to reassure him.

"Shaq, I'll be the primary scorer in the second half." Kobe gave Shaq a blazing look. O'Neal was startled. It was the first time he had seen the mature-for-his-age Kobe show such an expression, and he nodded instinctively.

Wait, wasn't today supposed to be my Lakers debut? How did I hand the offensive reins to Kobe? Forget it. Great Shaq was willing to groom Kobe the way he had groomed Penny Hardaway. It was just one game, and they were already up by 22. Let the kid show off.

"Coach, just as you expected. Kobe was provoked after learning about Iverson's performance." Rambis secretly went to find Harris.

"Very good. Looks like this kid has a strong competitive streak too." Harris had deliberately asked Rambis to provoke Kobe, wanting to see whether Kobe would care about such things.

Halftime flew by, and Kobe stepped back onto the court. It was the Suns' ball.

Kevin Johnson looked at the rookie standing before him, practically radiating cold air, and couldn't help but feel puzzled. Were they down by 22? No, we're the ones down.

Kevin Johnson had played very well in the first half. Kobe's size completely smothered him, and Kobe was no slower than he was, making it difficult for him to get comfortable looks. Young Kobe was utterly unafraid of contact and repeatedly took the initiative to crash into Kevin Johnson.

Naturally, Kevin Johnson wasn't going to surrender. Using switches created by pick-and-rolls, he repeatedly went to work on the Lakers' big men, Campbell and O'Neal.

Everyone in the world knew O'Neal was unwilling to hedge on pick-and-rolls. Of the Suns' 40 first-half points, 12 had come from Kevin Johnson attacking the Lakers' interior defenders.

In the second half, Kevin Johnson discovered that Kobe's defensive strategy had changed. He began quickly pressing up and bodying him as soon as he crossed the three-point line, playing with extreme aggression. Even after several consecutive changes of direction, Kevin Johnson couldn't get past him.

"Damn it, kid, are you sick? You're up by 22 and still playing this desperately?" Kevin Johnson couldn't help cursing at Kobe.

Kobe didn't respond. All he could think about was Iverson's 30 points. Kevin Johnson's build and skills somewhat resembled Iverson's, making Kobe defend him with everything he had.

Kobe was highly experienced at dealing with small point guards at full force. Physicality was crucial. He had to constantly bump them with his body, keep them away from the paint, and look for chances to block them.

Kobe in normal defensive mode and Kobe locked in at full intensity exerted entirely different levels of pressure. Kevin Johnson felt it. Kobe's pressure was so suffocating that he was reminded of the Glove, Payton.

Kevin Johnson still called for a pick-and-roll. As A.C. Green came up to set the screen, he secretly grabbed Kobe with his hand. Kobe was immediately screened completely out of the play. This was the kind of subtle defensive trick used by veterans who had spent years in the league; from the referee's angle, those little moves were impossible to see.

Kevin Johnson took quick little steps into the midrange while O'Neal stayed tucked beneath the basket. After being humiliated by NBA-style point guards several times early in his career, O'Neal had finally understood that the best way for a big man to avoid becoming a poster was to turtle up in the paint.

Kevin Johnson rose and took the midrange jumper. Scenes like this had played out many times in the first half.

Not so fast! The moment the ball left his hand, an agile figure soared high into the air. I was waiting for you!

Kobe slipped around Green and arrived behind Kevin Johnson, delivering a solid volleyball-style rejection that left Kevin Johnson dumbfounded.

O'Neal collected the swatted ball and immediately pushed it ahead to Kobe, who was sprinting downcourt. Kobe shook off the rotating Michael Finley at the three-point line, then violently hammered the ball through the hoop.

Fuck, this kid was practically a beast. O'Neal was going wild. You would never see such explosive play from the calm-as-water Anfernee Hardaway.

Harris rose from his seat and led the bench in applauding Kobe. Kobe's performance on both ends against All-Star guard Kevin Johnson had been simply outstanding. Just how much energy was hidden inside this kid's body?

The bench and the crowd both went wild.

"That number 8 is my son! My son!" Old Joe jumped to his feet. Kobe's mature style of play in the first half had left him somewhat dissatisfied. Old Joe loved to show off; throughout his NBA career, he had seen himself as a performer.

Kevin Johnson's face turned livid. Getting blocked by a rookie was simply too humiliating. He knew that on the grand stage of Los Angeles, this clip would soon be replayed on televisions in every household, perhaps even turned into posters.

The Beginning of a Legend Kevin Johnson could already imagine the headlines those damn media outlets would write.

Kevin Johnson didn't dare force another attack. He passed to Michael Finley, who calmly knocked down the shot under Ceballos's watchful defense.

Kobe shot Ceballos an angry glare. The fact that this player could still start was an insult to the Lakers as a team. But remembering some things West had told him in private, he held it in.

Kobe took over the game offensively, with no unnecessary moves. No jab steps, no fakes. He simply used his height advantage to rise up and shoot over Kevin Johnson's head, and Kevin Johnson had no answer for him.

Seventeen points in a single quarter—this was Kobe's answer in the third. He hit three three-pointers alone. Even while being double-teamed by the Suns, he recklessly forced in multiple difficult jumpers.

"Damn it, damn it! Can't you do anything about an eighteen-year-old kid? We can lose to the Lakers, we can lose to O'Neal, but we cannot lose to a high school rookie!" Suns head coach Cotton Fitzsimmons roared at his players.

In the fourth quarter, Kobe continued his scorching shooting. Facing the Suns' suffocating defense, he released the ball quickly before the double-team could form. The Suns' play grew increasingly physical, and worried that Kobe might get hurt, Harris hurriedly pulled all the starters just three minutes into the fourth.

Kobe made one midrange jumper and one three-pointer in the fourth. His total reached 31 points! Just enough to surpass Iverson. His final stat line was 31 points, 4 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block, while All-Star guard Kevin Johnson was utterly overshadowed before him.

The game ended with the Lakers defeating the Suns, 112-78.

Great Western Forum erupted. Not only had they welcomed O'Neal, but they had also gained a young, gifted perimeter rookie.