The Second Mamba Academy

"Dirk, hurry! We're going to be late." Nash hurriedly dragged the long-haired, backpack-wearing Silver Horn King toward their flight to Los Angeles.

July 3, 1998. There was only one day left until Mamba Academy began.

Nash was somewhat worried. Would Nelson forcing Dirk Nowitzki into his hands and telling him to bring him to Los Angeles make Kobe dislike him?

"Bring Dirk along. Kobe will understand." Old Nelson's confident smile had ultimately convinced Nash to accept the task, but he still felt uneasy now.

Like himself, Dirk was white—and a white big man at that.

Could a player like that really earn Kobe's approval?

None of the current top ten players in the league were white.

Ever since Larry Bird, it seemed no white player had stepped up to carry a team again. Forget superstars—even the leading players on weaker teams and second-tier All-Stars were rarely white.

Basketball was, after all, a sport where physical ability came first, and Black athletes were terrifyingly gifted. It was as if they had been born for the sport.

Joining a high-level training camp like Mamba Academy last year had already made Nash feel insecure. This year, he was bringing along another burden.

After all, among last year's players, aside from Little Fish, whom Nash could push around a little, guards like Marbury and Iverson absolutely demolished him!

And this year's players had apparently already arrived in Los Angeles.

Though reluctant, Nash still braced himself and accepted Kobe's invitation.

After all, his improvement over the summer had been plain for all to see. He had gone from a fringe player who could barely get on the court to a struggling starter.

Next season's goal: secure the starting job! The future MVP silently steeled himself.

But the very next moment, Iverson and Marbury came to