Kobe the Demon King!

Beep!

"The Lakers are making a substitution! Number 8, Kobe Bryant, replaces Derek Fisher!"

The referee's announcement made the Spurs' high-spirited bench players tense up.

Kobe Bryant.

Just his name alone was enough to strike fear into ordinary players.

A man's reputation was like a tree's shadow.

Kobe's name was still as resounding as Michael Jordan's, and countless players felt enormous pressure whenever they faced an opponent of that caliber.

Especially these bench players—Kersey had faced Kobe in the Finals!

Kersey had once been a Lakers reserve.

Mario Elie had also been a Spurs reserve last year, and he had defended Kobe.

There was no need to mention Wang Zhizhi. He had trained with Kobe for two summers already.

No one knew better than them just how terrifying Kobe truly was!

He was a demon king capable of taking on a championship-caliber powerhouse all by himself!

On the Lakers' side, the players also breathed a sigh of relief when they saw Kobe check in.

Kobe was here!

To the Lakers' reserves, Kobe was a god!

As long as he took the court and led them, they never lost!

That was how things had always been over the years. Though Kobe spent less and less time leading the bench, the reserves' worship and trust in him had never diminished!

Only Little Fish walked off the court with a mournful face. "Sigh, I'm always the boss's tool. Once he's done using me, he tosses me aside. Boohoohoo."

"He's here." Duncan remained expressionless, but his fists were tightly clenched.

Kobe had finally come! Just as Popovich had anticipated, he had chosen to lead the reserves against him!

This was an opportunity!

Even if they could not defeat Kobe, they could still drain a huge amount of his energy!

1:17 into the second quarter,