"Los Angeles will host the All-Star festivities! Welcome, everyone!" Magic Johnson appeared on the television screen, pointing at it with his right hand, his excitement practically bursting through the display.
Los Angeles!
The City of Angels!
One of the largest cities in America!
A legendary NBA city!
The magnificent Staples arena!
It would host the 2003–04 NBA All-Star events!
And as the home team, the Lakers had four players selected as All-Stars, while their coach became the Western Conference All-Star head coach.
Anthony was selected for the Rookie Challenge.
Korver was selected for the All-Star Three-Point Contest.
Ginobili was selected for the Skills Challenge.
This All-Star Weekend, the Lakers had taken over the entire show!
"Steve, what's your dream?" With the All-Star festivities about to begin, Kobe and Nash were still sweating it out in the training facility.
Kobe suddenly asked that question.
A dream?
Nash froze for a moment.
When he was young, Nash's dream had been to become a soccer player.
In college, he had wanted to enter the NBA and become one of the three hundred best basketball players in the world.
After joining the Suns, he had wanted to become their starting point guard after Kevin Johnson and Kidd.
After becoming a starter for the Mavericks, he had wanted every player on the team to enjoy playing.
And now, after joining the Lakers...
What did he want?
Nash had never thought about that question.
Before the season, he had not even imagined that he would make the All-Star team or rise to second place in the MVP rankings.
From Kobe, the team leader, to the coaching staff and his teammates...
The respect and recognition every one of them gave him were things he had never experienced before.
Kobe, the greatest player in history, had even been