"Time really flies." Vanessa sat courtside, watching Kobe hold Gigi as she dunked, a warm smile on her face.
Time had passed so quickly.
It felt as though she and Kobe had only met yesterday.
That year, that day, the boy who sang rap songs and tried to look cool had become an eight-time champion, the greatest player in basketball history.
And that girl had become the mother of two children.
Kobe lifted Gigi high into the air.
"Come on, Gigi, dunk it!" Vanessa stood nearby, encouraging her younger daughter.
Unlike her eldest daughter, Gigi was lively and active, with a personality more like a boy's. She had loved watching Kobe play basketball since childhood.
"Mm!" Little Gigi replied in a childish voice, raising the basketball—which was bigger than her head—overhead with both hands before slamming it into the hoop!
"Great job!" Kobe lovingly kissed Gigi's chubby little cheek.
The family burst into laughter together.
Kobe's smile came from the heart.
Having been reborn, what made him feel the warmest was spending time with his family.
"You're Kevin Durant?" Bowen looked at the gaunt Durant and curled his lip.
This guy looked several sizes smaller than Anthony.
He was tall, sure, but what use was that? The league's top small forwards—James, Hill, and Anthony—were all built like bulls. Bowen had no faith that Durant, skinny as a bamboo pole, could compete against those players.
Bowen had been completely convinced about giving the starting spot to Anthony.
From his NCAA achievements to his rapid growth after joining the Lakers, Anthony's level had thoroughly won Bowen over.
But Durant?
Bowen had heard that this kid played shooting guard for the SuperSonics, and even then, he often came out on the losing end physically.
Durant wore a backpack and looked somewhat shy.
Durant