Behind The Spotlight Chapter 277
Every country had a dangerous city, and every city had a dangerous neighborhood.
Currently, Collin was cycling through Skid Row while wearing casual, simple clothes. Skid Row was a notorious section of Los Angeles.
Homelessness, drugs, and theft were well-known issues in this area. Especially at night, a lot of crime occurred in this place.
As Collin pedaled along, he saw many homeless individuals lying down or sitting on the sidewalks. They had hollow gazes, as if they had already accepted their fate. They knew it was nearly impossible to change their lives for the better, they were at rock bottom, with no hope of redemption. They were either too deep in drug addiction or their circumstances were so miserable that they simply couldn't make a turn around.
Collin averted his eyes... This place was deeply depressing. However, he had a clear reason for visiting Skid Row.
Carrying nothing of value except his bicycle, Collin traveled until he found an open outdoor basketball court where a game was underway. The court was cracked concrete floor decorated with graffiti.
Collin stopped nearby, looking for someone.
He had been exploring various parts of Los Angeles in hopes of discovering talented people. He hadn't expected that while passing through the streets of Skid Row, he would spot a man possessing a golden talent in basketball.
'Is he here?' He narrowed his eyes, searching carefully. He decided to move a bit closer.
The men continued playing basketball.
Suddenly, a player passed the ball to an African American man, who leaped high into the air and threw down a thunderous alley-oop. The play stunned the court, sending both players and onlookers into a frenzy.
"That's what I'm talking about!"
"Shiiittt--! Jumping that high is insane."
'Found him.'
Collin grinned as he spotted his target. The Black man, wearing a durag, let out a fierce roar after dunking the ball. He completely dominated the court, every time he touched the ball, he generated a scoring play.
-- James Michael Kobe
-- Basketball's Greatest Of All Time. (Gold)
-- Long Stamina (Yellow)
-- Healing Factor (White)
Back then, Collin had been passing through Skid Row when he noticed James playing basketball. He had caught sight of the glowing golden words floating above the young man's head, which immediately seized his attention. Collin had carefully noted the name and talents in his small notebook.
If not for his complicated situation at ANT, Collin would have approached James much sooner to invite him to join his client roster.
'This time, I'll talk to him,' Collin thought as he watched the game continued.
Throughout the match, James had controlled the court and scored the vast majority of the points. If the game had been captured on camera, it would have yielded an entire highlight reel.
"Yo, where's my money at?"
James called out to their opponents. The game had been played for cash, with each player putting up $30. Since his team won, James was collecting his share of the pot.
Once their game concluded, another group took over the court. James sat by the sidelines, counting his cash.
"Tch, motherfucker's short a dollar."
While he was counting, Collin walked up to him.
James only noticed someone approaching when Collin stepped right up to him.
"Who are you?"
"I'm Collin. It's nice to meet you." He extended his hand for a handshake, but James simply stared at it in confusion.
He glanced around before looking back at Collin.
"You looking for weed? Who sent you?" James scanned Collin, deciding he looked far too clean to be buying drugs. He grew cautious, suspecting Collin might be an undercover police officer.
"Huh? No, I'm not looking for that."
'Does this guy deal drugs?' Collin was caught off guard, though he quickly remembered he was standing in the middle of Skid Row. A place known for all kinds of crimes.
"I'm here because I want to recruit you to my agency and turn you into a professional basketball player."
"Are you a talent agent or a college recruiter?" James asked, skeptical. He had heard of recruiters offering opportunities to players, but those people usually visited high schools or colleges.
"I'm a talent agent, to be precise," Collin explained. He pulled out a sleek business card and handed it to James.
"Here is my contact info. You can call me or visit our offices."
"..." James examined the business card. It looked completely authentic, complete with phone numbers and a physical office address.
"Golden Spotlight Group?"
"That's my agency. I watched you play, and I firmly believe you have the potential to make it to the NBA. I can help make you an NBA player."
James frowned, eyeing Collin suspiciously. The man was remarkably handsome and looked entirely out of place in Skid Row.
'This isn't a setup, is it?'
Collin could clearly see the skepticism in James's eyes.
"It's completely up to you whether you want to believe me or not. But I can promise you one thing: I can change your life for the better."
With that, Collin turned and left. He knew that staying any longer would only make James more defensive and hesitant.
The young man watched as Collin pedaled away from the court. Everything Collin had said sounded too good to be true, yet the words hit him deeply. He looked down at the business card once more.
That evening, James returned to his family's apartment. He lived with his mother and two younger siblings. His father had died in a gang-related shooting years ago, a tragedy that had thrown their lives into hardship.
"Ma, what are you making?"
James's attitude were different outside and inside the house.
"Pancakes," Mrs. Kobe replied softly.
James looked at his mother... More than anything, he wanted to give his mother and siblings a better life. However, making that happen felt almost impossible. He had struggled academically, and his only real asset was his tall, exceptionally powerful physique.
James stood at 6'7" with an extraordinarily athletic build. He was fast, strong, and exceptionally resilient. Once, when he was younger, he had severely twisted his ankle and assumed he wouldn't walk for at least two months due to the pain, surprisingly, he was walking as if nothing had happened within just twenty days.
As he ate, James observed the tired lines on his mother's face. Mrs. Kobe worked two jobs just to keep a roof over their heads. At twenty years old, James was the eldest child and had barely managed to graduate from high school. His younger siblings were still in middle and high school.
"Ma..."
"Yes, son?" His mother looked up at him.
"... No, it's nothing."
[Author's Note: I couldn't choose which of the three G.O.A.Ts I should pick as the basis of this character, so I decided to merge them into one and name him based on the three. Once again, thank you for reading this novel.]