The American media, always ready to stir up trouble, published an article mocking the situation before the Lakers-Warriors showdown: "The King of the NBA mountain will witness Kobe Bryant put on his fourth ring in his return debut!"
The American media didn't want this opening night to be just a regular season game. If they could, they'd even hope that, egged on by their instigation, Zack and Kobe would start a street fight on the court!
As a seasoned veteran, Zack knew very well that in situations like this, getting emotional meant you'd already lost. So, as he walked into the Staples Center with his teammates, Zack, being the generally magnanimous person he was, wouldn't let outside influences get to him. He merely came close to tearing down the Staples Center hoop during warmups, all under Curry's wide-eyed gaze.
"Stephen, come here and pick up the ball for me."
"Oh..."
This was undoubtedly the most obedient Curry had ever been since meeting Zack. Because when Zack looked like he had the word "ANGER" practically written on his face, Curry certainly didn't want to get on his bad side.
And that anger even seemed to be intensifying. Before the game, several celebrities invited by old Buss took the stage to perform. And to commemorate the Lakers' championship last season, the arena's big screen even played a fifteen-minute tribute video dedicated to Kobe.
Then, the championship banner was raised. Lakers players one by one stepped forward to receive their championship rings. By this point, Curry didn't even dare to look directly at Zack. He felt incredibly unsafe even standing next to Zack. Because the aura this man was exuding could only be described as absolutely suffocating in Curry's eyes. He was like a hungry tiger, eager to tear apart every prey within his sight. And tonight, the biggest prey at Staples was undoubtedly Kobe, who was affectionately kissing his son Macaroni's forehead courtside.
When Kobe handed Macaroni back to his wife Vanessa and stepped back onto the court, he instantly ignited the entire arena. The fans chanted in unison for Kobe: "MVP! MVP!" This was the treatment Kobe deserved. He was, after all, the true master of this City of Angels.
However... when the real King of Los Angeles was left on the sidelines, forced to watch the Lakers' full championship celebration, Zack, who had been holding it in for an entire year, found himself utterly speechless regarding his mood before the game.
The championship celebration ended, and both teams' starting players took their positions.
Lakers: Marc Gasol, Pau Gasol, Odom, Kobe, Lowry.
Warriors: Brown, Zack, Wallace, Bell, Nash.
In the opening tip-off, Brown easily beat Marc Gasol. Nash dribbled past half-court, and Zack moved up to the high post to set a screen. Although Zack initially wanted Nash to just pass him the ball every time he crossed half-court, considering Nash had patiently waited an entire year to execute a pick-and-roll with him, Zack ultimately abandoned that slightly "ungodly" idea.
At the high post, Nash quickly burst forward off the screen. Zack rolled down at the opportune moment and smoothly received Nash's pass, which went right between Odom's legs. It was a brilliant assist, proving that not all passes are created equal.
But seeing Brown in a better position out of the corner of his eye, Zack, in the very next second, nearly gave Nash a heart attack. The GOAT simply flipped the ball, and Brown soared, almost tearfully, forcefully slamming the ball into the Lakers' hoop.
In that moment, Zack felt he truly lived up to the reputation of being the NBA's "Master of Balance," having managed to execute a pick-and-roll with Nash and feed Brown a dunk opportunity in the same offensive possession.
A fake GOAT, once angered, would only retaliate with individual brute force. But a true GOAT, no matter how angry, always had his teammates in mind. In Zack's view, this was precisely where he was far superior to Jordan. And a true GOAT not only fed his teammates but also provided emotional support. "Kwame, haven't seen you in a year, your dunks are getting better and better! Good thing I won that Dunk Contest when you hadn't found your rhythm yet."
"How can I compare to you?" Brown, beaming with joy from Zack's praise, laughed. "Your passes just guide me forward; they always make me feel like I can get a hole-in-one!"
Nearby, Nash, whose assist stats had mysteriously dropped by one and whose "shot creation" stats had increased, quietly retreated to his own half of the court.
It was the Lakers' turn on offense. The increasingly composed Lowry calmly controlled the pace, and only after patiently waiting for his teammates to get into position did he unhurriedly pass the ball to Pau Gasol.
Stats rarely showed Lowry's value to the Lakers. Because the Lakers' offense usually wasn't initiated by the point guard, Lowry's career average assists were a paltry 3.1 so far.
On the right side of the court, Pau Gasol, already in a triangle offense formation, lobbed the ball to Kobe. Facing his old rival Bell, Kobe unceremoniously set a hard elbow. Unlike what many might imagine... ever since Bell put Kobe in a headlock that year, the two didn't become sworn enemies; instead, they developed a mutual respect.
Why didn't Kobe resent Bell's chokehold? Because before Bell's chokehold, Kobe had already annoyed Bell multiple times with his elbow. Moreover, throughout Kobe's long career, he never minded you playing physical with him, or even using overly aggressive moves to defend him. After all, how can a defender guard a superstar who refuses any contact in a game?
And Bell? After that incident, Bell, realizing Kobe's incredible composure on the basketball court, quickly turned his animosity for Kobe into respect. "I won't know how Kobe felt, but at the time, I really hated him," Bell said afterwards. "However, through later interactions, my hatred for him turned into respect, and that was the turning point in our relationship. We became close after that."
In the low post, the moment Kobe cleared space with his elbow, Bell didn't hesitate, immediately chopping fiercely at Kobe's hand and the ball with a sharp hand strike. Seeing this, Kobe, whose small hands were stinging, displayed his astonishing pain tolerance. His "sexy" small hands remained firmly in control of the basketball. Then, Kobe, with advantageous body positioning, shouldered Bell and lofted the ball into the basket.
As he retreated on defense, Kobe deliberately spread his hands, not to ask for a foul, but to tell Bell how easily he had scored, "'Raja,' your defense is getting worse every year."
Hearing this, Bell neither got angry nor responded. "To deal with Kobe, silence is the best response." Bell had advised other Warriors players on defending Kobe before the game, "Kobe has the arrogance of a Leo and the stubbornness of a Virgo. Trust me, the less you respond to him, the more he'll get frustrated on his own."
Zack hadn't expected old Bell to understand Kobe even better than he did. And it's worth noting that after Bell expressed his views on Kobe, many within the Warriors team also felt that Bell seemed to be talking about a certain GOAT as well. However, within the Warriors team, everyone, not wanting to be exiled to Minnesota, maintained a very tacit silence at that moment.
Back to the Warriors' offense. Nash, diving into the crowd, was like an innocent maiden who had stumbled into a wolf's den. However, Zack, who had been ready to receive the pass all along, still caught Nash's feathery pass near the free-throw line. The synergy between two players who could "see the whole court" was truly fluid.
However, Nash, who desperately wanted to assist Zack's first basket back from injury, fell silent again the moment he looked back. Zack had once again brilliantly passed to Brown, assisting his powerful dunk under the basket! Nash's "shot creation" stats just kept climbing.
Zack felt that Nash's arrival had indeed eased his offensive organizing pressure. Moreover, it made his own assists mysteriously much easier. With this ease, Zack assisted Brown four times in the opening, helping the Warriors open up the game with his passing. In return, Brown also reciprocated, twice voluntarily letting Zack grab defensive rebounds.
Seeing the Warriors' inside-to-inside passing flow too smoothly, the Lakers, under Kobe's glare, immediately intensified their defense.
Warriors' offense, Nash brought the ball across half-court, and Zack actively called for the ball on the left side of the court. After several offensive and defensive rotations in the opening, Zack, gradually adapting to the game's intensity, decided to resolve this possession himself.
Odom, tasked with guarding Zack, was exceptionally serious at this moment. Because before the regular season began, Odom, who had finally started dating Khloe Kardashian, now hated Zack more than any other player in the league. Even though Zack and Khloe had no private connection, Khloe was determined to maintain her rebellious persona as a Zack fan.
Take tonight, for example. Even though Khloe, who grew up in Los Angeles, had openly admitted she was in love with Odom, she still remained true to her original intention, appearing courtside at Staples Center in the latest Warriors #77 jersey. This deeply frustrated Odom. Especially when Khloe revealed the words on her chest, "I always love the Messiah," which she had specifically hired a makeup artist to write, Odom's mood could only be described as feeling "cuckolded" right to his face.
Odom naturally couldn't tolerate this kind of dorama. But the moment Odom put his hand on Zack to apply defensive pressure, Zack, dribbling and spinning sideways, suddenly created distance from Odom. Odom, with his pride as a man, stubbornly used a slide step to block Zack's forward movement. But Zack's dribble-spin was a fake; his step-back and pull-back dribble was the real move. Seeing this, Odom quickly lunged forward again. Then, he lost his balance completely after Zack hit him with a "prayer move" (a deceptive pump fake).
Courtside, Curry watched in stunned silence. No matter how many times he watched such fluid dribbling moves, Curry felt he couldn't grasp it. Because the player performing these skills was an interior player who stood 6 feet 11 inches tall in shoes.
Zack swiftly dribbled past the Lakers' wing defense. Then, facing Pau Gasol, who had rotated back faster than his brother, Zack, who hadn't jumped with such abandon in a long time, instantly soared to a height far beyond Pau Gasol's reach. This play was both a release and an outpouring of emotion.
Staples Center, in the next second, Zack, with unstoppable force, sent Pau Gasol flying out of bounds amidst the terrified gasps of the home crowd!
CLANG!
On TNT, Kenny Smith shouted, "I don't care if he likes me or not, I'm gonna say it! He just blew by Pau Gasol like Shaq O'Neal blew by David Robinson!"
"Damn it! You're making me look bad!" Brown, excitedly lunging towards Zack, exclaimed, "If I could just complete one dunk like that, I'd die without regrets!"
The GOAT, at this moment, had officially announced his return with a shocking poster dunk over an opponent. The Lakers players, even without Kobe's reminder, immediately focused their attention.
In the next offensive possession, Zack continued to iso Odom on the left side of the court. Lowry shrewdly anticipated Zack's drive and positioned himself in his path. However, just before colliding with Lowry, Zack not only braked in time but also elegantly brought the ball behind his back while subtly tapping it with his elbow, sending it accurately to the open Nash.
Nash, with a career three-point percentage close to 43%, didn't miss the opportunity, a quick release, swish! This was Nash's first made three-pointer in his first official season playing with Zack. But even at this moment... Nash, who had been diligently organizing the team's offense, still hadn't gotten his first assist from working with Zack. And as Zack started frequently calling for isolation plays, Nash vaguely realized that at this rate, his assist numbers were destined to stay at "0" for a long time.
So, would Nash be sad about this? Perhaps when Zack "stole" his brilliant passes and turned them into his own assist stats, Nash would feel a little miffed. But as the GOAT repeatedly tore through the Lakers' wing defense on the court, Nash's mood could only be described as completely refreshed. Nash knew very well that the GOAT needed a grand performance to vent. So on this night, Nash very sensibly stepped aside and left the entire stage to the GOAT.
On the right side of the court, it was Kobe's turn to help Odom on defense this time. Kobe's double-team timing was subtle, which clearly affected Zack's forced shot. On the basketball court, even the tallest player needs some space when shooting. In that last possession, to gain enough shooting space, Zack was forced to take a fadeaway, which increased the shot's difficulty.
CLANK!
At this moment, the biggest difference between Zack on the FIBA court and the NBA court was evident. If, on the international stage, even if Zack missed this difficult three-point jump shot, he would still make his opponent break out in a cold sweat. But in the NBA, when such an inefficient long two-pointer clanked, Zack's one-on-two strong attack looked like a highly unreasonable shot no matter how you viewed it.
But just as the home fans were cheering wildly for Zack's inefficient brick, Brown, who had already been "fed" by Zack earlier, tipped the ball back to Zack over Marc Gasol's head. If you want the horse to run, how can you not feed it grass?
On the court, Zack dribbled, hop-stepped into the Lakers' restricted area, and easily made a bank shot for two more points. "Go ahead and play your game, I'll get the rebounds for you," Brown told Zack confidently. "You're Aragorn with Andúril, and I'm Legolas Greenleaf with the Bow of Lórien!"
Hearing this, Zack, who seriously tried to recall what Orlando Bloom, the actor who played Legolas in The Lord of the Rings movies, looked like, felt that given Brown's looks, he was perhaps reaching a bit. However, to avoid dampening Brown's increasingly spirited mood, Zack, against his better judgment, said, "Legolas Greenleaf isn't as handsome as you!"
On the court, seeing the sincerity in Zack's eyes, Brown was immediately in high spirits and promptly gave Zack positive feedback.
Back on the Lakers' offensive possession. Kobe, who had successfully shaken off his old rival Bell on the perimeter, weaved and dodged, but unfortunately ran into a wall named Brown, who was desperate to repay Zack. In the Warriors' paint, Kobe, unable to fake out Brown three times in a row, was forced to put up a shot to avoid a three-second violation. Although Kobe successfully used his elbow to create a safe shooting distance, he had wasted too much time earlier, and his forced shot towards the backboard was solidly swatted onto the glass by Zack, who had rotated back in time.
Brown secured the second rebound before Odom and Pau Gasol and immediately looked for Zack. The Warriors' "top pick duo" fully displayed their chemistry in this defensive possession.
Then, Zack took the ball and strode gracefully across half-court. And then... under the gritted-teeth stares of the home fans, the King of Los Angeles proved just how much he loved this city.
He twisted in mid-air. And swung his arm in a wide arc. As the image of Vince Carter's famous 360 windmill dunk from the Oakland All-Star Weekend flashed through the "Hall of Memories," Kenny Smith on TNT immediately blurted out, "Go home! Go home! The game is over!"
The world wounds me with pain, yet I respond with song.
Staples Center.
After completing this breathtaking performance, Zack didn't forget to bow and thank the Lakers fans who were consistently showering him with boos of "support." "Los Angeles will always be my favorite city, no contest!"
And courtside, after Zack perfectly replicated Uncle Carter's classic dunk, little Stephen Curry was immediately called up by head coach Mike Malone.
"Get ready, Stephen, I'm putting you in in one minute."
"Huh?"
On the Warriors' bench, Malone looked back at a stunned Curry and kicked him, saying, "If you don't want to play, I don't mind letting you sit the whole game."
Seeing this, Curry immediately shook his head frantically. Although his debut for this championship-contending team came a bit earlier than Curry had imagined, how could Curry not be ready to step onto the NBA stage? In fact, his "huh?" earlier was mainly because when Malone called his name, he was fantasizing about dunking like Zack had just done on the court in the future.
That's right, compared to being a three-point sharpshooter, Stephen Curry's ultimate dream has always been to become a top-tier dunker!
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