Chapter 2178 - 13: Playing Deaf and Dumb
Christmas game, the match is scheduled for three o’clock in the afternoon to give players time to spend Christmas with their families.
During warm-up, Allen Iverson, wearing jersey number 1, greeted Kobe on the court.
Iverson had always worn number 3, but in Los Angeles, number 3 was already taken by Gerald Wallace.
Wallace was originally willing to give number 3 to Iverson, but Iverson politely declined, saying he didn’t want to take what someone loved.
His number 3 jersey could stay in Philadelphia, and in a new city with a new team, he should have a new number.
He chose number 1.
"Number 1, you don’t look like yourself wearing that number, Allen."
Kobe teased Iverson about his jersey number.
In the 2006-2007 season, Kobe seemed much more mature than before.
He has battled in this league for 10 years, from a naive high schooler to a father.
In these two seasons, Kobe’s personal condition and performance have reached the peak of his career, both physically and technically.
The championship in 2004 was the most important one in Kobe’s life.
He completed a spiritual transformation, fully growing into a superstar capable of influencing the dynamics of the league.
Unfortunately, after winning the championship in 2004, the Trail Blazers started to decline; Little O’Neal’s injuries, Ben Wallace’s departure, and Nike’s management’s inaction led to the rapid decay of the Trail Blazers.
"I’m just me, it’s not about the number, I want a fresh start."
"What’s the meaning of this number? Half of Ah Gan’s?" Kobe casually guessed.
"Yes, you’re smart."
"What? That really doesn’t sound like you."
"So what? Isn’t it good to be half of Ah Gan, man?"
Kobe was speechless. In the current league, whoever had half of Gan Guoyang’s honors was the number one in the league.
"Working with Ah Gan is not an easy thing."
"Not too bad, listen more, give out your mind, it’s actually quite comfortable."
"You really have changed."
"I haven’t changed, it’s the environment I’m in that has. I also want to win a championship, man."
Kobe understood Iverson, he knew what kind of sacrifices and changes a person would make for the highest goal.
After experiencing the failure in the 2003 finals, followed by a sexual assault incident in the 2003 offseason, Kobe hit rock bottom in his life.
He lost his endorsement deal with Adi (Adi was even relieved by it), and for an entire year, according to the agreement, he couldn’t sign with a new brand; he no longer had his signature shoes and had to wear different shoes for games.
He had to appear in court, rush around, and pay large attorney fees, Vanessa had a miscarriage, and they almost divorced.
Though eventually, Vanessa chose not to divorce, for the sake of the children, for their feelings, and for life, she stood by Kobe in facing this lawsuit.
But Kobe knew in his heart that they could never return to the past, back to those teenage years when they were full of spirit, and their hearts and eyes were filled only with each other.
He could see disappointment, pain, and coldness in his wife’s eyes, no one could easily walk out of such a situation.
Moreover, Kobe was a celebrity, all of America knew about it, Vanessa’s self-esteem was trampled.
During the 2003-2004 season, aside from accompanying Kobe to court and attending some games, she spent most of her time living in Los Angeles with their daughter, rather than Portland, feeling that in Portland, every gaze was odd.
The trial lasted the entire season, and Kobe had to rush to games like Ah Gan in the past, playing high-level games amidst tiring travels and boos from the stands.
In immense pressure and pain, he didn’t fall; determination was one part, but more importantly, his character, the trait of fundamentally not caring about what others think, played a role.
Yes, I did wrong, I’m guilty of the worst, so what, I don’t care what you think, I’m just here to win the game.
Want me to feel guilty? To judge myself? Impossible, there’s no such function in my heart, I don’t care about you, anyway, the court ruled I’m not guilty.
This character trait ran through Kobe’s life, allowing him to create a miracle in the 2004 season, bursting with immense energy and winning the championship.
Not only did he transform, but the relationship between him and Little O’Neal also sublimated, both of them played career-defining games in 2004.
Facing a group of superstars in the finals, the Heat crushed the Celtics in the East Finals. Without shedding a drop of blood, the Trail Blazers defeated their opponents, and Karl Malone’s championship dream remained unfulfilled.
In the 2004-2005 season, the Trail Blazers aimed to defend their title, but Little O’Neal and Reed started to suffer injuries, and the Trail Blazers did nothing in the offseason.
Even worse, Ben Wallace was dissatisfied with his salary, and the Trail Blazers didn’t want to renew Big Ben’s contract at a high price, Kobe and Little O’Neal already occupied most of the cap space.
Though Nike Group is the giant in the sports world, with a high market value, the cash flow that can really be used for team building isn’t that ample; the primary purpose of buying the team was for brand advertising, signing popular stars, and ideally having them wear Nike shoes.
A defensive player like Big Ben, who doesn’t sell shoes, isn’t very popular, wears Avia, and doesn’t have a good relationship with Kobe, naturally, Nike didn’t want to renew his contract early.
In the end, the Trail Blazers sent away Big Ben and got Shawn Marion from the Pistons, moving the whole team in a lightweight direction.
Kobe delivered another MVP-level season, but the MVP went to Nash, and the Trail Blazers lost to the Suns in the playoffs.