For Kobe Bryant, at 17 years and 11 months old, today was undoubtedly the most melancholic day of his life.
If he didn't possess the same iron will as Su Feng, he might have lost his mind over these "unfair circumstances."
On the court, after Bryant's "Vendetta Flame Soul" was extinguished by Big Ben, the Lakers regained possession.
Kobe moved to receive the ball, and Su Feng continued to apply his magnetic defense.
After being intercepted by Su Feng and blocked by Big Ben, Kobe regained control of the ball and calmed himself.
Thump, thump, thump.
Suddenly, Kobe accelerated after two quick between-the-legs dribbles!
Knowing Su Feng's defensive prowess well, Kobe understood that once Su Feng locked in, breaking through would be extremely difficult.
That's why gaining the advantage early was crucial.
This time, Bryant lowered his center of gravity and went full throttle!
In Kobe's eyes, although Su Feng's defense was formidable, it had a weakness.
If Kobe was a Ferrari, Su Feng was—at best—a Ford...
A Mustang?
Boom—!
On the court, when Su Feng abruptly cut off his dribbling lane, Bryant couldn't stop in time.
Beep—!
Looking at Su Feng, whom he had just collided with, and hearing the referee's whistle, Kobe suddenly had a bad feeling...
Offensive foul while dribbling!
Kobe: "..."
In the stands, Gong Luming used the word "perfect" three times to describe Su Feng's defense after witnessing the scene.
"Amazing, amazing, amazing! Full anticipation, quick footwork, and fearless impact after establishing position...
Is he really only 18 years old?" In Gong Luming's opinion, even some veterans on the national team couldn't have done better in that moment.
"Too bad the Olympic roster has already been submitted..." Gong Luming thought regretfully.
Still, he knew that even with his recommendation, any roster changes would require approval from higher-ups.
"Fortunately, he's still young. There will be more chances in the future," Gong Luming said with emotion.
The camera returned to the court. As the most prominent player on the Lakers' Summer League team, Kobe wasn't discouraged by three consecutive offensive failures.
"Defense—!" Kobe shouted to his teammates, tugging at his jersey collar.
The other Lakers players didn't dare slack off and gave it their all.
It's worth noting that right after the timeout, Kobe asked the head coach to let him guard Su Feng.
Because in Kobe's mind, losing the game was acceptable—but Su Feng had to be stopped!
Otherwise, it would be unbearably frustrating!
On the court, the 76ers were on the attack. Watching the action unfold, the ever-playful Iverson glanced at Su Feng after a half-dribble, as if to say: "You dare take this shot?"
Su Feng nodded. He had to take the shot—otherwise, what was the point of all the hard work over the past two days?
Wasn't it all to show Kobe that the times had changed?
After receiving Su Feng's confirmation, Iverson passed the ball to him as he cut to the right wing at a 45-degree angle.
This time, Su Feng caught the ball and held it firmly behind his back with his left hand.
Hmm...
Although Kobe knew Su Feng wasn't trying to mess with his head, seeing Su Feng's large hand gripping the ball tightly...
Kobe felt the fire in his chest rise uncontrollably.
Kobe Bryant was determined—he wouldn't let Su Feng score in front of him.
And what was Su Feng doing at that moment?
You might not believe it—Su Feng summoned Ben Wallace with just a glance.
As soon as Big Ben saw his "big brother" calling, he rushed over.
Kobe was stunned...
Wasn't this supposed to be a one-on-one?
Wait, why are you calling for help?
But just as Big Ben was about to set the screen, Su Feng's expression turned serious.
Su Feng shouted at Big Ben: "Get your **** pick and roll out of here! Can't you see I'm going one-on-one?"
Big Ben: "..."
Bro, didn't you just call me over?
But Big Ben didn't have time to feel wronged, and Kobe didn't have time to realize he'd misjudged Su Feng.
Because on the court, when Kobe's attention was drawn by Su Feng's shout—"Put up your **** pick and roll!"...
Su Feng suddenly lowered his center of gravity, dribbled hard, and exploded past Kobe's defense!
Kobe: "..."
At that moment, Kobe truly wanted to curse.
Every word in his mind was a swear word.
Bang—!
Su Feng charged to the basket and slammed it home with fury!
Watching Su Feng's "shameless" back walk away, Kobe felt like part of his steel ambition had just jammed...
"Nice play. I know you know me."
After the dunk, Su Feng quickly calmed Big Ben's emotions.
At that moment, Big Ben clearly hadn't recovered...
He scratched his wild hair and thought, "Whatever, if big bro says I understand him, then I must understand him!"
12–0...
Long Beach fans couldn't believe the score was real.
Because...
Wasn't this supposed to be genius vs. genius?
How did it turn into a one-sided beatdown?
Fortunately, the Lakers attacked again. This time, Kobe finally broke the scoring drought.
No hesitation—Kobe pulled up and drained a three-pointer right in Su Feng's face.
Despite Su Feng's intense pressure, Kobe raised the arc and dropped the ball cleanly through the net.
12–3.
Kobe, relieved to finally score, clenched his fists as he retreated, swearing he wouldn't be caught off guard by Su Feng again.
Back on offense, the 76ers had the ball. Iverson, casually resting while playing, kept feeding Su Feng.
And once again, Su Feng summoned his teammates with just a glance...
Kobe gritted his teeth, focusing entirely on Su Feng's right hand gripping the basketball.
Not falling for it. Not falling for it. Absolutely not falling for it!
However...
Sometimes, focusing too hard can backfire.
On the court, Su Feng's right hand suddenly flicked the ball toward teammate Joe Connet's cutting lane...
Kobe instinctively glanced in that direction and took a half step...
And that was all it took.
With explosive speed and ignoring the Lakers center Knight's weak help defense, Su Feng charged forward with reckless abandon!
But...
Su Feng had overestimated Knight.
Because Knight was once again... sincere but soft.
Su Feng had hoped for a three-point play, but ended up flat on the floor, thinking: "Is this guy really a center?"
Even Steve Nash, Su Feng thought, had more defensive presence than this one.
What Su Feng didn't know was that Knight, in his previous life, despite being 213 cm tall, averaged only 0.6 blocks per game...
Calling him "soft" would be an insult to the word itself.
On the court, 14–3. Su Feng scored again—right in front of Kobe!
If it weren't a live game, Iverson would've been rolling on the floor laughing for three minutes.
He never imagined that Su Feng would use the "Awesome Eighteen Styles" he taught him so...
Effectively!
"Su, did you just set up those last two plays?" Iverson asked, patting Su Feng's back as he retreated.
"Yes," Su Feng nodded.
"Then let your high school classmates see what real skill looks like."
Iverson was proud. Watching the Pokémon he trained grow up—it was a bittersweet feeling.
Now it was the Lakers' turn. Kobe drove baseline. Although Su Feng knew Kobe well, he couldn't stop every shot.
In the 76ers' paint, Kobe soared toward the rim.
But this time, Kobe was smarter—he avoided Big Ben's defense with a mid-air reverse layup!
Look at that core strength!
Look at that hang time!
Look at that gliding distance!
At that moment, Kobe reminded Su Feng of the GIFs he'd seen in his past life...
Yep, that's the Mamba.
14–5. Kobe scored with a spectacular move!
After the bucket, he couldn't hold back—he pounded his chest and roared as he retreated.
Not easy!
Damn, that was not easy!
In the stands, Hu Weidong and Gong Luming were stunned...
A 17-year-old and an 18-year-old—what kind of monsters were these?
"This is truly a stormy sea," Xu Jicheng said emotionally from the other side of the stands.
"Da Xu, I don't like hearing you say that. If you look at Kobe's performance today, then Xiao Su is at least..."
On the court, before Zhang Weiping could finish his sentence, Iverson passed the ball to Su Feng again.
Iverson knew Su Feng's first two drives were just part of the setup.
Because among the "Awesome Eighteen Styles" he taught Su Feng, there was one move he believed suited him perfectly.
Su Feng caught the ball behind his back again, and maybe—because of all the tricks he'd pulled today—Kobe instinctively stepped back half a step...
And at that moment, Su Feng suddenly dribbled the ball behind his back to his left hand and burst left.
Kobe quickly slid backward, determined not to be beaten by Su Feng again.
On the side, Iverson—who had been silently observing Su Feng—had already extended his right hand in anticipation.
And that hand? It was forming a three-point gesture.
After completing the retreat, Su Feng had created enough space between himself and Kobe.
It was a textbook jump shot.
Swish—!
Holy net burner! No way around it—Su Feng was just too efficient and ruthless tonight.
"I mean, Kobe, how could you forget my best scoring move?" Su Feng said with a grin after draining the three.
From the moment Su Feng released the shot, Kobe's mind had already drifted back to their high school days.
Bryant took a deep breath, calmed himself, and looked at Su Feng. "You've been working on these moves with Allen lately, haven't you?"
Su Feng nodded. "I've also been going one-on-one with the big guy—you know, the one with the ridiculous muscles."
Bryant glanced at Ben Wallace and sighed. "I've been slacking."
Although Kobe had trained hard in the past, there were days when—thanks to dating Brandi—he forgot all about those 4 a.m. workouts in Philly...
But so what?
Kobe's eyes reignited with that signature killer instinct.
The Lakers attacked. Kobe caught the ball, spun, spun again, drove in, jumped, and scored.
A dazzling offensive combo—fluid and fierce.
17 to 7!
Back on offense, the 76ers were fully energized. A fiery man named Allen burst into action with a top-tier sprint.
Fisher was in tears...
He knew Iverson was going right, but...
Damn, that butterfly step!
After slicing through Fisher, Iverson pulled up for a smooth mid-range jumper. 19 to 7!
Big Ben, who had been running back and forth nonstop, was nearly in tears too. This wasn't how the script was supposed to go. Why were Iverson and Su Feng so deadly accurate today?
They hadn't missed a single shot!
The Lakers had the ball again. Kobe went iso.
After a tense exchange with Su Feng, Bryant spun and faded away.
Swish—!
19 to 9!
But while the Lakers were still retreating, the 76ers were already pushing forward.
Su Feng cut through the air, Iverson delivered a perfect pass, Su Feng dished it back, Iverson caught it and lobbed it up—Big Ben followed through with a thunderous dunk!
21 to 9!
In the stands, Gong Luming was stunned...
Whether it was Su Feng's performance or the 76ers' small-ball lineup, everything was rewriting his understanding of basketball.
In truth, "small-ball" wasn't a future Warriors invention.
Even in this era, when facing teams without a dominant center, some squads used high-speed rotations and help defense to make opponents suffer.
Don't forget—future coach Steve Kerr first built a dynasty alongside Jordan...
"Is this... the NBA?"
Hu Weidong, who had been wearing glasses in the stands, took them off, wiped them repeatedly, and put them back on.
This game between the 76ers and Lakers had shaken Gong Luming and Hu Weidong far more than the men's national team's match against the Lakers two days earlier.
Sometimes, you only understand the true meaning of talent when you witness it firsthand.
Just like two years later, when the young giant promoted by Wang Fei to the national team—before even playing an official game—went to the Nike training camp and crushed Tyson Chandler, the nation's top high school prospect...
"Can I really play in the NBA?"
Watching the flying monsters on the court, Hu Weidong clenched his fists...
…
112 to 88. Although the Lakers didn't give up under Kobe's leadership, the depth of the 76ers' Summer League roster was simply on another level.
Su Feng shot 12 of 19 from the field, including 3 of 5 from three-point range and 4 of 4 from the free-throw line. He finished with 31 points, 4 rebounds, 3 steals, and 0 assists.
Iverson went 10 of 20, including 3 of 9 from deep and 7 of 10 from the line, tallying 30 points, 9 assists, and 3 rebounds.
Ben Wallace, overshadowed by Su Feng and Iverson's unreal efficiency, posted 4 points, 13 rebounds, 3 steals, 2 assists, and 2 blocks.
On the Lakers' side, Kobe shot 12 of 28, including 3 of 6 from three and 8 of 12 from the line. He led all scorers with 34 points, adding 8 rebounds, 2 steals, and 1 assist.
Clearly, the "Pennsylvanian Magician" was channeling the soul of "Los Angeles Kobe."
There's no comparison—Fisher and Robinson couldn't hold a candle to Su Feng. They weren't even in the same bakery, let alone eating the same cake.
It's worth noting that despite playing well, Kobe wasn't happy after the game.
This loss essentially meant the Lakers were out of contention for the Long Beach Summer League title.
Especially...
When Kobe remembered how the gap between him and Su Feng had shifted—from 82 to 55, now down to 45—he felt uneasy.
No way!
Starting tomorrow, it's back to training.
He couldn't let Su Feng keep dominating him.
It's said that once bitten by Su, you'll fear him for a decade.
Kobe still vividly remembered Su Feng's last interview on Datianchao TV—where he got roasted.
While Kobe was silently vowing to improve, Su Feng strolled over to the Lakers bench.
"Still thinking about the game?" Su Feng asked with a smile.
Kobe: "..."
"The game's over. What's there to think about?
Even if you played us a hundred times, you wouldn't win," Su Feng teased, watching Kobe pretend to be cold and silent.
If Kobe had a weapon, he'd probably stab Su Feng right then and there.
Kobe had actually planned to talk to Su Feng after the game.
After all, Su Feng still owed him 102 meals. Even if their friendship was on the rocks, Kobe wanted those meals repaid first.
But he never expected Su Feng to come over and mess with his head...
Now Kobe understood what it meant to make a friend and regret it for life.
"Want to know why you couldn't win?" Su Feng asked, deliberately provoking.
Kobe wanted to respond.
Really!
But he didn't say anything—not because of the 102 meals—but because he was "kind" and "not vengeful."
"Your whole offense depends on you.
You're attacking and defending—how can you beat us?" Su Feng said, ignoring Kobe's death glare.
Hmm?
Okay...
Kobe found himself curious about what Su Feng would say next.
"Look, we've got a defensive anchor inside. What about your bigs?
They're tall, sure—but they couldn't even stop Allen's layups. Are they really equipped?
And your guards—how many assists did you get after all those great passes?
So don't blame yourself. Honestly, I think you played better than Allen and me," Su Feng said, trying to "comfort" Kobe.
Huh?
Don't say it—Kobe was feeling a bit guilty before, but Su Feng's words... kind of made sense?
Still, something felt off...
Forget it. Why overthink?
"Oh, after the Summer League ends, want to come to Philly?" Su Feng asked, changing the subject.
"But didn't you say you were going to L.A. before?" Kobe replied.
"L.A.'s flashy lifestyle isn't great for training. And don't you want to play some serious 2-on-2 with Allen?" Su Feng baited him with Iverson.
"Hmm, that's a good point." Truth be told, Kobe hadn't really played with Iverson today—he'd been too focused on stopping Su Feng.
"And I just learned how to cook Wellington steak," Su Feng added, patting Kobe's shoulder.
Hiss!
Under Su Feng's layered mind games, Kobe was hooked again...
This was, after all, an aircraft-carrier-level friendship. Their bond could weather any storm.
As Su Feng grabbed the mic for his post-game interview, Hu Weidong walked onto the court.
"Hello, Su Feng. I'm Hu Weidong," he said, extending his hand.
"Hello... Hu..." Su Feng hesitated, unsure whether to call him Brother Hu or just Dong.
"Haha, just call me Old Hu like in the letters. I'm older, so I'll take advantage. How about I call you Xiao Su?" Hu laughed.
Su Feng nodded. They'd exchanged letters before, thanks to Su Junyang's emotional relay mailbox.
Su Feng could tell Hu Weidong was genuinely interested in the NBA.
In his last letter, Hu even mentioned he'd started learning English.
"Old Hu..." Su Feng felt like he was talking to the future big brother of Chinese basketball.
"Xiao Su, I watched your game against the Lakers from the sidelines.
Honestly, it blew me away.
Especially you—Zhang said my offense was slightly better than yours...
But I think he was just trying to protect my ego.
Truthfully, you're much better than me," Hu said humbly.
"Old Hu, you're too modest.
I saw the CBA tape CCTV sent to the U.S. last year. You were in half the highlights," Su Feng replied.
"Haha, don't flatter me.
I know my limits. We just played this Lakers team two days ago.
Seriously, that Kobe kid is ruthless," Hu said.
"Yeah, I played him in high school. Mostly losses," Su Feng admitted.
But Hu thought Su Feng was being too humble...
He'd just spoken with Kobe recently, and Kobe said Su Feng often beat him.
And judging by today's game, Hu felt Su Feng outplayed Kobe.
Actually...
Hu fell into the trap of "single-game logic."
The 76ers clearly had the upper hand, and Su Feng still didn't understand why the Lakers had Fisher guarding him at the start.
To Su Feng, that was basically gifting him points.
With that mismatch, if Su Feng didn't exploit it, he had no business in the NBA.
Though Su Feng was polite, Hu didn't press him.
He saw Su Feng's high emotional intelligence—giving him a graceful way out.
Hu knew some players in the national team were worried Su Feng would take their spot.
Now, Hu found that behavior disgusting.
"Xiao Su, if you ever struggle to get into the national team, just come to me.
If others won't give up their spot, I, Hu Weidong, will give you mine."
Hu felt that even though Su Feng was eight years younger, he already handled people like a seasoned pro.
Su Feng: "..."
Good grief. Why did Su Feng feel like Hu Weidong admired him?
Maybe he was overthinking...
"Oh, Xiao Su, can you tell me more about the NBA?" Hu asked curiously.
"Sure."
Talking about the NBA? That was Su Feng's domain. Not just keyboard warrior stuff—he knew the real deal.
Even if you combined Xu Jicheng, Zhang Weiping, and Su Junyang, none of them knew as much.
Su Feng suspected Hu Weidong was seriously considering the NBA.
In Su Feng's view, Hu had the talent. The only issue was his hidden injuries.
In his past life, Hu missed the NBA due to two major injuries.
In the '90s, domestic medical care wasn't what it would become.
When the golden generation retired, none were unscathed—everyone had a "serious injury" story.
Su Feng knew that even if he'd dominated forums in his past life, he couldn't change China's basketball system.
Even Yao Ming struggled against it.
But if Hu Weidong was inspired by Su Feng's success and truly wanted to chase the NBA dream...
Then Su Feng had a duty.
As the hope of a village full of rabbits, Su Feng knew that when fame came, it would carry the dreams of a generation.
He couldn't run from that responsibility.
Otherwise, why would 13 million rabbits cheer for him and be proud?
"Old Hu, let me tell you what the NBA is really about..."
Su Feng made up his mind. Whether Hu made it to the NBA or not, he'd give him the full roadmap.
The choice, in the end, would be Hu Weidong's.