Time flew by amidst the jam-packed schedule, and in the blink of an eye, another week was gone.
During this stretch, Kobe Bryant dominated, averaging 38.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game, earning him Western Conference Player of the Week honors.
He also continued to lead the West in All-Star voting.
Over in the East, "Agent Zero" Gilbert Arenas snagged Player of the Week with averages of 34.1 points and 6.2 assists.
The Wizards' record climbed into the top four in the East.
In Eastern Conference All-Star voting, LeBron James was still firmly in the lead.
Dwight Howard and Arenas were close behind.
The gap in votes wasn't huge.
For the Lakers, while Kobe kept up his torrid pace.
The team's record was a rollercoaster.
They started by beating the Blazers at home.
But then they got schooled back-to-back by Kevin Garnett's Timberwolves and the young, hungry Hornets.
Currently, the Lakers were sitting at sixth in the West.
Right behind them were the Utah Jazz and the Memphis Grizzlies.
The gap in the standings was razor-thin; their ranking could drop at any moment.
Link's performance also dipped slightly over the week.
His scoring average fell from 20.3 points at the start of the season down to 18.4.
His overall shooting percentage took a hit, too.
But his three-point percentage remained above 40%.
Still top-tier in the league.
As opponents started to genuinely respect his game, the defensive pressure on him was mounting daily.
No more easy looks.
Every cut, every attempt to get open, was becoming a grind.
It was another afternoon on a practice day.
Staples Center. The main team practice had wrapped up.
Players were leaving in small groups, and the arena was gradually quieting down.
Only on the court near the east basket...
The dull thud of a basketball hitting the floor still echoed.
Link was still training.
[Mission: Mid-Range Shooting (Intermediate)]
[Content: Make 10,000 mid-range shots]
[Current Progress: 8,762/10,000]
Because of the lingering effects of his injury, this training session was taking longer than expected.
He set his feet on the baseline, waiting for the pass from the trainer.
Link caught the ball, jumped, core tight.
Release at the apex!
Swish!
The System notification chimed coldly.
[Current Progress: 8,763/10,000]
Sweat had long since soaked his jersey, dripping steadily from his chin and hair.
But his eyes remained intensely focused.
Meanwhile, on the other end of the court.
Kobe Bryant was also getting shots up.
He stood on the left wing, a step beyond the three-point line.
That was the exact spot where he had missed the game-winning buzzer-beater against the Hornets last night.
Kobe wasn't practicing complex moves; he was just repeating the same sequence over and over.
Walk to the spot. Catch the pass.
Adjust breath and feet. Jump. Release.
Then do it again—
Swish!
Swish!
Swish!
Clang!
The sound of basketballs snapping through nets echoed constantly in the arena.
Both men were immersed in their own worlds, battling their own failures or shortcomings.
[Current Progress: 9,000/10,000]
When the System chime sounded again.
Link let out a long breath.
Finally finished the ninth set.
One more day, and he'd complete this mission.
Link's practice gear was drenched.
He walked to the sideline, grabbed a towel to wipe off the sweat, and downed a few gulps of Gatorade.
On the other side, Kobe had stopped at some point.
He seemed to have been watching Link for a while.
Kobe's gaze shifted to Link, who was still catching his breath.
"Link, your form is good!" Kobe praised first, then paused before adding.
"But your footwork on the catch is a little off. Your pivot foot is too obvious."
"..."
Kobe walked to the free-throw line as he spoke, signaling the trainer to pass him the ball.
The moment he caught it, Kobe used a hop step, landing on both feet simultaneously.
"See? If you adjust your feet before the catch, you keep the defense guessing. Gives you way more options."
Kobe demonstrated again.
First, a direct catch into a fluid shot.
Second, a catch with a quick pump fake, pivoting into a turnaround jumper.
His footwork was crisp, the details of the fake incredibly precise.
Link listened with total focus.
Opportunities for one-on-one coaching like this were rare.
A while later, both were getting ready to leave.
"Hey, Link!" As he was heading out, Kobe spoke up suddenly, his voice raspy from the long session.
"We've got two full days off next week. No games, no practice."
Link straightened up, looking at Kobe, waiting for the rest.
"You know Greg Oden and Kevin Durant?" Kobe continued.
Link nodded. Of course he knew.
Those two were household names.
Oden, hailed as a once-in-a-generation center, the "Shaq-meets-Duncan" of college basketball.
Tragically, injuries would derail his career before he could ever fulfill that promise.
And Durant needed no introduction.
One of the greatest scorers in NBA history.
A seven-footer with guard skills and handles.
Plus a jump shot that was pure money.
Arguably the best one-on-one player since Kobe himself.
"Next week, Ohio State hosts Texas."
He paused, looking at Link. "Biggest game of the college season so far."
The media was hyping this matchup as the "Battle for the Number One Pick," drawing the eyes of countless NBA scouts and stars.
"I got courtside seats," Kobe added.
He casually tossed the basketball in his hand toward a distant hoop. Swish. Nothing but net. "Interested in checking it out?"
Link nodded without hesitation. "Absolutely. I'd love to see it live. Thanks."
Kobe nodded. "Cool. Rob will hit you up with the details."
He bent down to pick up a stray ball. "Those two kids... they're interesting."
"Have you watched them play?" Link asked, walking to the sideline to grab his towel and water bottle.
"Not much." Kobe picked up his bag.
"Oden... his presence in the paint is dominant. His feet are quicker than they look."
"But his offensive game is raw. Relies mostly on physicality and put-backs."
He paused, seeming to choose his words, then looked at Link. "As for Kevin Durant... he's special."
"That height, that wingspan, combined with that touch and handle... it's rare."
"He can score from anywhere, any way he wants. He's going to be a problem."
Kobe's assessment was concise and sharp, nailing the core traits of both players.
"Who do you think goes number one?" Link asked the question everyone was debating.
Kobe shrugged. "Who knows? Depends on what the team needs."
With that, he shouldered his bag, ready to leave. Before walking away, he glanced back at Link.
"Good to go see it. Feel the atmosphere. College ball... it's different from what we do here. After all..."
His eyes grew a bit serious. "Next season, they might be standing on the court opposite us."
Link nodded seriously. "I get it."
Kobe waved, turned, and walked toward the player tunnel, his figure quickly disappearing into the dim light.
The practice facility fell completely silent.
Link stood alone in the center of the empty court, the sweat slowly cooling on his skin.