Columbus, Ohio.
The arena, packed with nearly twenty thousand fans, was boiling over like a volcano ready to blow.
Fans of the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Texas Longhorns were decked out in their teams' colors, turning the stands into a chaotic sea of clashing jerseys.
The roar of the crowd threatened to blow the roof off the place.
Kobe Bryant and Link were sitting courtside, right behind the visiting team's bench.
This section was a "Who's Who" of the basketball world—jam-packed with NBA scouts and general managers.
There were plenty of current and former stars in the mix, too.
Michael Jordan was sitting just a few rows diagonally ahead, laughing with a friend.
Further down, you could spot LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony.
Celebrities and business moguls were sprinkled throughout the crowd, with camera flashes popping constantly from the sidelines.
The atmosphere was way beyond a standard regular-season game; it felt more like the Finals.
Link scanned the court.
During warmups, players from both sides were already out on the floor.
When the lanky figure in the Texas #35 jersey trotted out, Link's eyes were instantly drawn to him.
Kevin Durant.
The man who would one day be known as "The Slim Reaper."
Right now, he still looked incredibly green, but that unique, gangly swagger was already there.
He was even taller and skinnier than Link had imagined.
With arms and legs that went on forever, he looked like a spider out there.
But when he dribbled or shot?
The fluidity and coordination were guard-like. Pure silk.
Durant didn't miss a single shot during warmups.
From the three-point line to the mid-range, every ball traced a perfect arc and snapped through the net.
Just watching his warmup routine was a treat.
On the other end of the court...
Wearing the Ohio State red #20, Greg Oden was showcasing a completely different style of dominance.
He was the prototype of an old-school center: massive size, freakish athleticism, and rock-solid fundamentals in the post.
Even a simple layup seemed to carry the weight of a sledgehammer.
Every move he made screamed maturity and stability, belying his actual age.
It was like watching a young Tim Duncan.
"These two kids are probably the best prospects since LeBron," Kobe said from beside him, his eyes narrowed in focus.
The PA announcer began the starting lineups.
Every name—especially Oden and Durant—was met with a deafening roar from their respective fan bases.
The voice of the ESPN commentator boomed over the broadcast:
"—Ladies and gentlemen, this is the matchup you've been waiting for!"
"Let's see if Greg Oden can defend his house, or if Kevin Durant will burn Columbus to the ground!"
Tip-off!
The jump ball was no contest.
Oden, with his superior vertical and wingspan, easily tipped the ball to his teammate.
Ohio State's first possession. The ball swung around the perimeter before being dumped down low to Oden, who was buried deep in the paint.
The Texas defense collapsed immediately.
But Oden used his brute strength to seal his man.
He caught the ball, didn't even need a full jump.
Just a soft, little baby hook over the defender.
bucket!
The first points of the game—simple, efficient, and powerful.
"Look at how he establishes position and finishes," Kobe commented quietly.
"He uses his strength intelligently. It's not just brute force."
Texas ball.
After a few passes, the ball found Durant on the wing.
He was being guarded by Ohio State's best perimeter defender.
Durant caught it in the triple threat. He didn't rush.
He scanned the defense first.
Then—bam! A lightning-fast crossover.
The width and speed of the move were absurd for a guy his size.
He shook his defender instantly, creating space, and pulled up.
The defender contested hard.
But Durant's release point was in the stratosphere. With that wingspan, the defense might as well have been invisible.
Swish!
A clean, crisp mid-range jumper.
An answer ball!
"His handle and his shot... the combination is seamless," Link said, almost instinctively.
Durant's move looked simple.
But it required an elite level of ball-handling, body control, and shooting confidence.
"And he's seven feet tall. Good luck blocking that," Kobe added.
The game turned into a heavyweight bout.
Both teams traded blows, led by their superstars.
The climax hit in the final minutes.
Oden drew a triple-team in the post and kicked it out to an open shooter.
Boom. Three-pointer.
Ohio State went up 74-69.
Less than two minutes left on the clock!
Texas immediately called a timeout.
Out of the break, the ball went straight to Durant. Obviously.
He caught it two steps behind the three-point line.
Facing the defense, he hit two quick between-the-legs dribbles.
Then, a massive crossover to his right—he blew past his man and attacked the paint!
Oden rotated over to block the shot.
Durant didn't panic. He went to the other side of the rim...
And finished with a silky smooth finger roll!
AND ONE!
The whistle blew. Foul on Oden!
The arena went dead silent for a split second before the traveling Texas fans erupted!
Play of the game, hands down.
Durant sank the free throw.
74-72. Two-point game. The suspense was killing everyone.
The next few possessions were a defensive grinder.
Bodies were flying, muscles colliding. Neither side gave an inch.
18 seconds left. Ohio State led 76-74 with the ball.
Texas had to foul.
The Ohio State player split the pair at the line. 77-74.
Texas inbounded and pushed the pace.
Pass, pass, back to Durant.
5 seconds left.
He was a good three feet behind the arc, with two defenders flying at him.
He forced up the shot!
The ball soared through the air, the arc seemingly suspending the heartbeats of all twenty thousand people in the building.
Clang!
It smashed off the back iron.
Bounced up... dropped down... and missed.
The buzzer sounded!
Ohio State survived a thriller, 77-74!
Oden pumped his fist and roared, mobbed by his ecstatic teammates.
He finished with a monster line: 18 points, 13 rebounds, and 5 blocks. He was the anchor of the victory.
Durant stood frozen on the court, hands on his hips, his face a mask of frustration.
He dropped a game-high 31 points, but it wasn't enough.
Cheers and sighs mingled in the air.
The ESPN commentator signed off: "An epic duel! Greg Oden dominated the clutch with his defense and rebounding!"
"And Kevin Durant showed us exactly what a born scorer looks like! There were no losers tonight. We just watched two future superstars!"
After the game, near the crowded player tunnel.
ESPN reporters briefly grabbed Kobe and Link for a quick word.
---
Just as they finished the interview, a tall, skinny figure walked over, looking a bit hesitant.
It was Kevin Durant, now in his warmups.
"Hey, Kobe!" Durant's voice sounded a little nervous. "I'm Kevin Durant. I'm a huge fan!"
"..."
Kobe stopped and extended his hand. "Good game, Kevin."
Durant shook it hurriedly, his eyes lighting up. "Thanks! That means a lot. I—"
"I'm probably entering the draft soon. If you have any advice—" He paused, looking like he thought he was overstepping.
Kobe looked him in the eye and gave it to him straight. "Your skills are elite. Keep working on your strength and conditioning. Be ready."
Durant nodded seriously.
Kobe glanced at Link standing next to him and introduced them.
"This is Link. My teammate. You guys are gonna be seeing a lot of each other."
Durant turned to Link and nodded. "You came to watch tonight too? You've been shooting the lights out this year."
"Same to you. That performance tonight was unforgettable," Link replied with a nod.
They didn't chat long. Kobe patted Durant on the arm. "Keep grinding, kid. See you in the league."
Link waved goodbye as well.
He knew very well that this skinny kid...
It wouldn't be long before his name was one that nobody in the league could ignore.