My Name is Kobe Bryant

The 1996 Summer League was a small game with no TV coverage, no sideline cameras, no reporters. Even the spectators on the sidelines are mostly team staff, who come to conduct scouting inspections and try to pick up leaks.

Kurt Rambis was the coach of the Lakers Summer League. Rambis spent most of his career with the Lakers, experiencing the SHOWTIME era and winning the 1982, 1985, 1987 and 1988 NBA championships.

During Rambis' playing career, he was loved by Lakers fans for his precocious underdog mentality and absolute team player. He was known for his defense and rebounding, and was also an efficient player on the offensive end. His career high Shooting 59.5 percent from the field, he's remembered by many in Santa Clara and Los Angeles for his relentless drive and willingness to do the dirty work that many players wouldn't.

Rambis often sported a bushy beard and thick black glasses, so much so that Lakers announcer Chick Hearn nicknamed him "Superman." He eventually retired from the Lakers in 1995, ending his 14-year NBA career. And successfully joined the coaching staff, as the assistant coach of the Lakers.

"Listen up, our tactics are very simple, give the damn ball to Kobe, then stand aside and do a good job of defense, do you understand?" Rambis said to the Lakers Summer United before the opening Tell him, he knows that apart from Kobe Bryant participating in the Summer League is a bunch of rubbish, he doesn't want to talk to them at all. If it weren't for his shallow qualifications, he would not come to sacrifice vacation time to lead the team to participate in the summer league.

The management has issued a notice to let him take care of Kobe. Rambis knows that this 17-year-old high school student is now the treasure of the Lakers. From the boss to the president to the head coach, everyone appreciates this kid very much. He even arranged the starting lineup according to Kobe's request. After all, it was just a Summer League game. If they didn't play well, just replace those players.

Kobe had already communicated with Rambis before the game, and Rambis agreed to lead Fisher, Bowen and Ben Wallace to start. Then the starting lineup of the Lakers is PG Derek Fisher SG Kobe Bryant SF Bruce Bowen PF Ben Wallace C Tyrese Knight.

Yes, Bowen and Wallace also came to Bryant's side a few days ago. It was also a one-on-one beating, and Bruce Bowen, who thought he had excellent defensive ability, was beaten ten out of ten by Kobe. And the clumsy Ben Wallace was knocked to the ground by Kobe. The two of them joined Fisher and became Kobe's younger brother.

Tyrese Knight is the No. 29 rookie of the Bulls this year, but the stingy Bulls did not sign him. So he came to participate in the Lakers' summer league. The height of 2.13 meters is very bluffing, but it has the common problem of white center forwards, being thin.

But that is also relative to the NBA, the confrontation in the summer league is a few levels worse.

"Guys, this game. Do you want to make a big news." The game was about to start, and Kobe recruited players to gather.

"Boss, tell me how to do it. We'll listen to you." Bruce Bowen responded first. He has experienced overseas for several years and has seen a lot of people's sophistication. Kobe is his hope of signing with the Lakers. Of course he will obey from.

"The whole court is pressing, I will watch the ball holder, you are stuck in the passing line. Bring the rhythm of the game, I want to see each of you running in the defense!" Kobe roared in a low voice, the Lakers The defensive ability of the lineup is quite strong. The defense line composed of three members of the future All-Defensive Team, even if the current Bowen and Big Ben are a little immature, is enough to crush the entire summer league.

Fisher looked at Kobe, who glanced at his head intentionally or unintentionally, and couldn't help trembling with fear, and there was a dull pain in his head.

"No problem!" Lao Yu appraised the situation and immediately gave Kobe a resolute look.

This is the first official game of Kobe Bryant's life. He attaches great importance to this game, and he still needs to complete his task by winning the summer league.

The current summer league has 16 teams. There is no group stage, and a single-elimination system is adopted directly. Winning four games can win the championship.

The opponent of the first Summer League game was the Detroit Pistons. Grant Hill, their popular fried chicken, of course, will not participate in the Summer League. Last year, he scored 20.2 points, 9.8 rebounds and 6.9 assists. He has been selected as an All-Star.

In the current team, Kobe also knows one of their power forwards, Jerome Williams. Also this year's rookie, the Pistons selected him with the 26th overall pick. The height of 2.06 and the weight of 93KG make him look very thin.

The game starts, jump ball. Tyrese Knight has a size advantage, but his jumping ability is mediocre. The ball was jumped by the Pistons black center. Kobe Bryant immediately appeared in front of the opposing defender.

"Yo, yo boy, what are you doing?" The black point guard has been in the secondary leagues for many years. He knew that Kobe was a popular new star of the Lakers, but he didn't pay much attention to the 17-year-old rookie.

His underestimation had bad consequences, and Kobe looked at a point guard who didn't even have a low center of gravity. He stepped forward directly and made a clean steal!

"Fuck, it's a thug! He's a thug!" His yell did not win the referee, who clearly saw that it was a clean steal.

Kobe didn't stop after grabbing the ball, and strode forward, leaving the other players on the field with only the lonely back hanging on the basket.

"Defense, don't stand still! The game has just begun!" Kobe jumped from under the basket, his chin slightly raised as if the dunk after the steal was not worth mentioning.

Damn, what kind of monster boss did I follow, and I, Fisher, will never make it? Fisher thought so in his heart, but shouted in his mouth, "Strike! Defense! Defense! That Bruce, pay attention to your position!"

Kobe looked at Fisher, who had reacted immediately, and couldn't help but be proud of his leadership. This distracted kid has made rapid progress. Is it necessary to enlighten him more?

The game entered a one-sided situation in the first quarter. Kobe Bryant was staring at the guard with the ball. No matter the point guard or the point guard, it was difficult to dribble the ball without the help of his teammates. Kobe contributed steals many times. As long as there is a steal, the next step is Kobe's chic aerial work performance.

And Fisher stared at another defender. His body in the first round took advantage of these second-tier league players. Bruce Bowen covered the opponent's small forward. With his rich experience, he prevented the opponent from taking shots. Wallace swept around, flanking and rebounding to bring the Lakers plenty of energy. Alvin Gentry, coach of the Pistons Summer League, repeatedly called a timeout, but he couldn't stabilize the team's situation.

Damn, Kobe I know, that brilliant high school kid. But where did the Lakers find these defensive players. Shouldn't they be in the NBA game?

Rambis looked in surprise at the Lakers led by Kobe, biting the opponent like a pack of wolves, a little dazed. A team with such a defensive ability, even in the NBA, can play excellent results. Is the opponent too good or Kobe can be super god while leading a pile of garbage?

At the beginning of the second quarter, the Pistons pulled the center to the midfield to support and catch the ball. Tyris Knight was slow and unable to defend around the front, so the ball passed smoothly to the half court under the support of the center. However, the Lakers' positional defense was like an iron barrel. Kobe asked his teammates to slow down the pace and stop pressing, and started a man-to-man positional battle. The Pistons were completely unable to score smoothly.

Can't break through, can't make a mid-range shot, cut off the air cut, and hit the iron with a three-pointer. The Pistons, which has reduced turnovers, can't find a way to attack, as if every opposing player is guarded tightly.

The Lakers offense that fell into the position was completely Kobe's personal performance. After the old fish held the ball for halftime, he handed it to Kobe as if it was hot. Then watch Kobe with his hips on his hips insulting the Pistons' opponents one by one.

With the help of a three-point jumper after the pick-and-roll and a breakthrough pass, Kobe broke the Pistons' defensive line in just two plays. Alvin - Gentry kept adjusting the defense Kobe Bryant, but none of them can cause the slightest interference to Bryant.

Looking at the desperate eyes of the Piston players, Fisher couldn't help but shudder when he thought of himself when he was training with Kobe.

Half time, intermission. Bryant and Rambis together boosted morale.

"Guys, we played really well in the first half. Next, tear them down, and there will be a lot of scouts recording your performance on the sidelines."

Ben Wallace, Bruce Bowen, and Tyrese Knight are all a little excited. Playing such a wonderful situation must have added another point to their hopes of staying in the NBA. And all this is brought by their boss, Kobe Bryant. They know that without Kobe, they will be ugly on the court without the ability to attack independently, but with such a sharp knife to cut through the defense, they have a lot of room for performance in both offense and defense.

The break ended and the whistle sounded for the start of the second half.

As soon as Kobe had the ball, the two Pistons double-teamed him. Kobe smiled, what he wants is your double team. Kobe's way of handling double-teams is very simple, either shoot before the double-team is formed, and if there is no good opportunity, Kobe's court vision is enough for him to distribute the ball to open players.

The third quarter became Kobe's organizational performance, with scalpel-like throughs passing to Bowen and Fisher in the bottom corner. They scored a lot of three-pointers with a wide open. When the inside line was double-teamed, Kobe threw the ball into the sky again. Ben Wallace and Tyrese Knight had lob dunks.

7 assists in a single quarter is Kobe's answer to the Pistons double-teaming. The Lakers' offense is smooth and smooth, and both the position and the fast break made Rambis on the sidelines think of someone.

Wasn't Magic Johnson the same during SHOWTIME, blasting opponents and driving the team, the difference between them is that Kobe's first choice is offense, while Magic is passing.

At the end of the third quarter, the game lost its suspense. Kobe was not playing, and the final score was fixed at the Lakers 97:61 Pistons. Kobe played an all-around performance of 37 points, 4 rebounds, 11 assists, 4 steals, 1 block and 3 turnovers.

The next summer league game against the top 8 Chinese teams in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics