"Distinguished guest?"
Kobe and Vanessa turned toward the voice. Not far away, a luxury convoy was slowly approaching the Roman-style church. The lead vehicle? A top-of-the-line, extended Cadillac RV—one that screamed wealth and power.
Trailing it were several black SUVs and sedans, all of which carried security and media. A group of reporters leaned out of their windows, cameras flashing and lenses zooming in as they captured the unexpected spectacle.
As the convoy stopped, a team of security staff stepped out and quickly formed a perimeter. The RV's doors swung open—and Zhao Dong stepped out, sharp as ever in a sleek black suit.
"Kobe! It's Zhao Dong!"
Kobe's eyes lit up instantly. His one and only invited guest had arrived. He felt a lump in his throat. The loneliness from earlier—the absence of family, teammates, and even his coach—faded at once.
"Kobe, is that... Mrs. Lindsay?" Vanessa asked in a trembling voice, nudging his arm.
Kobe turned. Indeed, following Zhao Dong was the ever-graceful Lindsay, his wife. Behind them were four children, escorted by two nannies.
"Are those… the legendary Zhao quadruplets?" Vanessa whispered, stunned.
Kobe could only nod, equally surprised and overwhelmed.
Zhao Dong approached, arms wide open.
"Kobe! You really couldn't wait for me?"
The tone was half-playful, half-accusatory. He glanced at the pastor, who was just about to begin the ceremony. It was already 12:30 PM. The wedding was scheduled for noon sharp.
Zhao waved it off. "Four boys under five. You know how it is. I had a riot at home just getting dressed."
Kobe chuckled through teary eyes. "Man, I thought you weren't coming."
"Of course I came. You're my brother."
Zhao turned and formally introduced Lindsay. Kobe did the same with Vanessa. The women exchanged warm smiles, and Zhao handed over a golden-red velvet box.
Inside lay a stunning pomegranate sculpture, carved from gold and jade, shimmering in the sunlight.
"This," Zhao said solemnly, "is a traditional Chinese wedding gift. The pomegranate symbolizes fertility, harmony, and abundance. It means a house full of gold and children—a perfect union of yin and yang."
"We wish you both a long life together, happiness, and harmony," Lindsay added with a graceful smile.
"Thank you, truly," Kobe said, voice trembling.
Vanessa wiped away tears. In this quiet church with just a dozen attendees, these were the first blessings she received today—and they came from some of the most powerful people on the planet.
Shutters clicked wildly. Over two dozen reporters scrambled to capture the once-in-a-lifetime moment: Zhao Dong and Mrs. Lindsay, blessing Kobe Bryant and Vanessa on their wedding day.
The ceremony finally began. The pastor gave his blessings, rings were exchanged, vows made, and a heartfelt kiss sealed the moment.
As guests mingled afterward, Zhao pulled Kobe aside behind a column, out of view from the crowd.
Kobe raised an eyebrow. "What's up?"
Zhao leaned in, speaking quietly. "Kobe, you do realize Eve and I are here for your wedding, right? We don't even show up for the President's inauguration."
"Yeah, I'm beyond grateful," Kobe said sincerely.
"Then let me ask—what's this I hear about you and O'Neal sneaking out for 'nightly adventures'?"
Kobe's expression turned stiff. "Zhao, man, not today. I'm getting married. Don't mess with me, alright?"
Zhao's eyes narrowed. "Don't make me regret showing up. You're part of this family now. That means your screw-ups are on me and Lindsay too."
He gestured to his bodyguard.
The man stepped forward and handed Zhao a pistol.
Zhao casually aimed it at Kobe's midsection and said coldly, "One scandal, and I'll make sure someone pops your second brother. Got it?"
Kobe jumped back in shock. "Damn! Put that thing away! Whatever you say, I'll behave. Just... easy!"
Zhao smirked and returned the pistol. "Good. That was your wedding gift from me—lifelong accountability."
"Gee, thanks," Kobe muttered, still pale from the encounter. The sweat on his forehead said it all.
---
After the ceremony, Zhao Dong and his family lingered in L.A. for a few hours before boarding their private jet back to Portland.
But the ripple effect of their presence at the wedding spread instantly.
Within hours, headlines erupted worldwide:
"Zhao Dong and Wall Street Powerhouse Lindsay Attend Kobe's Secret Wedding!"
At Lakers HQ, chaos broke out.
Phil Jackson was stunned. The management was caught off-guard. No one—no one—knew Kobe was getting married, much less that Zhao Dong and Lindsay were attending.
Even more shocked were Kobe's estranged parents.
They immediately dialed Kobe, who had just gotten home.
"Is it true? Did Zhao Dong really attend your wedding? And Lindsay too?"
Kobe's tone was cool. "Yes. There are pictures. They blessed us—personally."
There was silence on the other end. Then a hesitant voice asked, "And... Vanessa? Did Lindsay—say anything about her heritage?"
"She didn't care at all," Kobe replied. "In fact, she invited Vanessa to Portland."
After a pause, his mother's voice returned. "Kobe, we're sorry."
Kobe didn't respond right away.
Part of him still yearned for their approval. Even now, after everything, he wanted their blessing.
Then came the words he waited years to hear.
"Kobe, we may have missed the wedding, but we still want to bless you and Vanessa. Will you accept it?"
Kobe choked up.
"Yes. Of course. I love you both. And I hope one day, you'll love Vanessa too."
"We're coming soon. With your sisters," his father added quickly.
It wasn't perfect, and it wasn't timely—but it was enough.
---
The very next day, blessings poured in from across the league.
From fans, to NBA players, to front offices, and even the Wall Street Journal, Kobe and Vanessa's wedding became the talk of the sports world.
Rob Pelinka, his new agent, sent a formal congratulatory message. Several of Kobe's Lakers teammates—those not invited—still posted heartfelt messages on social media.
But soon, the NBA returned to business.
The playoffs were here.
Major networks began running playoff specials, and fans turned their attention to the bracket breakdown.
In the East, the final regular-season standings were locked in:
New Jersey Nets
New Orleans Hornets
Chicago Bulls (Central Division Champions)
Philly 76ers (Despite a better record, dropped to 4th due to division rules)
Milwaukee Bucks
Miami Heat
Toronto Raptors
Orlando Magic
Due to NBA rules favoring division winners, even though the 76ers had a superior win record compared to some higher-seeded teams, they were locked into the 4th seed behind the Bulls.
As the Southeast Division champions, the Miami Heat automatically took over the third seed from the Bulls and climbed to third place in the Eastern Conference playoff bracket.
The final seeding for the East was as follows:
New Jersey Nets Chicago Bulls Miami Heat New Orleans Pelicans Milwaukee Bucks Toronto Raptors Charlotte Hornets Orlando Magic
In the first round:
The Nets would take on the Magic.
The Bulls would face off against the Hornets.
The Heat would square up with the Raptors.
The Philly 76ers were slated to battle the Bucks.
Looking ahead to the second round, the winner of the Nets-Magic series would meet the winner of the 76ers-Bucks matchup, and the same logic applied to the other half of the bracket.
In other words, the two strongest teams in the East—likely the Nets and 76ers—were on track to clash in the second round. An early Eastern Conference Finals, in all but name.
Out West, the regular-season standings were:
Portland Trail Blazers Los Angeles Lakers Sacramento Kings Dallas Mavericks Utah Jazz Phoenix Suns Minnesota Timberwolves Houston Rockets (again, due to record tiebreakers)
Due to being in the same division as the Lakers, the Kings were automatically pushed down to the fourth seed. The third seed was handed to the Southwest Division champions—the Dallas Mavericks.
Thus, the Western Conference playoff seeding was:
Trail Blazers Lakers Mavericks Kings Jazz Suns Timberwolves Houston
In the first round:
The Trail Blazers would take on the Houston.
The Lakers would challenge the Timberwolves.
The Mavericks (from the 3rd seed) would square off against the Suns.
The Kings were lined up to face the Jazz.
In Round Two, the winner between the Blazers and the Rockets would face off against the Kings or Jazz. Similarly, the Lakers' bracket was set up to avoid early conflict with the Blazers—preserving the suspense for a Western Conference Finals showdown.
Meanwhile, the once-mighty Knicks—who had captured four straight championships—had suffered a catastrophic collapse this season. With a pitiful 21-61 record, they didn't even sniff the playoffs.
The New York media and fans went ballistic, cursing the Knicks like dogs. Still, thanks to being the league's most lucrative market, the Knicks remained the best-run franchise financially.
From this perspective, team president James's decision to trade Zhao Dong didn't seem so crazy after all.
However, missing the playoffs also meant a significant loss in playoff revenue. New owner Steve Ballmer gave an exclusive to the New York Sports Daily, vowing to spend heavily this offseason to rebuild a title-worthy roster. He even issued a public plea:
"Zhao Dong, New York's doors are always open to you."
But before Zhao Dong could even think of a response, his phone rang—Paul Allen was already on the line.
"Steve, stop poaching my superstar," Paul Allen said bluntly.
The playoffs officially kicked off on April 21st. The Trail Blazers' Game 1 against the Rockets was scheduled for the 22nd, granting them an extra day of rest.
After the end of the regular season, Zhao Dong completed his seasonal objectives and received three Minor Injury Recovery Cards and a full set of Domination Fragments, forming the Badge of Domination.
This special badge was a game-changer, massively enhancing mental fortitude—especially under high-pressure, hostile defensive environments. With better psychological resilience came sharper decision-making, steadier shooting mechanics, and improved scoring efficiency.
However, like all tools, its effects depended on form. When Zhao Dong was on fire, the badge made him unguardable. When cold? Well... it just made him a more determined blacksmith.
The first round remained a best-of-five series. The powerhouse Trail Blazers swept the Rockets team cleanly on April 22nd, 26th, and 29th. A flawless 3–0 sweep.
Zhao Dong continued his outrageous form, averaging a 40+ point triple-double in the first round—making him the first player in NBA history to do so. His legend continued to grow, cementing his claim as the god of basketball.
On May 3rd, the first round officially ended.
In the West, the Trail Blazers, Kings, Lakers, and Mavericks all advanced.
In the East, the Nets, Bulls, and Heat moved on.
The Philly 76ers, though a bit shaky, defeated the Bucks 3–1 to claim the final second-round berth.
Round Two matchups:
May 5: Lakers vs. Mavericks, Nets vs. 76ers .
May 6: Trail Blazers vs. Kings, Bulls vs. Heat.
The Kings had been impressive this year. Under Rick Adelman, the team had fully embraced the Princeton offense, a system tailored to their unique personnel. Their anchor was Chris Webber, who played the role of a point-forward masterfully.
Flanked by Peja Stojaković, Jason Williams, and Vlade Divac, the Kings became a tactical nightmare for opponents. They averaged 101.7 points per game, third-highest in the league.
Only Zhao Dong's Trail Blazers (108.5 PPG) and the Lakers (108.3 PPG) had better offensive outputs.
Still, despite the Kings' firepower, there was a clear gulf in talent and execution. The Blazers entered the series with supreme confidence.
---
May 5, Evening. Zhao Dong's Apartment.
Zhao Dong sat on the couch, two TVs side by side—one showing the Nets vs. 76ers, the other the Lakers vs. Mavericks.
Before tipoff, his phone buzzed. It was Yao Ming.
"Brother Dong, we're taking this one," Yao said with conviction.
Zhao chuckled. "That confident?"
"Karl Malone can't guard me. He can't guard Duncan either. They've only got Iverson's slashing. No low-post threat. We'll crush them in the paint."
In the end, Yao delivered on his promise. The Nets stomped the 76ers, winning by 18 points.
Yao dropped 30 points and 10 rebounds, Duncan added 27 and 13, and Marbury chipped in 27 points and 8 assists. The Big Three combined for 84 points—a monstrous showing.
On the 76ers' side, Iverson scored 38, while the "Email Combination" of Iverson and Karl Malone totaled 61 points, but their efficiency paled in comparison.
TNT's Bill Walton broke it down postgame:
"The Nets scored 65% of their points in the paint with a 56% conversion rate. Their inside scoring and Marbury's drives were near-perfect. This is playoff efficiency at its peak."
Matt Devlin added:
"The Nets shot 49% overall. The 76ers? Just 42%. Way too reliant on perimeter shots—that's what doomed them."
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