After Su Feng's "full performance," the atmosphere at Civic Arena reached its peak.
In Su Feng's previous life, although Kobe rarely mentioned losing to Lester Earl in the McDonald's High School Slam Dunk Contest, Su Feng knew that Kobe only cared about the character of Hedou Dagger and didn't dwell on that defeat.
So rather than saying Su Feng was rewarding Kobe as a "toolman" for his recent outstanding performance, it's more accurate to say that Su Feng, as his close friend, wanted Kobe to enter the NBA without regrets in this life.
After all, Su Feng was always so kind, humble, and low-key.
At just 17 years old, Bryant quickly stunned the world.
Although Kobe's physical gifts hadn't fully developed yet and he wasn't as polished as he would be at his peak, it didn't matter—tonight, Kobe had Su Feng's invisible wings to help him soar.
For his first dunk, Kobe tossed the ball into the air, leapt to catch it, and glided while completing a mid-air hip switch.
This was a classic dunk that Zac LaVine would perform in future contests—an aerial move that people in this era had never seen before.
Kobe's dunks were always graceful and elegant. So while his dunk didn't have LaVine's explosive flair, it carried the unique flavor of the Black Mamba.
BAM —!
That dunk blew the roof off the arena.
Then came his second dunk, which was even more jaw-dropping.
For this one, Su Feng tossed the ball. Kobe caught it mid-air, spun while holding the back of his head with one hand…
This was a move reminiscent of the epic showdown between young Aaron Gordon and LaVine in a future contest.
Though Su Feng couldn't spin like a mascot, there was no judge named Dwyane tonight.
Kobe scored a perfect 50 on both dunks.
In Su Feng's previous life, Kobe's raw athleticism was on par with the best dunkers.
But his actual performances in dunk contests were often criticized for lacking creativity.
Let's be honest—even the best need a little wind beneath their wings.
This was the "favorable wind that helps the king rise to the clouds."
"Kobe, thanks for the birthday gift. I don't have much to give you, so I'll offer you a few ideas."
Watching Kobe's ecstatic expression after the dunk, Su Feng quietly stepped aside, letting him bask in the cheers of the crowd.
As for future stars like LaVine and Gordon?
No worries—Su Feng had a few tricks up his sleeve that LaVine hadn't even unlocked yet.
And Gordon?
If you're going to enter a dunk contest, are you really going to work that hard just to get a 9?
Isn't that exhausting?
Su Feng was simply trying to prevent future heartbreak.
"Go your own way and leave others nowhere to go."
Su Feng—the wise elder—was showing the younger generation a harsh truth:
Sometimes, being born early is an advantage.
On the court, Kobe's main rival, Lester Earl, had completely lost hope.
At halftime, he weakly told the host, "Let's go home, let's go home.
He's like a UFO from outer space! Honestly, even Vince Carter wouldn't stand a chance against Kobe tonight."
In the 1995 McDonald's Dunk Contest, Carter had wowed fans.
And in that same contest, Carter performed a dunk eerily similar to one he'd later do in the NBA All-Star Dunk Contest.
Off to the side, hearing Lester Earl invoke Carter to hype himself up, Kobe's expression was full of pride.
Back in his sophomore year, Coach Greg had once compared Kobe to Carter. Now someone was saying Kobe was even better than Carter. Kobe was glowing—like a true Black Mamba.
In the finals, Kobe's third and fourth dunks were both toss-and-finish moves. With Su Feng's creative guidance, Lester Earl could only settle for second place.
"Cool, so cool, Su!" Kobe exclaimed after the contest, hugging Su Feng tightly with excitement.
At Civic Arena, the crowd from Pennsylvania rose to their feet, applauding the Philadelphia duo embracing in victory.
It's worth noting that many scouts were in the stands that night.
While the dunk and three-point contests were just for fun, the McDonald's High School All-Star Game was broadcast live across half the United States.
Lakers scout Martin felt overwhelmed. After chatting with colleagues, he realized most scouts believed Kobe should be picked in the top ten of the first round…
Martin knew he had to report this to Jerry West immediately.
The Lakers needed to prepare for the worst.
…
After the big event on the 9th, at 10 a.m., Bryant discovered that Su Feng's roommate was still lazily sleeping!
"Why are you up so late?" Kobe asked, pulling Su Feng's blanket off without hesitation.
Su Feng: "..."
"Isn't training scheduled for the afternoon?" Su Feng mumbled, still groggy from barely sleeping.
"Su, you can't be like this. Tonight is the main event—the All-Star Game," Kobe said, lecturing him.
With Kobe staring him down, Su Feng had no choice but to sit up.
Clutching his pillow, Su Feng sighed, "I know, but Kobe, I thought about it all night and I still can't figure out how to play in this All-Star Game."
Before arriving in Pittsburgh, Su Feng had mentally simulated the game.
But no matter how he imagined it, his performance always came out the worst.
To be blunt, this kind of chaotic, ball-hogging game was a nightmare for Su Feng's current style of play.
And having watched this McDonald's All-Star Game in his previous life, Su Feng knew that the Eastern team's point guard, Shaheen Holloway, was a black hole.
In that past life, even Kobe struggled to get touches in the game—so how could Su Feng expect anything better?
After thinking it through all night, Su Feng came to terms with it.
After all, some things just can't be solved right now.
"This sewer-like game where I can't do what I want… this feeling is really…
I have to get stronger—strong enough to enter and exit the sewer at will!" Su Feng had silently vowed to himself just hours earlier, while still asleep.
"How can you think you'll lose to Corey Benjamin?" Kobe asked, puzzled.
Su Feng shook his head and shared his concerns with Kobe.
"Shaheen can't be that selfish, right? I saw his stats—he averages 6.5 assists per game!"
Kobe gave Su Feng a look that said, "Seriously? I don't buy it."
Su Feng couldn't help but laugh. He wanted to say, "Bro, you average over 10 assists per game."
A point guard who takes nearly 25 shots per game in high school? That's not Marbury or Iverson—that's something else entirely!
Wait a minute…
Looking at Kobe, Su Feng suddenly had an idea.
"I've been around Kobe too long—my IQ is starting to sharpen."
No need to worry!
If you think he's selfish, then he's just one guy.
But here, aren't there two iron brothers?
Suddenly, Su Feng came up with a plan involving Kobe—something clever and strategic.
"No way, Su. If we're going to play, we're going to enjoy the All-Star Game together. That's non-negotiable," Kobe said firmly.
Clearly, Bryant wasn't on board with Su Feng's scheme.
"Well, you helped me so much in the dunk contest. Now it's my turn to help you."
"Don't worry—if I get the ball tonight, I'll make sure to pass it to you," Kobe said, patting Su Feng's shoulder.
Su Feng: "..."
Hiss…
Kobe, have you been possessed by a kind soul or something?
Originally, Su Feng's plan was to use this chaotic All-Star Game to show scouts that he could be a reliable team player—even if it meant sacrificing personal stats.
Better to work hard and suffer now.
The real value of this All-Star Game was that even without the ball, players had a chance to show their character.
This was the legendary "reverse sewer."
But Su Feng never expected that, in Kobe's eyes, no one—especially not Su Feng—should be left out or sidelined.
This reminded Su Feng of the All-Star Game where Kobe passed to McGrady.
In 2006, the NBA All-Star Game was held in Houston.
To comfort McGrady, who had lost a close friend, Kobe gave up his own scoring chances.
The crowd rallied behind McGrady, and even Western Conference players helped him pad his stats…
"Alright, let's go train," Bryant said, smiling and patting Su Feng's shoulder.
"..."
…
9 p.m., Civic Arena.
During the entrance ceremony, Su Feng and Kobe received cheers far louder than anyone else.
No surprise there—their performance yesterday as the "iron brothers" CP duo could only be described as divine.
It's worth noting that before the game began, Su Feng's system reminded him that each time he played in this game, he would earn 2,000 Iron Points.
Because according to the system's judgment, the intensity of this game far exceeded that of regular high school matches.
But you might not believe it…
Ever since Su Feng got the Kobe Bryant plug-in, 2,000 Iron Points?
Who's giving those away?
Su "I shoot clean and don't want to play iron" Feng wasn't interested in missing shots at all.
"Ding! [Perseverance of Team Basketball] mission activated!
As an excellent 'team player,' you're not suited for this kind of All-Star Game.
Therefore, in this match, the host will receive an additional 20,000 Iron Points for each missed shot."
"!!!"
Just before tip-off, this message flashed in Su Feng's mind, leaving him stunned.
"I get it. This system really sees things clearly.
A team-first player like me just doesn't belong in this kind of selfish showcase," Su Feng thought, clenching his fist with emotion.
Truly, a system with a conscience.
Game on.
After warm-ups, the big screen displayed the starting lineups:
Eastern Team: Thomas, Jackson, Su Feng, Kobe, HollowayWestern Team: Collier, Robinson, Benjamin, Earl, Bibby
At tip-off, Thomas—nicknamed "Springman"—failed to beat Collier.
Although Collier's vertical leap was only 10 cm, his 210 cm height was overwhelming among high school players.
In Su Feng's previous life, Collier became a well-known veteran for the Houston Rockets and was Yao Ming's teammate during his rookie season.
Su Feng remembered him because the Hawks eventually retired his jersey. Unfortunately, that tribute was tinged with tragedy — Collier passed away from a sudden cardiac rhythm disturbance caused by an abnormally enlarged heart on October 15, 2005.
Back to the game.
The Eastern team launched their first attack. Bibby crossed up Holloway and pulled up for a jumper.
Although Holloway was named MVP of this All-Star Game in Su Feng's previous life, his selfish playstyle and 175 cm height made him ineffective in high-intensity games.
Miss!
Jackson grabbed the rebound and dutifully handed it to Holloway.
And so, both point guards from East and West began showcasing what it means to be a "point guard."
Which, apparently, meant hogging the ball.
Su Feng and Kobe ran back and forth behind Holloway, even though Kobe had already gotten open—but Holloway refused to pass.
This All-Star Game had no tactics. No pick-and-rolls. Just pure chaos, each showing off their own powers.
Kobe glared at Holloway, but Holloway didn't care.
This was a one-time game. Most players wouldn't even meet again. Kobe's death stare had no effect.
Bibby attacked again, this time pushing past Holloway and scoring a layup.
Bibby's athleticism was explosive—on par with Black players.
In the NBA, nicknames rarely lie.
Bibby, nicknamed "White Devil," gave the Western team a 2–0 lead. Since the game was held in Pittsburgh, it was technically the Eastern team's home court.
Holloway dribbled again… and went solo.
Blocked!
Benjamin, lurking on the wing, swatted Holloway's shot.
This wasn't just a regular high school game. Holloway's refusal to pass on two straight possessions had already irritated his teammates—even if no one said it aloud.
On the other end, Benjamin scored inside. Su Feng tried to catch up but couldn't. 4–0.
Eastern team attacked again. This time, Holloway hesitated and passed to Kobe, who was calling for the ball.
Hmm…
Thomas and Jackson exchanged glances. So this was just a one-on-one showcase?
Fine then!
Just as Thomas and Jackson expected Kobe to go solo, Su Feng suddenly broke free from Benjamin's defense.
Thanks to his recent training, Su Feng used a deceptive rhythm to shake Benjamin.
Off the court, Eastern backup shooting guard Richard Hamilton was impressed.
Only real players recognize real moves.
Su Feng got open, and Kobe's pass was lightning-fast.
Swish!
Iron Points were tempting, but Su Feng's shooting was too clean.
4–3.
In the stands, fans applauded the Philadelphia duo's chemistry.
And after just 5 minutes of play, Su Feng had already scored 10 points—including two three-pointers, both assisted by Kobe.
The game's pace was fast. If Holloway handed ball control to Kobe, Su Feng felt he could easily drop 40 points tonight.
The opposing team hadn't yet adapted to his running rhythm.
Timeout!
With 14:37 left in the first half, the Western team called a timeout. The score: 20–15.
To help players adjust to NCAA rules, the McDonald's All-Star Game was played in two 20-minute halves.
As for the 35-second shot clock? Irrelevant—most possessions lasted under 10 seconds.
During the break, Kobe and Su Feng were laughing and chatting.
"How was that pass? Beautiful, right?" Kobe asked, patting Su Feng's shoulder with a smug look.
Su Feng nodded. "I think even John Stockton couldn't match you."
But while the duo praised each other, Thomas and Jackson—who hadn't touched the ball—were fuming.
Kobe kept feeding Su Feng, and Holloway only cared about himself. What were Thomas and Jackson even doing here?
"Let Kobe run the offense!" Jackson, always direct, told the coach.
"I agree!" Thomas added.
Eastern head coach John Miller looked awkward…
How did conflict arise in just five minutes?
Actually, it wasn't conflict—it was comparison.
Compared to Holloway's selfishness, Kobe looked like a true playmaker.
"Kobe, if the coach lets you run point, don't refuse," Su Feng whispered.
"Of course not. I'll pass like crazy," Kobe grinned.
"No, no—you have to pass to others too," Su Feng warned. "If you only pass to me, I'll become everyone's enemy…"
"But I don't want to pass to them. They can't score anyway," Kobe scoffed.
Su Feng: "..."
Ignoring Kobe's "pass button" that only worked for Su Feng, he hugged Kobe and whispered, "From now on, every time you get an assist, I'll cook you a special dish."
"But only if you pass to others too," Su Feng added.
"Really?" Kobe's eyes lit up, practically drooling.
"Of course. When have I ever lied to you?" Su Feng smiled.
"Perfect. I've recently found passing more fun than scoring," Kobe nodded.
And after sealing the deal, Coach Miller made a decision.
He subbed out Holloway for Jermaine O'Neal.
Though Holloway felt he'd done nothing wrong, under pressure from Jackson and Thomas, he didn't dare challenge them.
Coach Miller turned to Kobe. "You've averaged 10 assists this season. Can you run point for us?"
Kobe smiled. "Don't worry, Coach. I'll pass to everyone. My nickname is the 'Pennsylvania Magician.'"
At that moment, Jackson, Thomas—even Little O'Neal—thought Kobe was truly amazing.
"Hah! I hope Shaq sees this someday and doesn't cry under his blanket," Su Feng joked to himself.
The game resumed…