"Oh my God! I think I'm dreaming."
It took Lin Feng a long moment to fully process the reality of the situation.
He could hardly believe that Kobe Bryant himself had come to the arena to seek him out.
"Boss Kobe, please tell me you came to the locker room tonight specifically to find me?" Lin Feng asked, voicing his deepest hope – that Kobe's presence at the Lakers' training facility was indeed for him.
Confirmation of this would validate his recent hard work and signify that Kobe had noticed and appreciated his on-court performances.
Kobe offered a slight nod, a man of few unnecessary words.
"Yes, Lin. I came here tonight to discuss something with you." Kobe smiled. "During this offseason, besides my own rigorous training, I've been keeping an eye on other teams' progress. What's been particularly irritating is seeing O'Neal win his fourth championship ring after moving to Miami in the East."
"Shit, you know what I mean!" Kobe's expression was complex. In 2006, the sight of O'Neal teaming up with Dwyane Wade to secure his fourth championship had stirred a complicated mix of emotions within him.
It had ignited a significant debate in the basketball world and among NBA fans.
Many media outlets and fans insinuated that O'Neal could win championships even without Kobe, while Kobe, without O'Neal, was relegated to early playoff exits, unable to even reach the Western Conference semifinals.
These persistent doubts from the outside world fueled Kobe's fiercely competitive nature.
Those familiar with Kobe's personality knew that he thrived on being doubted.
The more people questioned him, the harder he trained, the more he pushed himself, waiting for the opportune moment to rise stronger.
Now, Kobe saw a glimmer of hope for the Lakers' resurgence in Lin Feng's skills and recent performances. He believed Lin Feng could provide the crucial support he needed on the court.
"Lin! Come outside for a moment. I want to talk to you about something very important." Kobe clapped Lin Feng on the shoulder again, gesturing for him to step out of the locker room.
Lin Feng, still somewhat dazed, instinctively followed Kobe.
Coach Ryan watched the two men depart, a knowing smile playing on his lips. His sharp intellect had already pieced together the situation.
The other teammates were dumbfounded, unable to contain their astonishment. "Oh my God! Kobe came to see Lin in person? I wonder why?"
Ryan glanced at the bewildered group and chuckled. "Cherish these moments you have with Lin Feng. Next season, I guarantee you won't be teammates with him."
"Coach Ryan, what do you mean?" Harris asked, his curiosity piqued. He now held Lin Feng in the highest regard, second only to Malcolm.
"Kobe came here in person to see Lin Feng. What else could it mean?" Ryan's eyes twinkled with insight. "If I'm not mistaken, Kobe will invite Lin Feng to join the Los Angeles Lakers next season!"
"What?!" The teammates exclaimed in unison, their amazement palpable. Kobe Bryant visiting their arena tonight to personally recruit Lin Feng to the Lakers?
Was Lin about to leap from the NBDL Development League into the NBA?
Indeed, the wait for a significant breakthrough had been long!
"Lin is going to take off! He's really going to take off! Kobe even came to invite him personally! Unbelievable!" Envy was evident in his teammates' voices.
Outside the locker room, Kobe led Lin Feng to a secluded corner and spoke directly. "Lin! I admire your positive attitude towards the game on the court. I admire your tenacity as a guard who consistently fights for offensive rebounds. I also admire your defense. Come and fight alongside me for the Lakers next season!"
"You will wear the purple and gold jersey and play for the Lakers. Tell me, are you willing?"
Lin Feng was utterly speechless, not due to reluctance, but because he was overcome with exhilaration.
As a lifelong, die-hard Lakers fan, his love for the team ran deep.
Donning the iconic purple and gold jersey and playing for the Lakers had been a cherished dream since childhood.
That dream, held close for so many years, was about to materialize next season. The sheer excitement coursing through Lin Feng was unimaginable.
If he wasn't so intent on leaving a positive and composed impression on Kobe, he would have likely jumped up and down, shouting with unbridled joy.
He swallowed hard twice, his excitement rendering him momentarily speechless.
Kobe frowned slightly. "Why? You don't want to?"
"No, no, no, that's not what I meant, Boss. What I meant is, next season, can I... can I really wear the purple and gold jersey and play for the Lakers?"
"Of course. If you're willing, I can help you with the contract," Kobe said with confidence.
His influence within the Lakers organization was significant enough that Old Buss would likely respect his recommendation.
"Okay! I do!" Lin Feng agreed emphatically.
Kobe offered an elegant smile. "Wait for my call tomorrow and give me your number."
Lin Feng quickly provided his phone number, and the two exchanged contact information.
Afterward, Kobe added, "But as a player coming from the Development League, this will be your first NBA contract with the Lakers, so don't expect a huge annual salary right away. I can certainly do my best to help you secure a good contract, but for a lucrative deal worth tens of millions annually, you'll need to work hard in the future and earn it yourself."
"Yeah, that sounds like the Boss I know," Lin Feng nodded quickly in understanding.
Joining the Lakers for the first time, he knew the management wouldn't offer a massive contract immediately.
After all, he was still relatively unknown in the NBA, and this wasn't a high-profile superstar acquisition. The Lakers management would naturally exercise caution when investing in a new player.
Securing a multi-million dollar annual salary would require dedication, strong performances, and proving his worth at the highest level.
"Alright, I've said everything I needed to say. Wait for my call tomorrow, and I'll take you to meet with the Lakers management."
"Okay," Lin Feng agreed, his voice filled with sincere gratitude. "Thank you, Boss!"
"Don't thank me. I just feel that with your basketball talent, you shouldn't be languishing in a lower league. The NBA is where you belong."
With those words, Kobe turned and walked away, leaving Lin Feng with a powerful and inspiring image of his departing hero.
"Yeah!"
Only when Kobe was completely out of sight did Lin Feng leap into the air, celebrating with unrestrained joy.
Dreams do come true, they really do!
Soon, Lin Feng would be joining the Los Angeles Lakers, becoming a member of the legendary Purple and Gold Army.
"Hahaha!" Lin Feng's triumphant laughter echoed towards the sky.
But at that very moment, the system issued a long-dormant notification sound.
[Bite!]
[Congratulations to the host for joining the Los Angeles Lakers, his favorite team. His teammate is Black Mamba Kobe Bryant. As a souvenir, the host has received a lucky bracelet.]
Upon hearing the system's prompt, Lin Feng eagerly opened the provided package and saw a purple and gold bracelet lying quietly inside.
Engraved on the back of the bracelet were words he couldn't yet decipher.
On the front, however, was the number '10'. Reading it, Lin Feng instantly recognized it as Sakuragi Hanamichi's jersey number.
In the NBA, Lin Feng would continue to wear the No. 10 jersey while playing for the Lakers, carrying forward the indomitable spirit of Sakuragi Hanamichi!