Kobe Bryant's return was like a shot of adrenaline straight to the heart.
The Lakers, already building momentum off Link's recent hot streak, were now fully awake.
When Kobe ripped off his warm-ups and checked back into the game, the air inside Staples Center ignited, exploding into a deafening roar.
"Kobe is back!" Mike Breen's voice echoed through the broadcast. "Look at this building! Look at the faces on the Lakers bench! Sometimes, the return of a leader is more powerful than any X's and O's!"
On his first possession back, Kobe didn't force a shot. Instead, he calmly directed traffic from the top of the key.
He threw a perfect bounce pass, finding Odom cutting off a Link screen for an easy layup.
After a few possessions to test his knee, Kobe went to work.
He started by knocking down two signature fadeaways to settle the team down. Then, on defense, he read Parker's passing lane perfectly and snatched a steal.
The Lakers were flowing.
The Spurs, on the other hand, looked rattled. Even though Tim Duncan was still putting up numbers, he couldn't stop the tidal wave of momentum the Lakers were riding.
When the final buzzer sounded, the scoreboard read 116 - 103.
Kobe finished with 35 points, 4 rebounds, and 7 assists.
Link dropped 33 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists.
It was arguably the best game he had played all season.
Staples Center turned into a sea of gold. Fans were on their feet, screaming, as confetti rained down from the rafters.
The Lakers celebrated their season finale victory at center court. Kobe was mobbed by teammates in the middle.
Link stood a little outside the circle, staring up at the scoreboard where "33" glowed next to his name. He could still hear the chants of "Prophet Link" echoing through the arena.
A wave of accomplishment, unlike anything he'd felt before, washed over him.
The teams met at center court to shake hands.
Ginobili walked up to Link, offering a hand and a smile. "Good game, rookie. Keep shooting."
His tone carried the grace of a veteran accepting defeat, but also a hint of respect for the new kid. No trash talk, just game recognizing game. The war wasn't over yet.
After the game, reporters swarmed Kobe immediately, asking about his knee and the win.
Link hit the showers, letting the hot water wash away the tension.
When he walked back to his locker, toweling off his hair, his phone screen was lighting up like a disco ball. The notifications for texts and missed calls were practically vibrating off the bench.
He picked it up, and a call came through instantly. It was Andrew.
"Link! My brother! My money tree! My superstar!" Andrew was so hyped he was barely making sense.
"You have no idea! The sports media is losing its mind! ESPN's headline is 'The Prophet and The Mamba: LA's Twin Star Night.' TNT keeps replaying that dagger three you hit."
"Yahoo Sports put your story on the front page of their NBA section! 'From Ten-Day Contract to Saving the Season!'"
Link leaned back against his locker, listening to his roommate-slash-agent rapid-fire words into his ear. He couldn't help but smile. He could picture Andrew dancing around their apartment right now.
"Listen, Link," Andrew said, trying to calm down but failing. "I've already got offers coming in from sports brands. We need to sit down ASAP and map this out. The playoffs are prime time for exposure and value!"
"And the contract," Andrew lowered his voice to a conspiratorial whisper. "The better you play, the more leverage we have this summer. That $800k guaranteed deal is ancient history. Unless management is blind, they see what you're worth now!"
"Yeah," Link said, letting his mind drift.
At the start of the season, he was fighting for his life on a ten-day contract. Now, he wasn't just on the team—he was a key piece in their playoff run, and people were talking about his future.
After tonight, the Western Conference bracket was finally set in stone.
The Spurs, Mavericks, and Suns were still the top dogs.
The first-round matchups were locked in:
Spurs vs. Kings
Suns vs. Clippers
Nuggets vs. Lakers
Mavericks vs. Grizzlies
Over in the East, the Pistons, Heat, Cavaliers, and Nets held the top seeds.
The Lakers had rewritten history.
In the original timeline, they faced the Suns in the first round. Even though Kobe played out of his mind, they blew a 3-1 lead and lost.
But now, the butterfly effect from Link's arrival was undeniable.
They had successfully dodged the Suns, a team that was a stylistic nightmare for them. Instead, they were facing the Nuggets.
Even with Carmelo Anthony leading the charge, the Nuggets' star power at this moment wasn't on Kobe's level. Plus, Denver's regular-season record wasn't exactly intimidating.
The Lakers had a fighting chance.
In fact, the odds of making the Western Conference Semifinals just went way up.
Bzzt...
His phone vibrated again, snapping him back to the present.
The name "Isabella" flashed on the screen.
Link's heart did a little jump.
"Congrats, Mr. Prophet. I watched the game from New York. Can't wait to see you again!"
Link smiled, then let out a small sigh.
Between the relentless travel schedule and Isabella's busy career, they barely saw each other. Since she left LA last time, they hadn't met up once—just texts here and there.
By the time Link got back to the apartment, it was late.
Andrew was still wide awake, pacing back and forth like he'd had ten espressos.
"Link! Finally! I've organized a few solid offers. Take a look!"
Link took the tablet Andrew handed him. A few clean, simple proposals were listed on the screen.
Andrew narrated as Link scrolled. "Check this one. California Gold Sports Drink."
"Local LA brand. They're big in gyms and high schools. They want you as their 'Community Ambassador' for the year. The pay isn't huge, but it's very grassroots. Great for building your image locally."
Andrew swiped the screen. "This one is Pacific Wave. Up-and-coming skate and streetwear brand."
"They want to launch a basketball line. They want you for a photoshoot and some short videos. Pay is cash plus a percentage of sales."
Then he tapped the third one. "This is interesting. Newport Training Camp. High-end private training center."
"They don't want a spokesperson; they want a 'Technical Consultant.' It's for their VIP clients. Pay-per-session is high, and you'd be networking with some serious money."
Link nodded. Andrew had done his homework; these were solid options.
Finally, Andrew's finger rested on the last file. "And this one... Under Armour."
"They went public last year. Growing fast, but they're just starting in basketball. They have some prototype shoes they want you to wear in games. The upfront money is the lowest of the bunch, but they're promising 'priority partnership' for the future."
Link's eyes lingered on the Under Armour logo.
He knew exactly where that brand was going. In 2014, they would sign Stephen Curry. Once Curry started changing the game, Under Armour would explode into a major player in the basketball world.
"My advice is..." Andrew started to deliberate.
"Take them all," Link said decisively. Then he added, "But focus on Under Armour. Negotiate for more backend points or stock if you can. I have a good feeling about them."
"You got it, Link. You just focus on the playoffs. I'll handle the rest!" Andrew said, thumping his chest.