50: Unlimited firing rights and new challenges

The commotion at the press conference reached its peak after Kobe turned to leave.

The reporters were like sharks scenting blood; some swarmed toward the side door, trying to catch up with Kobe, even if just to ask one more question.

The others turned all their lenses and microphones even more feverishly toward Lin Feng on the podium.

"Lin! Kobe said even he couldn't do your moves! Is that true?"

"Lin! Have you and Kobe talked privately? Has he already designated you as his successor?"

"Do you believe you've already surpassed Kobe in certain aspects?"

The questions became increasingly sharp and explosive.

D'Antoni frowned, about to stand up and end this press conference that had already spiraled out of control.

Lin Feng, however, gently pressed down on his arm.

He picked up the microphone and faced the countless feverish eyes below, his expression remaining calm.

"Kobe is the one and only legend."

"I am just a player chasing after his silhouette."

"As for those moves..."

Lin Feng paused, his gaze sweeping across the room.

"Next time, I will try to score in a more rational way."

After speaking, he put down the microphone, gave a slight nod to all the reporters, and then left the scene with D'Antoni under the escort of staff.

His answer was watertight, yet filled with new suspense.

A more rational way?

Weren't those miraculous shots of his rational enough?

The reporters looked at each other, then erupted with even greater enthusiasm, fingers flying across keyboards to transmit everything that happened tonight to every corner of the world... In the Lakers' locker room.

When Lin Feng pushed the door open and entered, he wasn't met with cheers of victory, but an eerie silence.

Nick Young, Sacre, Gasol... everyone was looking at him as if he were a monster.

"What's wrong?"

Lin Feng felt a bit uncomfortable under their gaze.

"Kobe..."

Nick Young's lips trembled as he pointed to the television in the locker room, which was replaying clips from the press conference.

Kobe's line, "Even I couldn't do it," was being played on loop.

"He... he admitted it himself!"

Nick Young suddenly rushed forward, grabbed Lin Feng's shoulders with both hands, and shook him vigorously.

"What kind of spell did you cast on him?"

"That obsessive! That jerk who never admits anyone is better than him! He actually said you were better than him!"

"This is even more ridiculous than you scoring thirty points in a single quarter!"

Pau Gasol also walked over and patted Lin Feng on the shoulder, his expression complex.

"Lin, do you know what this means?"

"Starting tonight, your status in Los Angeles is completely different."

Steve Nash leaned against his locker and shook his head with a smile.

"Pau is being too subtle."

"It should be said that starting tonight, your status in the entire league is different."

Kobe's public praise carried more weight than any statistic or any single victory.

It was like an invisible crown, placed on Lin Feng's head by the king of the previous generation... The next day, at the Lakers' training facility.

The atmosphere was entirely different from before.

All the staff, even including the cleaning ladies, would stop in their tracks when they saw Lin Feng and greet him with looks of awe and admiration.

The way his teammates looked at him had also changed.

It was no longer as if they were looking at a promising rookie or a reliable scorer.

But as if they were looking at a true leader who could guide them to victory.

Before practice started, head coach D'Antoni called Lin Feng into his office.

"Sit down, Lin."

D'Antoni personally poured him a glass of water, unable to hide the smile on his face.

"Did you sleep well last night?"

"Not bad, Coach," Lin Feng replied.

"That's good."

D'Antoni put down the glass, leaned forward, and his expression became serious.

"Lin, what I'm about to say is very important."

"From today on, from this very moment, you have unlimited firing rights in my tactical system."

Lin Feng's hand, holding the water glass, stopped in mid-air.

unlimited firing rights.

These words, for any basketball player, represented supreme trust and status.

"Coach, I..."

"You don't need to doubt it."

D'Antoni interrupted him.

"This is a decision I've made after careful consideration, and I've communicated it with management."

"In Phoenix, this privilege belonged to Steve Nash."

"In my plans for Houston, this privilege originally belonged to James Harden."

"And in Los Angeles, now, it belongs to you."

D'Antoni stood up and walked to the tactics board.

"I don't care if you've just crossed half-court or if you're being triple-teamed in the corner."

"Anytime, anywhere, as long as you feel you can take the shot, go for it boldly."

"The team's wins and losses are now on your shoulders."

D'Antoni turned around, looking at Lin Feng with burning eyes.

"Are you ready?"

Lin Feng put down the glass and stood up.

He looked at his head coach and gave a heavy nod.

"I'm ready."

...That night, the training facility was empty.

Lin Feng was practicing shooting alone on the court, feeling the sense of arbitrary control brought by 'Formless Shot'.

He didn't even need to aim; his body's instinct would automatically adjust the angle and force of the release.

This feeling made him intoxicated.

"You really like this feeling, don't you?"

A familiar voice echoed in the empty arena.

Lin Feng stopped and turned around.

Kobe had appeared on the sidelines at some point, dressed in black training gear, his expression unreadable.

"Kobe."

"Follow me."

Kobe didn't waste any words and turned to walk in one direction.

Lin Feng put down the basketball and followed.

They once again arrived at that familiar video analysis room.

Kobe closed the door, and the only sound in the room was the hum of the projector.

He didn't speak, just pressed the play button.

What appeared on the screen was the game footage from last night against the Suns.

The first frame froze on Lin Feng's world-shaking turnaround bank shot.

"This shot was beautiful."

Kobe spoke, his voice calm.

"Fans all over the world will cheer for you."

He picked up a laser pointer and drew a circle on the screen.

Inside that circle was Nick Young, standing outside the three-point line in the corner with his hands raised, completely unguarded.

"But did you see him?"

"When you chose that high-difficulty turnaround shot, he had already been open in that spot for a full three seconds."

Lin Feng's pupils constricted slightly.

Kobe didn't give him time to think and pressed the next clip.

On the screen was the 'AND ONE' where Lin Feng was flagrantly fouled by P.J. Tucker but completed a miraculous floater before hitting the floor.

"A great basket, reflecting your tough physical confrontation and core strength."

Kobe again used the laser pointer to circle another person.

Chris Kaman, who had just rolled to the basket.

"You completed a brilliant 2+1, but the price was your body crashing hard against a two-hundred-and-sixty-pound giant and falling to the ground."

"If you could have been 0.5 seconds earlier and passed the ball under his arm, your teammate Kaman would have completed an easy, unguarded two-handed dunk."

"Both result in two points; which one is easier and safer?"

Kobe turned off the projector.

The room fell into darkness.

Only Kobe's eyes shone startlingly bright in the dark.

"Your new ability gives you infinite possibilities on the offensive end."

"It gave you the weapon to kill games."

"But it also brought you a new obsession—you've started to indulge in solving problems in the most difficult and flashy ways."

Kobe's voice was like a cold scalpel, dissecting the complacency that had just begun to grow deep within Lin Feng.

"You've started to enjoy being a magician, enjoying the gasps of the crowd and the despair of your opponents."

"But you've forgotten the most important point."

Kobe spoke word by word, each one striking heavily against Lin Feng's heart.

"Flashiness is just the process."

"Victory is the only purpose."

"When a simple pass can end the battle, do not use a shot that gambles on luck."

"When your teammate has an opportunity, trust him and give him the ball; that is what a leader should do."

Kobe walked up to Lin Feng and looked him straight in the eye.

"D'Antoni gave you unlimited firing rights, but that doesn't mean you can do whatever you want."

"It means you must use the most rational way to finish every attack."

"Your goal shouldn't just be a scoring title or making the All-Star team."

"Your goal should be this."

Kobe reached out and pointed to a photo hanging on the wall.

It was the scene of the Lakers' last championship, the whole team lifting the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy.

"A championship ring."

Kobe's words were like a bucket of ice water, completely waking Lin Feng from the lightheadedness caused by his divine skill and external praise.

He understood.

'Formless Shot' brought him more than just unstoppable scoring ability; it was a brand new test regarding 'choice'.

He took a deep breath and bowed solemnly to this legendary figure who was both a teacher and a friend.

"I understand, Kobe."

Just then, the phone in Lin Feng's pocket vibrated slightly.

He instinctively took it out to have a look.

On the screen was a newly pushed news notification.

From the official NBA social media account.