"6-foot-6 shooting guard, 212 pounds, from Lower Merion High School, a super scorer who can play both offense and defense, 9-time All-Star, 3-time NBA champion, he is Kobe Bryant wearing the No. 24 jersey!"
As the DJ announced Kobe's name, the atmosphere inside Staples Center reached a fever pitch.
However, a question lingered in the minds of some fans: Kobe had famously worn the No. 8 jersey, so why the switch to No. 24?
During the offseason leading up to the 2006-07 season, Kobe had announced his decision to don the No. 24 jersey.
The No. 8 jersey, which he had worn for the past decade, would become a part of history.
Speculation abounded regarding the reason for the change. Some theorized that Kobe aimed to surpass Michael Jordan in some symbolic way.
Jordan's iconic jersey number was 23, and his national team number was 9.
Kobe's jersey number for the new season opener would be 24, and his national team number was 10.
The comparison revealed Kobe's ambition to some observers, particularly those ESPN reporters who often criticized him, suggesting he harbored a desire to eclipse Jordan's legacy.
However, Kobe himself offered a different explanation for the jersey number change.
He stated that after the previous season, despite hitting two buzzer-beaters against the Phoenix Suns, he couldn't lead the team to further success, with the Suns ultimately winning the series in the first round.
Kobe was deeply frustrated by this defeat and vowed to dedicate all 24 hours of his day to basketball.
Basketball had become his life, and so, before the start of the summer league, Kobe informed the media of his decision to change his jersey number from 8 to 24 for the upcoming season.
This signified his commitment to treating basketball with his whole heart and dedicating his entire life to the sport for the next decade.
Some accepted his explanation, while others remained skeptical.
The vocal Kobe haters, in particular, dismissed his words, insisting that the change to No. 24 was solely motivated by a desire to surpass Jordan, a move they deemed disrespectful to his predecessor.
True to his character, Kobe largely ignored these remarks. As he had stated, his entire focus was on basketball.
Throughout the offseason, Kobe had trained almost relentlessly.
Even when Lin Feng wasn't around, he maintained his rigorous training schedule.
Before his time travel, Lin Feng had only heard about Kobe's fanatical dedication to training.
Now, having arrived in Los Angeles and becoming Kobe's teammate, Lin Feng realized that the rumors hadn't even scratched the surface of the truth.
Kobe wasn't just a workout freak; he was a workout maniac, a physical marvel. Even with the enhancements from his system, Lin Feng often felt exhausted in the weight room, while Kobe seemed to thrive on the exertion, never complaining.
This, Lin Feng mused, must be the legendary Mamba mentality!
After introducing the Lakers' starting lineup, the focus shifted to the Golden State Warriors, their opponent for the opening game.
In the 2006-07 season, the Golden State Warriors were primarily a blue-collar team.
Lacking any dazzling All-Stars, they were a far cry from the "Splash Brothers" era of later years.
Almost the entire Warriors roster this year consisted of hardworking, unflashy players who emphasized team basketball.
Their starting five were:
Center: Adonal Foyle
Power Forward: Ike Diogu
Small Forward: Mickaël Piétrus
Shooting Guard: Jason Richardson
Point Guard: Baron Davis
If one had to single out an All-Star caliber player from this lineup, it would undoubtedly be Jason Richardson.
The previous season, Richardson had averaged an impressive 23.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game.
Unfortunately for him, with the rapid emergence of rookie Monta Ellis, Jason Richardson was gradually falling out of favor with the Warriors' management.
As the Lakers' primary scorer, Kobe's defensive assignment would undoubtedly be Richardson.
Successfully containing Richardson would significantly increase the Lakers' chances of victory.
Of course, the dynamics of a basketball game were ever-changing, and blue-collar players could often play pivotal roles in any given contest.
The players from both teams took to the court, and Lin Feng settled onto the bench as Derek Fisher's backup.
His future girlfriend, Su Muqing, was also in attendance. There was no way she would miss Lin Feng's NBA debut.
No matter what else was happening, she had to be there to witness Lin Feng's first NBA game.
"Baby, don't be impatient. Starting as a substitute is normal. Kobe was so good, and even he started as a substitute when he first entered the league and worked his way up," Su Muqing said softly from the row behind Lin Feng, offering comfort and encouragement.
She urged him not to be discouraged or impatient. Starting as Fisher's backup was a stepping stone. Whenever he got an opportunity to play, he should give it his absolute best.
Every player who had transitioned from a substitute to a starter had followed this path, and someone as talented as Kobe was no exception.
Lin Feng turned around, met Su Muqing's gentle gaze, and smiled. "Bao, I know, I have no complaints. Old Fish is a very experienced player. With him on the court, I believe he'll play a significant role."
"Well, baby, I'm glad you see it that way," Su Muqing replied with a sweet smile.
While the two were talking, the game was about to begin. The referee walked to the center court with the ball, signaling the centers from both teams for the tip-off.
Kwame Brown was the Lakers' starting center. Despite his reputation as a draft bust, his role as a center primarily involved jump balls and rebounding.
"Bang!"
The basketball was tipped away by Adonal Foyle of the Warriors. As expected, the former No. 1 pick failed to win the tip against Foyle.
Richardson of the Warriors secured the ball but didn't rush the attack. Instead, he slowly brought it to the frontcourt, then passed it inside to Ike Diogu, who was cutting towards the basket.
The previous season, Diogu had averaged 10.3 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game.
These were typical statistics for a blue-collar center known for his cutting ability but lacking significant one-on-one skills.
However, in terms of overall impact, he was arguably on par with Kwame Brown.
Diogu received the ball and faked a move, but Kwame Brown didn't bite. To be fair, despite his offensive struggles, Brown's pick-and-roll defense and overall defensive activity were often quite commendable.
Undeterred, Diogu executed another feint, but the former top pick didn't even budge, so Diogu prepared to force a shot.
He used a short hook shot to score the first basket of the game.
The Golden State Warriors got off to a good start, taking an early 2-0 lead.
Kwame Brown inbounded the ball to Fisher. In the triangle offense system, the point guard's role was often less about traditional playmaking.
After Fisher dribbled the ball across half-court, he passed it to Kobe.
Fans familiar with Kobe knew that at the beginning of a game, he typically wouldn't go all out offensively, preferring to facilitate and involve his teammates.
Only when his teammates were struggling to score would Kobe take over the game, launching attacks from various positions on the court.
From any spot, any angle, once Kobe had the ball, there was no defensive blind spot he couldn't exploit.
The term "offensive kaleidoscope" was often used to describe top-tier scorers like Kobe.