Back in Los Angeles, the Lakers settled into a nice stretch of home games, facing off against teams like the Charlotte Bobcats and the Seattle SuperSonics.
Saying goodbye to the crazy travel and fatigue, the team put together an encouraging 5-1 run on their home court.
Their record now sat at 8-5, putting them at fifth place in the Western Conference and getting them back on solid ground in the highly competitive West.
Kobe's scoring dipped a little, but his assists numbers noticeably climbed, and the team's chemistry was clearly improving.
Since the battle at Madison Square Garden, Link's role had become much clearer.
He had solidly locked up a spot on the bench, averaging 18.2 minutes per game, and contributing 10.6 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 1.7 assists.
His three-point shot was rapidly becoming a reliable source of outside firepower for the Lakers.
And Link wasn't slacking off on his training. In between games, he managed to complete another system training mission:
[Mission: Athletic Ability (Intermediate)]
[Training Content: 500 sets of full-court sprint layups, 500 sets of resistance band lateral shuffles, 500 sets of deadlifts, 500 sets of balance ball work, 500 sets of jump-and-reach drills.]
[Rewards: Speed +15%, Strength +15%, Agility +15%, Vertical Jump +15%, Balance +15%, Skill Unlocked: Stamina Boost Lv2]
[Stamina Boost Lv2: Significantly improves physical recovery speed and fatigue tolerance (Passive Skill). Additional Effect: Reduces energy consumption during continuous running.]
Link's overall capability rating improved again after finishing this training mission.
| Host: Link | |
| :--- | :--- |
| Age: 21 | Height: 6'6" (1.99m) |
| Weight: 194 lbs (88kg) | Wingspan: 6'10" (2.08m) |
| Body Fat: 7.9% | |
| Shooting Rating | 3-Point: A, Mid-Range: B-, Free Throw: B+, Catch & Shoot: B |
| Athleticism Rating | Speed: B, Agility: B, Strength: B-, Vertical Jump: C+, Balance: A- |
| Overall Player Rating: | C+ |
The effect of the Stamina Boost was immediate.
Link felt a huge jump in his cardio, and the soreness in his muscles after workouts faded much faster.
More importantly, during the grueling continuous sprints and back-and-forth runs on the court, his breathing wasn't labored, and his legs felt like they were carrying less weight.
This improvement quickly showed up in the games.
During a team scrimmage, Link was guarding Smush Parker.
Parker tried to use his speed to blow past him, using a quick, sharp crossover, expecting to get by Link in one step, like he used to.
This time, however, Link's lateral speed was better than expected—he was stuck to Parker like superglue, completely cutting off the drive.
Later, in a regular-season game against the Clippers, Link's performance really caught the eye of Assistant Coach Brian Shaw.
Late in the third quarter, Link played full-court defense, sticking to the opponent's shooter and forcing a hurried miss.
When the Lakers got the rebound and went on the fast break, Link was like a tireless racehorse, the first one down the court. He caught the pass and smoothly knocked down a transition three!
"What a great sustained run! Link's energy management is a few grades better than before!" Brian Shaw couldn't help but compliment Phil Jackson on the sideline.
The Zen Master kept his usual calm expression, simply responding, "His court awareness has always been good. Now his body can finally keep up."
---
The day before their next game, the league officially announced the start of voting for the 2005-2006 All-Star Game.
On the first day of voting, there were no surprises: Kobe Bryant's name topped the list for Western Conference guards.
But the other name that drew massive attention was Yao Ming of the Houston Rockets, who was leading the Western Conference frontcourt by a landslide!
"Totally expected, man," Lamar Odom said casually while stuffing his gear into his bag. "Yao's popularity over there is seriously like Beatlemania."
The whole locker room was chatting about the All-Star voting when the team's PR director walked in, looking excited.
"Alright, guys, get ready," he tapped the whiteboard to get everyone's attention. "Next game, the Houston Rockets. The media is already going nuts!"
As if on cue, the locker room TV screen showed ESPN's special pre-game segment starting up.
"There's no doubt this is going to be one of the most talked-about games of the season!" the host's voice was hyped, with energetic music playing in the background.
"It's not just the star showdown between Kobe and T-Mac—it's also because of the 'Derby' between the young Link and Yao Ming, coming up live at Staples Center!"
On the screen, a highlight reel of Link's Lakers threes quickly flashed, alternating with shots of Yao Ming dominating the paint for the Rockets.
"Yao Ming, the 'Walking Great Wall from the East,' a top center in the league! Link, the 'Purple and Gold Shooter' who rose out of nowhere from a 10-day contract! Two players carrying the hopes of the East, about to face off on the world's biggest basketball stage!"
Another guest chimed in to stir the pot: "We can only imagine the mind-blowing rating this game is going to pull !"
Sasha Vujacic leaned over to Link and said dramatically, "Did you hear that, Link? Your game with Yao is going to be broadcast nationwide! Feeling the pressure?"
Link didn't answer. He just quietly tied his shoelaces.
He knew deep down he was nowhere near Yao Ming's level. The media was just hyping it up to create buzz.
As the 2003 number one draft pick, Yao Ming had already shown unbelievable dominance in the paint and was the undisputed core of the Rockets' offense and defense.
Link, on the other hand, was just a minimum-salary role player—how could he possibly compare to the Big Man?
This media-driven "Derby" frenzy reached its peak right before the Lakers-Rockets game.
When Link arrived at Staples Center, the entrance was already lined with cameras, tripods, and reporters, many of them Asian.
"Link! Over here!"
"Can you give us a quick thought on playing against Yao Ming?"
"Link, your fans back home are rooting for you!"
Shouts in English blended together as the camera flashbulbs went off in a blinding wave.
This kind of intense media circus was something Link had never experienced, in this life or the last.
He kept a polite smile, avoided answering any questions, and was escorted by security straight into the training facility.
But that was just the warm-up.
As is typical, the media gets a brief interview time before each game.
As soon as the locker room doors opened, reporters quickly filled every seat. Besides Kobe, Link was the most popular target.
"Link, how do you feel about playing Yao Ming for the first time in the NBA?"
"What's your strategy for dealing with Yao Ming's huge advantage in the paint?"
"A lot of fans back home are watching this game—do you have anything you want to say to them?"
The reporters' questions flew at him like a barrage, with microphones and recording devices practically being shoved into his face.
With so many languages being spoken, the team's PR staff had to yell to maintain order.
Link took a deep breath. He'd expected this. With a humble smile, he answered:
"Yao Ming is a veteran player, and he's an idol and the pride of all basketball players. It's an honor to share the court with him," his tone was genuinely sincere.
"As for strategy, that's for the coaches to worry about. I just need to execute the plays and do my best to help the team win."
Link specifically avoided any direct comparisons, keeping a very low profile.
"I really appreciate the support from the fans back home. I'll continue to work hard, play well in every game, and try not to let anyone down..."
His answers were perfect, showing respect for Yao Ming while maintaining his own modesty. The team PR staff nodded in approval.
After finally wrapping up the media session, the PR director leaned in and spoke quietly to Link as he was about to head out for warm-ups.
"Link, after the game, the league has scheduled a joint interview with you and Yao Ming. Get ready!"