October 19, 2006.
Los Angeles, Lakers Training Center.
It was official pre-season physicals day. The league was collecting data on how players' bodies had changed over the past year.
Link stood before the height rod, his back perfectly straight.
Richie Alonso, the trainer in charge of recording the stats, adjusted the device and looked down at the reading.
"6'7" (201 cm), Link," Alonso called out the number, jotting it down on his clipboard. "That's almost an inch taller than last year's record."
Link was a bit surprised himself. At 22 years old, perhaps his body was still making those final, subtle adjustments.
Next up was the wingspan measurement—always a highlight.
When he spread his arms horizontally, stretching his fingertips as far as they could go, Alonso pulled the tape to the very end.
"6'11" (211 cm)!" Alonso whistled. "Your wingspan grew too!"
"Weight: 203 lbs (92 kg). Body fat: 6.9%..."
Then came the main event: the dynamic testing area.
After Link finished his warm-up routine, he started with the vertical jump.
He took a deep breath, bent his knees, swung his arms, and exploded upward with everything he had.
His fingertips easily slapped the higher vanes on the measuring stick.
"31.5 inches (80 cm) vertical! WOW!" Alonso exclaimed in shock, while the assistant trainer quickly logged the number.
This was a massive improvement over his draft combine numbers from the previous season. He was now well above the NBA average.
Alonso looked at the data in front of him, unable to believe his eyes. In all his years on the job, he had never seen such a terrifying rate of improvement.
But the shocks were far from over.
Lane agility drills, three-quarter court sprints, bench press...
One by one, the stats were recorded.
Compared to last season, there was a significant jump in almost every category. Faster speed, more stable strength, and excellent balance.
When the final agility test was done, Alonso looked at the summary sheet in his hand and couldn't help but pat Link on the shoulder.
"Damn, Link. Did you dismantle yourself and rebuild from scratch this summer? This jump in numbers... it's like you're a completely different person!"
Link wiped the sweat from his forehead and smiled, not saying much.
Only he knew that the upgrades from the [Hell Mode Training System] didn't care about science. As long as you were willing to grind, you got results.
News of Link's astonishing physical improvements circulated quickly within the team.
When Link showed up in the weight room that afternoon, several teammates looked at him differently.
Lamar Odom wandered over and squeezed Link's arm. "Not bad, Link. You're a lot more solid. Didn't slack off during the break, huh?"
Link patted Odom on the shoulder and smiled.
Odom, on the other hand, was noticeably a bit fluffier than last season. The "Left-Handed Magician" had elite talent, but his lifestyle was... loose. If he didn't have Kobe riding him constantly, he probably wouldn't last long in the NBA.
---
A few days later, it was Lakers Media Day.
The Staples Center was packed with a battery of cameras and busy team staff.
Wearing his Lakers practice gear, Link sat at his designated spot, a pile of microphones and voice recorders in front of him.
After his playoff performance last season and the various off-season headlines, he was no longer the invisible nobody. The questions came flying in:
"Link, you played great in the playoffs last year. Will you be a starter this season?"
"That depends on Coach Phil Jackson. I'll follow the team's plan."
"You're on a one-year contract. Will you be discussing an extension with the team this season?"
"Maybe. You'd have to ask Mitch Kupchak," Link quipped.
"You and Kobe have overlapping positions. How will the team handle that?"
"Like I said, I follow whatever arrangement the team makes."
"How does your off-court relationship with fashion model Isabella Rodriguez affect you?"
"It doesn't. Next question..." Link didn't even bother engaging with that one.
"The box office for Glory Road is doing well. What are your thoughts?"
"I'm honored to have been part of it. It's a great story with an inspiring message."
"Link, we noticed you'll be wearing Under Armour shoes this season. Any future collaboration plans?"
"We're still in the discussion phase."
"Rumor has it you trained with Kobe all summer. What's the most important thing you learned from him?"
"Persistence. Persistence. And more persistence."
"..."
Link handled them one by one with ease, his answers sincere but measured.
With the media, you couldn't be too close, but you couldn't be too distant either. You couldn't let them walk all over you, but you had to use their energy to your advantage.
Not far away, Kobe was surrounded by a massive media scrum.
Journalists from all over the globe were focused on the superstar's status for the new season. He had previously announced that starting this season, he would be switching his jersey number from "8" to "24."
The media was eating it up.
Next came the promotional photos.
The studio at Staples was brightly lit. Players took turns stepping up, striking various poses under the photographer's direction.
Link wore the new home and away jerseys, posing with the ball, taking shots, or simply standing with his arms crossed.
The camera strobes flashed incessantly—click, click, click—capturing the look of the season's beginning.
Link could feel that his mindset was completely different from a year ago.
During the breaks, teammates joked around with each other.
Link also met the new acquisition, Jordan Farmar.
In the 2006 NBA Draft, the Lakers had unsurprisingly used the 26th overall pick to select the UCLA guard. Farmar was an LA native, and his father had been a pro ballplayer too. Joining the Lakers was a dream come true for him.
Farmar was on the smaller side and lacked physical strength, but he had good rhythm and a sharp shot.
At this moment, the rookie point guard still looked a bit green. They exchanged brief greetings, with Farmar expressing his admiration for Link's performance last season.
In the locker room, teammates laughed and chatted, the air filled with the excitement and tension of the new season.
Finally, the whole team took the group photo.
Kobe naturally stood in the center. Link stood in the second row near the middle, flanked by Odom and Sasha Vujacic.
The shutter clicked, freezing the starting image of the 2006-2007 Los Angeles Lakers.
---
After Media Day and the photoshoots wrapped up, the team held its first full-court practice.
After a whole offseason, many players still needed to shake off the rust and get back in sync. The gym echoed with the sound of dribbling balls and shouting players.
The "Zen Master," Phil Jackson, stood on the sidelines in his track suit, hands in his pockets, observing quietly.
Link was a standout in practice.
His shooting remained stable—he was the team's top three-point threat.
More importantly, his movement ability had improved qualitatively. Whether it was defensive rotations, lateral movement, or transition speed, he showed a competitive state completely different from last season.
Even in physical matchups with guys like Odom, Link wasn't getting pushed around helplessly like before.
Kobe remained the most dazzling presence during the scrimmages. His knee injury didn't seem to affect his form. However, his passing had noticeably increased. The Lakers still lacked a reliable playmaker this season, so at times, Kobe had to shoulder that role.
Rookie Jordan Farmar was energetic, but his lack of experience was obvious.
After practice, he stayed behind to ask Link for advice.
"Your catch-and-shoot is amazing. I've been studying the tapes for a long time," Farmar said admiringly.
"Run more. Use the screens," Link said simply. "It's all about movement and shooting rhythm."
---
By the time he left the training facility, the sky was dark.
Link drove his Range Rover back to his apartment.
The Los Angeles evening breeze carried a hint of a chill.
The curtain was about to rise on the new season.