After the game, Kobe and Blake chatted and laughed for quite a while.
They were already friends.
Despite losing, Kobe was genuinely happy to see such a talented friend put on an incredible performance.
But at the same time, Kobe's overwhelming desire to win meant one thing.
The next time he faced Blake, he would be even more serious.
And he would try to answer this loss with a win of his own.
A little while later, ESPN reporter Woj, who had been waiting nearby, approached Blake after Kobe left.
"Congratulations, Blake!"
"Congratulations on winning the game and becoming the youngest player in NBA history to score 80 points."
"And congratulations on surpassing Kobe Bryant with the second-highest single-game scoring total in league history, 82 points."
"That was an incredible performance."
"So let me ask you this."
"You scored 82 points, surpassed Kobe on a night when you were playing against him, and then beat him with a game-winner."
"What does that feel like?"
"Uh..."
Blake thought for a moment, then answered honestly.
"Honestly, I'm really happy."
"You know, anyone would be happy after scoring that many points."
"Especially when you surpass a veteran, break a record, and win the game."
"That's something you enjoy."
"I feel the same way."
"Before the game, I never imagined I'd end up scoring this much."
"But now that I've done it, it's a pleasant surprise for me too."
"Tonight, I'm happy about the 82 points."
"And I'm also happy that I got to play such an incredible game against the Lakers Twin Stars."
"Hehehe."
Woj smiled.
"Of course. Anyone would be thrilled after scoring 82 in one game."
"Blake, you were unbelievable tonight."
"Congratulations again."
"And I hope you keep giving us even better performances throughout the new season, the kind of games fans love to watch."
"Thanks. I'll do my best."
...
The Suns and Lakers had delivered an unbelievable season opener.
That very night, countless fans across the United States were already talking about it.
By the next day, the discussion had exploded.
"My God. Honestly, that game barely felt real."
"The first game of the season and we're already getting something this insane?"
"This much news right away?!"
"Blake is only in his second year, and he's already absurdly good!"
"Eighty-two points in a single game. Out of every player I've ever watched, I'd call Blake the strongest scorer!"
"Tsk, tsk... on Kobe's night, he scored 82 and surpassed Kobe's 81."
"The Emperor Blake completely took over opening night!"
"He's seriously incredible."
"Exactly. Don't forget Kobe scored 61 too. He put up 60-plus points in the very first game of the season."
"But Blake was even crazier."
"He skipped right past 60 and became an 80-point man."
"That is just ridiculous."
"Wait... does this mean that starting in his second season, the entire league is going to belong to The Emperor Blake?!"
"Hahaha, what do you mean starting in his second season?"
"Blake completed the Grand Slam in his rookie year. Wasn't he already dominating the league then?"
"He became a legend the moment he debuted. Look it up."
"To the guys above, please stop hyping him so much... actually, no, hype him even more!"
"What's going on tonight? It feels like the entire league is talking about Blake."
"Everyone is praising one guy. Isn't that a little weird?"
"Weird? What's weird about it?"
"He scored 82 and hit an Allen Iverson-style game-winner against the Lakers Twin Stars."
"If you don't hype him after that, who are you supposed to hype?"
"Exactly. Blake went crazy on opening night."
"A performance that ridiculous deserves all the attention it's getting."
"Wait, what did that guy above mean? Was Blake not amazing last night?"
"No, that's not what I meant."
"What I'm saying is that the other teams played really well last night too."
"It was actually a night full of unbelievable games."
"It's just that The Emperor Blake stood out so much that he overshadowed every other star."
"That's why it feels like he's the only person anyone is talking about."
"Oh? Explain."
"Here's the microphone, here's the stage, here's the spotlight."
"Go ahead. Put on your show!"
"Ahem..."
"Everyone knows the defending champion Suns and the Lakers Twin Stars played what felt like a Western Conference Finals preview on opening night."
"But there were actually four other games too."
"Heat versus Celtics."
"Spurs versus Kings."
"Knicks versus 76ers."
"And Raptors versus Wizards."
"Those four games were great too."
"Let's start with Spurs versus Kings."
"Like Blake, DeMarcus Cousins was a rookie last year."
"And after only one season, he already showed the entire league that he can be the leader of a team."
"On opening night, he exploded for 33 points, 20 rebounds, and 4 blocks."
"A massive 30-plus, 20-plus double-double."
"He dominated the paint and practically went to war with the Spurs' GDP trio by himself."
"The Kings still lost by 13 in the end, but Cousins' spectacular start to the season was eye-opening."
"Of course, the fact that San Antonio still won comfortably despite Cousins playing that well also tells you how dangerous GDP remains offensively."
"And late in the fourth, with the game on the line, rookie Kawhi Leonard chased Cousins down and blocked him from behind."
"Popovich was clearly pleased."
"That kind of defense is one of the biggest reasons he wanted Leonard so badly."
"Then there was Knicks versus 76ers."
"On paper, the STAT + Melo duo looked like they should have overwhelmed a Philadelphia team that basically had only Little AI."
"But the game went nothing like people expected."
"Little AI exploded."
"Defensively, he repeatedly guarded Anthony and STAT one-on-one and stopped them from getting what they wanted."
"Offensively, he attacked the rim again and again."
"His physical talent let him get wherever he wanted, and scoring looked almost effortless."
"Even two All-Star starters couldn't stop Andre Iguodala once he got going."
"People keep asking whether Iguodala is really good enough."
"That night, Little AI gave the league his answer."
"Andre Iguodala is an elite two-way player, and he can play at the level of a team leader."
"Still, Anthony and STAT are two of the league's best forwards."
"Their individual talent kept New York in the game."
"It stayed close all the way into the final minute of the fourth."
"Then, in the clutch, Anthony and STAT scored on consecutive possessions."
"They dragged the Knicks back, tied the game, and then pushed them ahead by two."
"It looked like Iguodala's huge night was going to end in a loss."
"But Iguodala's shooting touch was already on fire."
"He answered with a deep three that sealed the win."
"New York couldn't come back."
"Andre Iguodala finished with 42 points and that game-winning three, leading the 76ers to an upset nobody expected."
"And next..."
"The Heat and Celtics gave us an even crazier battle."
...
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