He wins Player of the Week and still is not happy?
Yes.
Kobe is not happy.
ESPN's well-known reporter Adrian Wojnarowski even connected with Kobe via video on his show to ask how he felt about winning Western Conference Player of the Week.
Kobe did not hold back. With a teasing smile, he said,
"One rest game, one upset loss. Have I really fallen so low that I can only win Player of the Week by beating a rookie like this?
Well.
Honestly, I could do without this kind of Player of the Week."
It sounded like a joke, but it was also true.
If Blake Su had not rested that game and had won it, finishing 3 wins and 1 loss, he might have continued his streak.
Winning Player of the Week was nice, but with Kobe's competitive nature, he would much rather defeat Blake Su head-on.
On top of that, the latest All-Star voting results had just been announced. As the so-called best active player, he was only ahead of a rookie by 1,000 votes.
That was not a great feeling either.
With both factors combined, Blake Su had dealt Kobe quite a psychological blow. It was enough that even winning Player of the Week did not make him happy.
...
As for Blake Su.
Three straight losses and losing out on Player of the Week did not bother him much. His mindset remained strong, and he took everything in stride.
While others were busy discussing the award, he drove out in his Lexus to relax and clear his head, while also fulfilling his endorsement duties.
After all, he was earning millions from the deal. It would not look good if he never drove the car.
Although he had signed with Lexus some time ago, that stretch of consecutive road games had taken a real toll on his stamina and condition.
After returning, he needed time to adjust.
So this was essentially his first proper drive since getting his license, taking the latest Lexus LX570 out for a spin. He avoided the crowded city and headed to the wide, open suburban roads instead.
And then... something happened.
Yes.
At an intersection, Blake Su, who was going straight, collided with a turning motorcycle. Even though traffic rules state that turning vehicles should yield, Blake Su was driving a car.
The responsibility fell on him.
Fortunately, neither side was moving fast. The rider was a tall, well-built young Black man, around 190 cm. Although he was knocked over, he only suffered minor scrapes on his arm.
Nothing serious.
The accident scene was captured by reporters and quickly turned into an online news story. Soon, the keyword "Blake Su car accident" shot to the top of Twitter trends.
"Blake Su in a car accident? Is he okay?"
"Wait, didn't Blake Su just sign with Lexus? He is only 19, so he must have just gotten his license.
A new driver hitting the road and crashing right away?
Haha, Blake Su can do anything on the court, but his driving skills clearly need work."
"Road hazard?"
"Hahaha!"
"He is a beginner, give him a break."
"Driving skills aside, as long as no one was seriously hurt, that is what matters."
At first glance, those were the kinds of comments people expected.
And indeed, some of them appeared.
But after clicking into the trending topic and reading the full report, public opinion shifted in a different direction.
The accident was real.
However, the photos posted by reporters were not just of the crash. Most of them showed the rider smiling and taking a photo with Blake Su.
"Wow!"
"He actually got a photo with Blake Su up close?"
"I love it!"
"To be honest, I would not mind getting into this kind of accident if it meant meeting my idol Blake Su... wait, I mean a chance encounter!"
"I do not know why, but I suddenly feel jealous of that guy."
"The rider is really nice, he did not blame Blake Su. And Blake Su was very considerate too. He helped him pick up the motorcycle right away and checked if he was hurt."
"Wait, why is everyone talking about envy and wanting another accident? Blake Su hit someone. Shouldn't people be criticizing him?
This is a Blake Su hater screaming from the soul!"
"Hahaha!"
"Seriously, after a car accident, instead of arguing about responsibility or compensation, he pulls out his phone and takes a picture together. Only Blake Su could do something like that."
"Maybe... that is just Blake Su's charm."
Despite the accident, the overall reaction turned out to be surprisingly positive.
That evening.
Blake Su lay on the couch, preparing to watch the Lakers vs. Nuggets game, but he was not in a great mood.
A new driver getting into an accident right away?
For someone who considered himself an experienced driver, that felt like an insult. The fact that it made headlines and trended online only made it worse.
Even if the public reaction was not bad, he still felt embarrassed.
"Well, even the best drivers make mistakes, let alone me."
With his usual good mindset, Blake Su quickly adjusted and let it go.
At that moment, the TV in the living room was broadcasting the Lakers vs. Nuggets game live on ESPN, a clash between two strong teams.
First quarter.
Kobe, who had just taken Player of the Week from Blake Su, played with frustration and vented it on the Nuggets' home court. He opened with a series of post-ups and fadeaway jumpers.
"Swish!"
"Swish!"
"Swish!"
He kept scoring.
But the Nuggets' "Melo" Anthony was no pushover. Known for his elite jump shot, he responded with one tough jumper after another.
Both sides put on a shooting clinic with high efficiency.
From the very start, the two superstars went head-to-head, turning the game into a heated duel.
At the end of the first quarter, the score was tied at 30.
Seeing no separation, Kobe became even more aggressive in the second quarter, fully displaying the scoring arsenal of the league's top shooting guard.
However.
"Melo" Anthony, as one of the standout players from the 2003 draft class, could both drive and shoot, with a similarly versatile offensive game.
Both players loved isolation and could score at will.
So the entire first half became a back-and-forth duel between the two leaders. It was simply a spectacular offensive showdown.
The atmosphere in the arena kept rising.
By halftime, Kobe had 26 points, while Anthony had 22.
Watching the game, Blake Su knew how impressive their duel was from those numbers.
But still, something felt off to him.
He just could not pinpoint what it was.
"Why is that?"
Blake Su frowned slightly, lost in thought.
...
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