Chapter 209: Three Men, One Show.
Howard missed a post-up attempt against Randolph at the basket.
The arena buzzed with murmurs of surprise—nobody expected the All-Star Game to open with a series of bricks.
As Kobe crossed half-court, the fans began to cheer, hoping to see him take a shot.
However, Kobe passed the ball to Han Sen instead.
It was clear that Kobe had no intention of putting on a show in this All-Star Game.
This was understandable. Kobe's play during the regular season had noticeably been more restrained—he was saving his energy for the playoffs.
Chris Paul, despite previously stating that he intended to stay in Los Angeles, had not signed an extension with the Lakers this season.
With his contract expiring this summer, no one could predict whether he'd remain with the Lakers.
If Paul chose to leave, considering the resources the Lakers had spent acquiring him, the team's future might look as grim as the Thunder's.
The Lakers urgently needed to win this year's championship, and Kobe was clearly conserving his strength for that goal.
Han Sen, now holding the ball, chose not to pass it off this time. Instead, he glanced at Wade and started a post-up play.