Chapter 144: Snipe and Clam Fight

The day after Fan Xi and Scarlett watched the sunrise, Kobe Bryant launched a counterattack.

Bryant was a master of struggle. After confirming the affection between Fan Xi and himself, he focused his target on Bynum.

Bynum's stupid remarks made him feel offended. This league marquee superstar, who was still at the tail end of his peak, could not silently accept the Little Shark's blatant claim in the media that Los Angeles had completed the transition from old to new.

In the training camp.

During a routine full-court scrimmage, Kobe drove into the paint and jumped up to complete a dunk over Bynum.

After completing the dunk, Kobe glared at Bynum with a murderous look.

Interestingly, this ball from Kobe was passed in by Fan Xi... Fan Xi's passing skills were not brilliant, and his passing vision was relatively ordinary. But this time, he used a very hidden bounce pass, diverting everyone's defensive attention. Kobe killed from the diagonal, jumped up violently, and smashed the basketball into the hoop over Bynum's head.

The conflict between Kobe and Bynum had become almost public.

Phil Jackson and Lao Wente were both surprised.

But besides being surprised, they were more happy.

Because what they were originally worried about was Fan Xi and Kobe tearing their faces apart, because with the rise of the Fan Xi and Bynum combination, the easiest person to be sidelined was Kobe, and the biggest beneficiary was Fan Xi.

But now, Kobe actually didn't aim his spearhead at Fan Xi, but instead held a grudge against Bynum.

What does this mean?

"Why do I feel that Jack can benefit from the fight between Kobe and Bynum?" Lao Wente said to Phil Jackson.

The Zen Master smiled: "It's already happening."

The Zen Master and Lao Wente were die-hard supporters of Fan Xi. Although Bynum and Kobe were both Lakers players, logically speaking, both the palm and the back of the hand were flesh, but... Jack was the flesh of the heart.

When the conflict between Kobe and Bynum intensified, Fan Xi suddenly became the team's adhesive. He got along well with Kobe Bryant, and Bynum was "obedient" to Fan Xi.

Other players in the Lakers locker room couldn't understand it.

There were too many reversals in this play, and everyone's thinking couldn't keep up.

Judging from past grievances, Bynum should be the one who hated Fan Xi to the bone.

Judging from the division of interests on the court, Fan Xi and Kobe were the direct competitors.

But now, Bynum and Kobe had fallen out.

Fan Xi, on the contrary, was left and right.

"Personality charm is hard to say." Matt Barnes said to Lamar Odom, who was also confused.

Lamar Odom nodded and said: I saw it long ago, Jack is a sweet pastry that kills both men and women. So many female stars like him, and he can handle it with ease. Dealing with this little relationship between men, no... isn't it much simpler?

As he spoke, Lamar Odom took out an entertainment newspaper and handed it to Matt Barnes: "Look, that morning, Jack and Scarlett were photographed in the Beverly Hills..."

This was the biggest news in the past two days. A mountaineering enthusiast claimed that he had photographed Jack Fan and Scarlett exercising in the car... but the pictures he exposed were very blurry, and the faces could not be seen clearly, but the car was indeed Scarlett's car.

Moreover, Scarlett did indeed take the Lakers' plane back to Los Angeles that day.

In this regard, Fan Xi's publicity team had already made an explanation: People are popular, and there are many right and wrong.

Scarlett Johansson's side stated: Purely fabricated, and it has been handed over to lawyers to handle.

However, rumors cannot be stopped.

Street tabloids had long written reports with thousands of plots based on this blurry photo. They themselves survived by playing edge balls. It can be said that in the past six months, Fan Xi has supported hundreds of street tabloids in Los Angeles. They don't do serious things every day, and they fabricate plots between Fan Xi and female stars every day. In the circle of ordinary people in California, Fan Xi is a bit like "Qiao Huangrong" on the Chinese Internet. As long as it is a Hollywood female star, you can see various plot descriptions with Fan Xi in street tabloids.

These newspapers have no authority and survive purely by attracting eyeballs and playing edge balls.

Fan Xi's brokerage team originally wanted to catch one or two and clean them up fiercely. But thinking about it later, anyway, readers are just looking for fun, and these reports are also beneficial to Fan Xi's influence spillover to a certain extent.

Therefore, they let it develop freely.

In the United States, the media is the true uncrowned king, and they can easily influence a thing.

Kobe Bryant also used the media. After he dunked on Bynum in the training camp, he specially arranged exclusive interviews with the Los Angeles Times and Time Warner.

The Los Angeles Times is the most influential print media in California, and Time Warner's ratings in California are also super high.

Kobe naturally has the energy to use them. His team has great influence in the entire American cultural and sports circle, far from what a stunned youth like Bynum can compare to.

"I just dunked on that kid Bynum."

Kobe said in a joking tone: "My ligament injury was exaggerated by the team doctor. I feel great now, and I can't wait to enter the Western Conference Finals and the Finals. After all, the main theme of the league this year is 24 vs 6."

Kobe Bryant showed his aura while talking and laughing.

His words were nothing more than telling the world: I am still not old, Bynum is just a little kid, and it is not his turn to be the master of the Lakers. Moreover, as a marquee superstar, you better figure out what the fans want to see in the peak showdown.

It can be said that in this link, Kobe beat Bynum.

The gap between Bynum and him is really too big.

Interestingly, Kobe also mentioned Fan Xi in the interview. He said: "I plan to play for another 2 to 3 years after this contract ends, and retirement is at least 5 years away. After all, Jack needs a real offensive teacher. His current offensive means are still lacking. When he fully grows up, I can retire. At that time, the Lakers will still be a championship team. I have full confidence in Jack."

In the conversation involving the future, Kobe never had Bynum's name.

This shows that he is a sensitive and sharp person.

And in fact, Kobe not only dunked on Bynum in the training camp, but also showed his energy in the media.

He also pulled Fan Xi to test new tactics. He hoped to be more closely tied to Fan Xi, and he determined that Fan Xi was his helper, not a competitor.

At the same time, the Dallas Mavericks also arrived in the City of Angels.

Although discerning people can see the internal instability of the Lakers, the Mavericks are still extra cautious.

In case it doesn't work out, it will overturn like the second game.

... ===== CHAPTER 145 =====