NBA: Warrior godfather.

Guys there is already content on patreon, if anyone wants to become a chunin or jonnin.

patreon.com/Chuga320 (More 50 chapters)

—————————————————————————————————————————————

In the live broadcast room, messages flooded the screen like a waterfall:

"Damn, he's going for God status!!!"

"Is this Curry? Is he really about to start working? Is this the first buzzer-beater of the year? Curry is amazing!"

"Damn!!! Did you notice? Curry made 13 three-pointers. He broke the NBA record for most threes in a single game! He's only played 15 games!"

"13 three-pointers + buzzer-beater, I declare Curry will become a god in this battle!!"

Everyone was praising Curry, and rightfully so. In this game, Curry hit 22 out of 31 shots, including 13 of 18 three-pointers, without any free throws. He scored 57 points, 4 assists, and 5 rebounds, shattering the NBA. A record for most threes in a single game, a record for rookie scoring in a single game, and a buzzer-beater.

He played an epic game in NBA history, and this is also the craziest rookie performance ever. Even big names like Jordan, Magic, Bird, Olajuwon, O'Neal, etc., can only stand behind him.

The fans are going crazy, and the commentators are feeling regretful! A game like this is not being broadcast live in the United States! ESPN regrets it's on the wrong channel!

Back on the court, Curry slammed the ball down after scoring and shouted. He turned to look at Ayesha, but was surrounded by teammates, pushing him and shouting his name nonsensically.

Finally, he separated from the crowd, stepped aside, and shouted at Ayesha:

"Ayesha, I won!"

Ayesha smiled brightly, jumped onto the court, waved her hands toward Curry, and responded loudly:

"Stephen, you're the best!"

She was very excited, which sharply contrasted with the pale-faced Lakers fans next to her, making others look at her with anger. However, when they saw it was a girl cheering for the Warriors, they all suppressed their anger.

No matter how reluctant or angry they were, they would never vent their frustration on a girl.

On the sideline, after Liam made the basket, he tightly hugged Silas and shouted enthusiastically:

"Stephen! Did you see that? We won!"

Silas laughed and said:

"Liam, you're right! We won!"

No one knew better than him how much effort Liam had put into this game.

If it hadn't been for Kobe's divine performance at the last minute, the two strategies Liam had put in place would have definitely worked, and the Warriors wouldn't have needed to drag the game out until the very end.

But the Lakers have Kobe, and the Warriors have Curry. Even though Curry is just a rookie, he's a superstar in this game!

Just look at the silent Staples Center, those Lakers fans in disbelief, their heads in their hands, and you'll know how much damage Curry caused them.

Phil Jackson's face was pale on the sideline. He rarely lifted the tactical board and slammed the chair forcefully. His behavior was completely lost.

The Lakers players looked dejected as they watched the Warriors players celebrating wildly. Kobe coldly stared at Bynum but said nothing.

He knew that even if he had to defend, there was no guarantee he could stop Curry.

Curry's performance had surpassed his own limit. He might never play such a perfect game in a season again, but tonight, he was unstoppable.

Liam also came onto the court and hugged the players to celebrate this hard-earned victory.

Finally, he approached Curry, who was flirting with Ayesha, and said with a smile:

"Well done, Stephen!"

Curry finally took his eyes off Ayesha, hugged Liam, and shouted excitedly:

"Boss, I did it! I beat the Lakers! I beat Kobe!!"

He had grown up watching Kobe play and had always considered him his idol. Being able to face Kobe in the NBA and beat him with a buzzer-beater was a huge inspiration for Curry.

Liam patted him on the back, glanced out of the corner of his eye, saw Kobe walking in their direction, and whispered in Curry's ear:

"Go, your idol is here."

Curry quickly turned around, and Kobe had already approached them.

Curry smiled, but then realized Kobe had just lost. With his personality, he wouldn't be in a good mood, so he quickly stopped smiling:

"Kobe, I've always been your fan..."

Kobe looked Curry up and down and said with a smile:

"Stephen, you've grown."

"Huh?" Curry looked confused.

"Don't you remember? I gave you a signed jersey. That was eight years ago. I went to Toronto for an away game, and you were right next to the Raptors' bench. We won that game… After I went back to the locker room, Dell brought you over, and I gave you the jersey." Kobe had a nostalgic look.

Curry nodded enthusiastically:

"Of course I haven't forgotten! I still treasure that jersey. I just didn't expect you'd still remember..."

Kobe smiled and said:

"Not every kid comes to the visiting team's locker room after every game. You were the only one."

Curry scratched his head, embarrassed:

"I rarely do that. Who told you to only play one game in Toronto each season? I bet my classmates I'd get your jersey for sure. Later I begged my boss a lot to get him to agree, but the condition was I had to practice 30 three-pointers every day..."

Kobe said excitedly:

"I didn't expect that skinny baby-faced guy would become the second overall pick and a super shooter... You did a great job. This victory should be yours."

Later, they exchanged jerseys, and Kobe encouraged him:

"Come on, you'll definitely become a superstar in the future!"

Liam, who was standing next to them, watched the scene in front of him, deeply moved.

That's why Kobe experienced the decline of the single-core era, swept away his glory, and won the FMVP. He became much more mature, less paranoid, and was able to laugh with Curry after being defeated.

If it had been the old Kobe, he would definitely have greeted Bynum with a killer look and then gone straight back to the locker room. The Lakers players would have had a terrifying day tomorrow.

But for Kobe now, this is just a regular season game. Although they lost, the Lakers didn't make any major mistakes. The Warriors won partly because of Liam's tactical adjustments, but the key factor was Curry's explosion.

Kobe had come to appreciate the strength of his opponents. Although he is still obsessed with seeking victory in every game, he wouldn't get angry over a loss.

Kobe, in this state, is the truly bloodthirsty Black Mamba.

In the past, Black Mamba only showed his fangs aimlessly, wandering forward, chasing every prey that crossed his path, but now he has learned to hibernate. He no longer chases the scoring champion or MVP but instead sets his sights above the peak.

He has hidden some of his fangs but has truly become the undisputed number one in the league.

After Kobe and Curry exchanged jerseys, they looked at Liam with hesitant expressions. Liam spoke first:

"Kobe, just call me Ronan. Your performance was excellent. I believe the Lakers are still the favorites to win the championship... I have to explain: I never doubted that you could score 40 points. It was just a game strategy."

Liam noticed. Kobe hesitated a bit on how to address him. He was younger than Kobe, and Kobe wasn't one of those commentators.

It seemed a little strange to call him Coach G.

Kobe shook his head and smiled:

"Of course, man. You don't think I'm really going to get mad over your trash talk, do you? There are very few things in this league that can make me angry. If it weren't for Stephen's outstanding performance, I wouldn't be here at all."

In this game, Curry shot every shot.

Liam said:

"If it weren't for your threes and your defense, or even Steph's buzzer-beater, we would have won."

Kobe nodded and said:

"You're right, Ronan. You're an excellent coach. Congratulations to the Warriors for this win."

Liam smiled and said:

"Thanks, we almost lost… Kobe, can I give you a suggestion?"

"You're saying it," Kobe replied, somewhat confused.

Liam looked serious and said very seriously:

"Promise me you won't take a helicopter!"

"Huh?" Kobe, just like Curry a moment ago, looked at Liam confusedly.

After reacting, he asked in surprise:

"Helicopter?"

He was really puzzled. He had just met Liam, and why was Liam acting so weird with his words?

Liam also snapped back to reality and realized he had made a mistake. He shouldn't have said something so inexplicable.

But after seeing Kobe, he couldn't help but think of the news that shook the world in the winter of 2019.

That morning, countless people cried. Even those who don't watch basketball know Kobe's name, and his passing meant that the memories tied to the youth of a generation were no longer there.

Everyone remembered the title of "Black Mamba," a title that will remain forever.

As a true supporter of modern basketball, Liam was not a fan of Kobe, but he absolutely didn't want Kobe to make the same mistake. This was the reason why they seemed to get along so well.

Liam quickly corrected himself:

"Nothing... This was a wonderful game. I hope the Lakers can successfully defend their title."

After speaking, he pulled Curry aside and turned to leave.

Kobe watched Liam walk away, shaking his head and smiling.

Although he didn't understand what Liam meant, he could sense the sincerity in his attitude, which somehow lightened the disappointment Kobe felt from the loss.

He turned his gaze to Curry's back and smiled.

The NBA is becoming more and more interesting. A super shooter like Curry has emerged...

...

In the post-game interview, Kobe Bryant praised Curry's performance, stating with certainty that Curry has a bright future and will undoubtedly become a superstar.

Phil Jackson also praised Liam's immediate response, saying that Liam is a very good head coach and that the Warriors will definitely make the playoffs this season.

As a veteran, of course, he had to compliment his opponents after a loss, especially after Curry's insane performance.

Since Curry couldn't avoid breaking the record, Jackson praised both Curry and Liam to the skies. Losing to a strong opponent sounded much better than losing to a weak team.

Besides, the Lakers had played very well in this game. Kobe went toe-to-toe with Curry throughout the match, scoring 47 points, 3 assists, and 7 rebounds. His offense and defense in the final moments proved his true qualities as a superstar. When Curry is in his daily form, the Lakers stand a good chance of winning.

In addition to Kobe, Gasol shot 9 of 14 and posted a double-double with 18 points, 11 rebounds, and 4 assists efficiently. Bynum relied mostly on second-chance points, scoring a double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds, while the Lakers' twin towers dominated the Warriors' interior.

This was the result after Kobe handled most of the ball. Had Phil Jackson's plans been fully followed, the two big men would have performed even better, and they could have easily overwhelmed the Warriors inside.

However, Liam's pre-game comments had their effect, leading to a battle between Kobe and Curry. Despite scoring 47 points on 29 shots (making 16 of them), along with 12 free throws, the effort consumed a lot of the Lakers' ball control.

This made Gasol and Bynum less useful. While they could clearly dominate the inside, most of the time they could only wait for offensive rebounds, which essentially wasted their talents.

Curry's explosion was the main factor in the Warriors' victory, but Liam accurately grasped Kobe's mindset. He was fully prepared tactically and responded quickly and appropriately, laying a solid foundation for defeating the Lakers.

Once the Lakers' interview was over, it was time for the Warriors. Liam, Curry, and Butler were all set for their post-game interview.

Butler nervously followed the two men to the spot. This was his first post-game interview since entering the NBA.

In the previous fourteen games, he had served mostly as a 3D player, providing triples and defense for the team. He was just like any other player. His highest-scoring game was only 17 points, which came in a game against an underdog.

Although he performed his duties conscientiously, he didn't stand out. He averaged just 10.3 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.1 assists, and 1.3 steals per game, which didn't put him on the radar of fans or the media.

But in this game, Butler suddenly stepped up in the third quarter against Artest's defense, scoring several consecutive points and finishing the game with 20 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists. In the team's first win, Butler showed his potential as a ball handler, impressing everyone.

But the true star of the night was still Curry. Even though Butler played exceptionally well, the reporters focused their microphones on Curry, asking how he felt about scoring 57 points and breaking two major records in one go.

Curry said:

"Thanks to my teammates. Without their help, I wouldn't have been able to score this many points, especially Jimmy. His performance was crucial in helping us beat the Lakers… I'd also like to thank my coach, whose support always keeps me going. One of my biggest motivations... And finally, I want to thank my girlfriend Ayesha for this victory. This one is for her!"

The first half of his answer was very formal, but the last sentence made the eyes of many reporters light up. They immediately thought of many potential headlines, such as "The No. 2 pick becomes suddenly angry over a beauty's appearance" or "The rookie broke two major records. The reason... because his girlfriend was here in person."

Of course, the reporters were more focused on the game itself, and Curry answered their questions perfectly.

The journalist then turned his attention to Butler:

"Jimmy, you scored 20 points in this game and helped the team win. Can you tell us why you didn't show off your ball-handling skills earlier?"

Butler responded excitedly:

"Since the summer, I've been working on my ball-handling skills. My coach has been encouraging me to use them in the game, but I felt my skills weren't quite there yet... I'm really grateful to my coach for letting me play in this crucial game. He's always given me the most confidence since he recruited me in college. I never thought I'd make it to the NBA, and now I've scored 20 points against the Lakers. We're here today because of his support!"

The reporters were a little surprised. They didn't expect Curry and Butler to give all the credit for their standout performances to Liam.

"So, does Coach G deserve the most credit for winning this game?"

"Of course!" Curry and Butler nodded in unison.

Liam took the phone with a smile:

"Are you exaggerating? I sat on the sidelines and watched you play. And all the credit goes to me? If you're trying to use this method to ask me for a big contract, then you're wrong. I'll only offer you a contract that's in line with the market price based on your performance during the contract year. Of course, if you really perform poorly, I'll give you a minimum salary. But you two have already helped me win two championships!"

The reporters chuckled, and Curry and Butler laughed too.

"Coach G, you said before the game that Kobe wouldn't score more than 40 points, but he scored 47. What do you have to say about that?" asked one reporter.

Liam smiled and said:

"Congratulations to Kobe. His performance was really impressive, especially the final three-pointer and Biedrins' interference, which almost kept the win at Staples."

"Didn't you say he couldn't score more than 40 and that he didn't have the power of LeBron?" the reporter pressed relentlessly.

"Oh, that was just a small remark from me. I want to apologize to Kobe. I shouldn't have questioned his scoring ability. He's still the superstar and the number one player in the league. No one has the right to question his scoring ability!" Liam said without hesitation.

"... The reporters were left confused by him.

Before the game, who didn't get upset when Liam said Kobe wasn't good enough, and that not even LeBron could compare to him? Now, he was saying that Kobe is the best in the league.

"Then why did you say those things before the game? You're just talking nonsense!" one reporter from a local Los Angeles outlet said angrily.

Liam smiled lightly:

"I apologize for my mistaken judgment. Thanks for reminding me. I now recognize Kobe's power, and I won't speak nonsense again in the future."

After he finished speaking, the Warriors' interview wrapped up. The three of them stood up and walked away, leaving the reporters to ponder.

Why did Coach G admit his mistake so easily this time? He used to be so stubborn...

In the end, they figured it out. The Warriors won the game. No matter what Liam said, he showed the behavior of a winner.

Good job, you made me run!

End of this chapter

Note: Hi if you really like NBA novels, you can support me either in this pg with stones, reviews etc, or in patreon since the niche of sports and specially NBA is very small is Webnovel since people prefer to read Naruto, Pokemon, comics etc.