Chapter 91: A City Divided

The lights dimmed for the introductions, and the crowd welcomed the Lakers with a chorus of boos. Shaq received the loudest reaction, though Kobe wasn’t far behind.

“Number eight, guard, out of Lower Merion High School, Kobe Bryant!”

The boos mixed with scattered cheers. Kobe looked toward the section behind the Lakers’ bench, where Joe Bryant was already standing and clapping. Pamela smiled beside him, while Gregg Downer and several familiar faces from Lower Merion joined the applause.

Kobe raised a hand toward them before returning his attention to the court.

“Still got some fans out here, huh?” Shaq said, nudging him.

“More than I expected.”

“Don’t worry. Give ’em a few buckets, they’ll forget what jersey you’re wearing.”

Kobe laughed. “Pretty sure that’s not how Philly works.”

When Philadelphia’s introductions began, the atmosphere changed. Jerry Stackhouse received a warm reception, followed by the rest of the starting lineup. But the loudest cheers belonged to the first overall pick.

“At guard, from Georgetown University, number three, Allen Iverson!”

The building erupted as Iverson jogged onto the floor, raising a hand toward the stands. He exchanged greetings with his teammates before catching Kobe watching from across the court.

Iverson grinned.

Kobe returned the grin, refusing to look away.

A few minutes later, Shaq stepped into the center circle opposite Scott Williams. The referee tossed the ball, and Shaq easily won the opening tip, directing it toward Derek Fisher.

The Lakers immediately went inside.

Eddie Jones fed Shaq on the left block, where Williams tried unsuccessfully to hold his ground. Shaq took one hard dribble, turned toward the middle, and dropped in a short hook before the help defense could arrive.

Philadelphia answered through Iverson, who used a quick hesitation to freeze Fisher before slipping past his shoulder and knocking down a jumper near the foul line.

“It’s gonna be a long night for Fish,” Eddie muttered as they headed upcourt.

Kobe grinned. “Better him than you.”

Philadelphia’s defense was aggressive from the beginning. Stackhouse crowded Kobe whenever he touched the ball, while Coleman and Williams made Shaq fight for every inch of space beneath the basket. Kobe initially worked within the offense, finding Eddie cutting along the baseline and feeding Shaq through narrow openings, but Iverson was already making his presence felt.

During a stoppage, Kobe glanced toward Harris.

“I got him.”

Harris studied him briefly before nodding. “All right. Stay in front of him and don’t foul.”

On Philadelphia’s next possession, Kobe picked Iverson up near half court.

Iverson looked delighted.

“Oh, so they sending you now?”

“Figured I’d give Fish a break.”

“You about to need one yourself.”

Iverson crossed left, then snapped the ball back right. Kobe slid with him, keeping his hips square as Iverson searched for an opening. When Iverson tried another change of direction, Kobe anticipated it and knocked the ball loose toward the sideline.

Kobe lunged, gathered it before it went out, and fired ahead to Eddie Jones for a fast-break dunk.

Iverson jogged past him, shaking his head.

“You got lucky.”

Kobe laughed. “You can try again.”

The game continued at a furious pace, with Stackhouse attacking Eddie for a difficult layup and Coleman working inside for several baskets. Shaq responded by overpowering Williams beneath the rim, while Kobe found his own opportunities with a jumper from the right elbow and a layup after cutting behind Philadelphia’s defense.

During a timeout, Harris reminded the Lakers to keep moving the ball.

The Lakers continued trading baskets with Philadelphia. Kobe knocked down a three-pointer off Fisher’s pass, drawing cheers from the Lower Merion supporters behind the bench. Above the noise, his father’s voice carried across the court.

“That’s how you do it, Kobe! Hand down, man down.”

Kobe shook his head, smiling as he ran back on defense.

With less than a minute remaining, Los Angeles led 27–25.

Iverson brought the ball across half court and motioned for his teammates to clear out. Kobe recognized the invitation and lowered himself into a defensive stance, watching Iverson settle into his dribble.

“Come on, then,” Iverson said.

“I’m right here.”

Iverson attacked left, crossed back right, and slipped past Kobe’s hip. Kobe recovered, but Iverson had already gathered the ball and launched himself toward the basket. Kobe reached to contest, only for the ball to kiss the glass and drop through as the whistle sounded.

Iverson landed, turned toward Kobe, and grinned.

“All that hype, and you still can’t guard me?”

He completed the three-point play, giving Philadelphia a 28–27 lead.

Kobe took the inbound and handed the ball to Fisher.

“Give it back.”

Fisher smiled. “Go get yours.”

Kobe received the return pass on the right wing with Iverson guarding him. He gave a quick jab step, drove toward the middle, and stopped near the elbow. Iverson recovered and raised his hand, but Kobe was already rising into his jumper.

Swish.

29–28, Lakers.

Kobe backpedaled, catching Iverson’s eye.

“You talking about my defense? You can’t even stop me.”

Iverson laughed. “We got a long night ahead.”

Philadelphia had enough time for one final possession, but Stackhouse missed a contested jumper as the horn sounded. Shaq met Kobe near the sideline with an enormous grin.

“Y’all really gonna do this all night?”

Kobe laughed as they exchanged a slap of hands.

“Looks that way. Unless he quits first.”

Across the court, Iverson was still smiling. One quarter had passed, and neither rookie had shown any intention of backing down.

Kobe spent the opening minutes of the second quarter on the bench, a towel draped around his shoulders as he watched Philadelphia attack the Lakers’ second unit. With Iverson resting, Stackhouse took over the offense, working around Bruce Bowen for a jumper before helping create another opening when Los Angeles failed to communicate on defense.

Philadelphia took the lead.

“Come on, man,” Kobe muttered.

Beside him, Shaq shook his head. “Nobody’s talking out there.”

Los Angeles gradually settled down. Eddie slipped behind Philadelphia’s defense for a layup, and Ben Wallace followed with a putback. Coleman continued causing problems around the basket, however, collecting offensive rebounds and keeping possessions alive whenever the Lakers failed to box him out.

When Iverson returned midway through the quarter, he immediately attacked, slipping into the lane and floating a shot over Wallace.

Harris turned toward the bench.

“Kobe. Get in there.”

Kobe pulled off his warmup top, but Shaq caught his arm as he passed.

“Hey, little man. Don’t forget who’s in the paint.”

Kobe grinned. “Hard to miss you, big fella.”

“Then throw me the damn ball.”

On his first possession, Kobe used a screen from Campbell to separate from Stackhouse. He caught the ball on the right wing, drove left, and stopped near the foul line for a jumper that dropped cleanly through the net.

“That’s one,” Kobe said as they ran back.

Iverson answered with another difficult layup, but Fisher pushed the ball upcourt before Philadelphia could organize its defense. Kobe sprinted ahead, caught the pass, and attacked the basket as Stackhouse hurried back to challenge him.

Kobe absorbed the contact and laid the ball off the glass.

The whistle sounded.

Stackhouse threw up his hands. “Where’s the foul? I didn’t even touch him.”

“You hit my whole arm,” Kobe said, laughing.

“Shut the fuck up!”

Kobe completed the three-point play, earning another round of cheers from the Lakers’ bench.

Philadelphia came back through Coleman and Stackhouse, forcing Harris to call timeout. The Lakers gathered around their coach as he pointed toward the court.

“We’re giving them too many second chances,” Harris said. “One guy contests; the other four guys are watching. That’s not gonna work.”

He turned toward Fisher and Eddie.

“Talk on those screens. Don’t let Iverson turn the corner without somebody meeting him.”

The Lakers returned to the floor with more patience. Shaq drew Philadelphia’s defense toward the paint, creating openings for Kobe and Eddie along the perimeter. Kobe knocked down another jumper, then drew a foul attacking Stackhouse.

Stackhouse complained about Kobe getting all the calls as Kobe made both free throws.

Philadelphia refused to let Los Angeles pull away. Iverson knocked down a three-pointer over Fisher, while Stackhouse continued attacking whenever the Lakers lost track of him.

The teams traded baskets as the half wound down. Eddie scored from the elbow, Coleman worked inside, and Kobe answered with a turnaround jumper. Neither side could establish a comfortable lead, and every defensive mistake seemed to result in another basket.

With the score tied at 55, Iverson attempted to create space near the foul line, but Kobe stepped over to help, forcing him to pass. Stackhouse received the ball on the wing and missed a contested jumper.

Shaq secured the rebound.

“Go!”

Fisher pushed the ball upcourt before slowing to organize the final possession. Kobe received the pass near the top of the key, drawing Stackhouse toward him as Shaq established position beneath the basket.

Kobe fired the ball inside.

Williams tried to recover, but Shaq had already sealed him. The big man caught the pass, turned, and powered up for a two-handed dunk.

57–55, Lakers.

Shaq jogged past Kobe and slapped his shoulder.

“That’s how you feed the big dog!”

Philadelphia’s final attempt missed, and the halftime horn sounded.

As Kobe headed toward the tunnel, he glanced toward his family. Joe was standing and applauding, Pamela waved, and Downer gave him a small nod. Kobe returned the gesture before following his teammates toward the locker room.

The Lakers gathered around their coach as he reviewed Philadelphia’s adjustments. Iverson was getting into the lane too easily, Stackhouse had found his rhythm, and Coleman was making them work for every rebound.

“Iverson gets into the lane, everybody starts chasing him, and somebody ends up wide open,” Harris continued. “Stay disciplined. And keep going inside.”

Shaq nodded, while Kobe tightened his laces and considered the first half. Philadelphia had been pushing the pace whenever an opportunity presented itself, and there was little reason to expect that to change.

Twenty-four minutes remained, with only two points separating the teams.

When they returned to the floor, Iverson immediately attacked Fisher and knocked down a jumper to tie the game.

Kobe answered by using a screen from Shaq to separate from Stackhouse. He curled toward the foul line, caught Fisher’s pass, and rose into a jumper that dropped cleanly through the net.

Stackhouse shook his head.

“That’s a moving screen.”

Shaq heard him.

“Then don’t get in my way!”

Kobe laughed, but Philadelphia was already pushing the ball upcourt.

Iverson repeatedly turned the corner, forcing Los Angeles to rotate toward the basket. Coleman benefited from the extra attention, while Stackhouse found openings along the perimeter. The Lakers continued going inside, but their defensive communication was breaking down.

A few possessions later, Philadelphia led by five.

After a Harris timeout the Lakers returned with a different approach. Kobe received the ball on the right wing, drawing Stackhouse toward him. When Coleman stepped over to anticipate the drive, Kobe passed it inside.

Shaq caught it with Williams pinned behind him and threw down a right-handed dunk.

“I GOT A BABY IN THE PAINT!” Shaq shouted.

On Philadelphia’s next possession, Kobe switched onto Iverson after Fisher was caught on a screen. Iverson attacked left, then crossed right, but Kobe stayed with him, keeping his arms high as Iverson attempted a short jumper.

The shot bounced off the rim, and Campbell secured the rebound.

“Move!” Kobe called.

Fisher hurried upcourt and found Eddie along the left side. Philadelphia collapsed toward him, leaving Kobe trailing near the foul line. Eddie kicked the ball back, and Kobe caught it before taking one dribble and stopping as Stackhouse flew past.

The jumper dropped.

Philadelphia gave the ball to Iverson, who slipped between defenders for a floater before Stackhouse knocked down a three-pointer. The lead changed hands briefly, but Philadelphia regained control as the quarter continued.

With several minutes remaining, Kobe found himself guarding Iverson again.

“You really want this matchup?” Iverson said.

Kobe lowered his stance. “You’ve been running from me all night.”

Iverson grinned.

He attacked left, crossed right, and accelerated toward the basket. Kobe recovered enough to contest, but Iverson adjusted in midair, extending the ball beyond his reach.

The layup dropped.

Kobe shook his head.

“Fuck.”

Iverson laughed as he backpedaled.

Kobe smiled despite himself. He had known how quick Iverson was, but watching film and remembering old games were one thing. Trying to stay in front of him was something else entirely.

The Lakers took control through their defense.

Ben Wallace anticipated an entry pass toward Coleman and stepped into the passing lane. He knocked the ball loose, gathered it, and immediately looked upcourt.

Kobe was already moving.

Wallace fired a long pass toward the right side, where Kobe caught it near the three-point line and took two long strides toward the basket. Stackhouse was closing from behind, but he wasn’t close enough to challenge.

Kobe brought the ball around the rim and finished with a reverse dunk.

For a moment, the Philadelphia crowd seemed caught off guard before the boos returned, mixed with cheers from the Lower Merion supporters.

Shaq was on his feet, laughing.

“That shit was sick!”

Fisher met Kobe near half court and slapped his hand.

“Could’ve just laid it up, you know.”

“Where’s the fun in that?”

Philadelphia called timeout with the Lakers having cut the deficit to one.

The final minutes of the quarter became a battle for every possession. Coleman scored inside, Eddie answered from the elbow, and Iverson slipped between defenders for another layup. Kobe drew a foul on Stackhouse and made both free throws, but neither team could establish much separation.

Shaq returned and went to work against Williams, forcing Philadelphia to collapse toward the basket. The Sixers continued answering, however, and the Lakers began settling for difficult shots as the quarter wound down.

Kobe missed a contested jumper, and Eddie’s three bounced off the rim. Philadelphia turned the second miss into a transition basket, prompting Harris to shout for his players to get back.

Kobe sprinted toward the defensive end, frustrated with himself for forcing the earlier attempt. He had been so focused on answering Iverson that he had occasionally forgotten what had worked best for Los Angeles.

With under a minute remaining, the Lakers trailed by three.

Fisher brought the ball up and found Kobe on the left wing. Stackhouse stepped forward, expecting another drive, but Kobe swung the ball to Eddie before cutting through the lane.

Eddie returned it near the right elbow.

Kobe caught, turned, and rose.

Swish.

Iverson found Stackhouse on the right wing.

Eddie stepped over to contest, but Stackhouse gave him a pump fake and stepped into a three-pointer.

The shot fell.

Philadelphia led by four.

Kobe immediately attacked before the Sixers could organize their defense, spinning away from Stackhouse and finishing a short jumper to cut the deficit to two.

Iverson drew a foul on Philadelphia’s next possession and made both free throws, restoring the four-point advantage.

With less than ten seconds remaining, Harris called timeout.

“We need a clean look,” he instructed. “No turnovers.”

Kobe studied the diagram, already knowing where he wanted the ball.

When play resumed, Fisher inbounded to Kobe near midcourt. Iverson picked him up, crouching low as Kobe advanced toward the right wing.

Kobe crossed left, took a hard dribble to create separation, and rose from beyond the arc.

Iverson jumped with him.

The shot caught the back rim, bounced high, and dropped through as the horn sounded.

The CoreStates Center groaned.

Kobe landed and turned toward the scoreboard.

Philadelphia 88, Los Angeles 87.

Shaq met Kobe near the sideline and slapped his shoulder.

“Big shot, Kob.”

Kobe glanced toward the scoreboard.

“Still down one.”

Shaq grinned. “Not for long.”