Chapter 189 - Shooting Freak of Nature

He looked back at me and smiled. He knew that he had to play full-court against me now seeing how I can make such incredible shots like that. They brought down the ball and Tope was playing hard on him. He started playing top court press as soon as Kobe passed the half-court line. Tope stepped up to Kobe and started hustling him. Kobe had done a stunt to make it seem like he lost the ball causing Tope to reach for it. Kobe switched it up as he used another hand to smack it away as it bounced quickly back to him.

Tope lost control and fell leaving Kobe wide open for a three-pointer as he shot the ball into the net.

Then Ola passed me the ball and I brought it down. Kobe was waiting at the half-court line, so I stopped a few feet away from him and took the shot from beyond the half-court line which once again gave us three more points. Kobe could not believe his eyes. He was simply stunned by what just happened. I was taking shots from all over the place. "Now you have to seriously guard him," Kobe alleged. I can hear him telling his team that they need to play full-court press against me or otherwise, I was going to play a role in defeating their team. ;

LeBron laughed and said, "That's my little brother for you. He is still a beast even after military combat. That won't work on him." You want us to do full court press against him. That's like giving them easy points. He would easily pass the ball.

Kobe quickly thought about it and responded, yes, you're right. How about we have maybe three or two guys in the back defending the rest of the team? Even if he throws it, at least we'll be able to grab that ball in an interception. ;

The other guys agreed as they kept to the plan. Kobe brought down the ball once again, trying to cross up Tope, but Tope was firm because he had one more chance to defeat Kobe. Kobe passed the ball to LeBron and LeBron gave the ball to Chris Paul. Chris Paul set up Kobe for an alley-oop as he ran past Tope. They both were able to jump, but surprisingly Kobe was more agile as he caught the ball and dunked it. Tope fell onto the ground disappointed with himself. I ran to go help him up and encouraged him not to worry about it. I assured him that he was doing a good job and can keep defending him if he wants.

After seeing what Kobe did, I doubt I wanted to waste my energy and defending him, so I decided to let Tope continue harassing him, and I could see that Kobe was also wearing out.

Kobe was now frustrated. It seemed like the Nigerian team was not an easy matchup. They thought they were going to breeze by this team, not knowing that they had me on the team. I was going to help defeat Kobe's team.

The seconds became apparent as the second half was almost over. Team USA had the last possession as they brought down the ball quickly, trying to beat the time clock to close the lead. Kobe let Chris Paul do it, so my team quickly covered Chris Paul, not knowing that Anthony Davis was wide open at the corner as he took the shot with a few seconds left off the clock and made it. That shot made it close in our lead down to one point.

Kobe looked at Anthony Davis with appreciation as he thought something finally was going right. As I was going to the locker room, LeBron waved me down. "Hey bro, you look pretty good out there, but you do know that you're still going to lose right? You do realize you're playing against all the best NBA players? This is something no rookie has ever done before. No rookie has ever been to the Olympics in their lifetime, so it seems you're breaking all kinds of records on top of that. With you being the scoring champion, it's making us older guys look bad though." said LeBron while scratching the back of his head.

I laughed a little before replying I was just getting warmed up. I think it's time to turn up the heat in this second half, so you guys better be prepared to bring it, or I'm going to break you guys. LeBron didn't take what I said seriously as he walked away saying stop playing. Nobody in this entire world can beat the squad that we have not even you. You are a shooting freak of nature.

Wow, that's new. I had never heard anybody call me that. I didn't know whether to take pride in it or be offended. This guy just called me a shooting freak. I shrugged and waved them off before I went to the locker room. ;

The coach hugged me the minute he saw me. "This would not have been possible if you were not here. Thank you very much".

All the other members of the team looked at me with admiration. I shook my head and said no, "We're all working hard." Let's continue to push these guys. They think we're beneath them, but we'll surprise them by taking them down. The best players in the world taken down by a bunch of rookies that would make headlines, won't it? They all laughed as the fire in their eyes glowed.