"Deal." Dr. Bass had a ruddy face and happily shook hands with billionaire Phil Anschutz, the owner of Anschutz Entertainment, and the leaders of the city of Los Angeles.

Business leaders and politicians have finally reached an agreement.

Anschutz bought the Los Angeles Kings in 1995 and began looking for a new arena for their team in 1996.

When Steve Soborov, chairman of the Los Angeles Recreation and Parks Commission, approached Anschutz, Soborov asked them to consider building an arena in downtown Los Angeles near the convention center. This proposal caught the attention of Roski and Anschutz, and plans for the development of the arena were soon developed.

And the Lakers' excellent record in the past two years has allowed Anschutz to put the Lakers into the plan for a new arena!

Finally! With the Lakers breaking history multiple times in a row, Anschutz and Buss Sr. engaged in months-long negotiations with city officials.

Eventually, the developer and city leaders came to an agreement!

The new arena will be privately financed at a cost of $375 million and will be named after office supplies company Staples, Inc., one of the center's corporate sponsors that pay for naming rights.

"You know, if it weren't for Kobe, I'm afraid those vampires would have asked for even more ruthlessly!" Anschutz winked at old Bass.

"The Lakers' recent outstanding performance has been instrumental in getting us this prime location in the heart of the city!"

The new arena Staples is adjacent. The Live development is located next to the Los Angeles Convention Center complex on Figueroa Street. This is a prime location in LA!

"We're going to bring one of the best arenas in the world!" Bass said this in front of the media.

"Kobe, we're going to have a new arena!" The Lakers have been talking about this topic in the locker room lately.

"Staples—" Kobe Bryant looked up, a look of inexplicability flashing in his eyes.

The place where you have struggled for many years, the place where you have achieved fame, the place where you have won 5 championships, is it finally coming?

A new arena, a $375 million stadium that is the most luxurious and modern arena of its era in the United States! Every player aspires to play on a field like this!

The players are excited! At present, they don't know how long it will be to finish the construction of the arena, and it is also a good idea whether they will stay in Los Angeles at that time. But every Laker is proud!

One day purple gold! Lakers for life!

"Guys, let's take down a few championship flags to fill the empty sky in the new arena!"

...

On March 8, 1998, the Lakers hosted the Pistons.

"Larry, are you sure you're going to rebuild?" Before the game, Harris and Larry Brown sat on the sidelines and talked.

This season's Pistons can be said to have completely collapsed, and after Grant Hill desperately tried to pull the team into the playoffs unsuccessfully, but suffered an injury, the Pistons have been hopeless.

Thankfully, the team's management is still rooting for Larry Brown. It was decided that this famous coach would single-handedly run the revival of the Pistons. This made Larry Brown breathe a sigh of relief.

"yes, the team is too old. I hope to be able to build a championship team for Grant in three years, and there are still a lot of stars in the league who want to play with Grant. "Larry Brown is optimistic about the signings, and Hill's character and ability make him compatible with almost every star in the league.

"It takes a bit of luck to rebuild." Harris is not the Lakers who disintegrated after retiring the Magic, and went through a lot of difficulties to rebuild the Lakers into the strongest team in history.

Without Kobe, Harris doesn't think the Lakers can rebuild successfully.

Can the Pistons replicate the Lakers' success? Harris didn't think it was a big deal, there were too many teams in the league trying to find a second Jordan and a second Kobe, but none of them could succeed.

The success of every top team is irreplaceable.

Jordan and Kobe Bryant are equally unique.

Harris was skeptical of the optimism of his old friend Larry Brown.

Of course, there was not much suspense in this game between the Lakers and the Pistons, and the Lakers easily won the victory in the tsunami at home.

...

March 11, Lakers home, Trail Blazers 107:121 Lakers.

The Lakers scored another victory.

"Shaq, you've become the best center." Sabonis gives O'Neill a bear hug!

This former god of Eastern Europe! has been completely convinced by O'Neill.

O'Neal shot 14-of-21 in this game, and once again scored 45 points, 16 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 blocks, 1 steal and 3 turnovers.

"Avidas, thank you for the compliment." O'Neal also touched the back of his head a little embarrassed in the face of the superstar senior in international basketball.

On March 12, the Lakers faced the Clippers back-to-back.

"Why didn't I get a Nigo like Kobe Bryant?" Sitting in the box of the Clippers, their owner, Sterling, smoked a cigar, hugged a woman, and drank red wine.

It seems pleasant, but the picture on the playing field makes the white supremacist indignant.

"Boss, are you racist?" Elgin Baylor couldn't laugh or cry, and he was also very unhappy with the boss.

But there is no way, if you want to make something and slap those old friends in Los Angeles in the face, you can only work for the Clippers.

Soon. The Clippers are 13-48 this season and bottom of the league.

In Baylor's view, rebuilding is a necessary process for the Clippers.

And it doesn't take long!

Get 'candy' or 'UFO' this season!

Next season, we will bring in a top rookie and sign a superstar. The team is set up.

The only bad thing is that even if the Clippers get rid of the belly position, can they really play OK?

Baylor felt that unless he returned to his youth and came back to join the Clippers, he really couldn't see hope.

...

"Kobe, please! Let's take it lightly! ”

"Please, stop! Arco! ”

"Don't fight anymore! Don't fight anymore! ”

On March 15, the Lakers traveled to Vancouver, Canada, to play the Grizzlies on the road.

Rahim was hoarse.

Billups' face was gray.

Educated again. This game Billups did his best!

Boom down 11 out of 0! 0 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists, 6 turnovers!

Despair! Why can't you shoot a single ball!

Either covered or robbed!

Billups grimaced, and he lost count of how many times he had been taught by Kobe this season.

Rahim is also desperate!

Why is your point guard so lonely?

He obviously cooperated with Duncan so well in the All-Star Game! Why can't you switch to yourself!

Rahim always has a feeling of being NTR!

It's obviously his teammate who became Billups first!

Why Duncan again, Kobe Bryant again!

You guys are going too far!