CHAPTER 1322: CHAPTER 532.10: ABOUT THE TIMELINE (PART 4)

In 4 games you averaged 33.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 3 steals, leading the Lakers to scores of 114, 120, 112, and 118 respectively.

Average of 116 to 101, the Cavaliers’ defense was nearly comparable to that of the Warriors, but their offensive performance was significantly lower. You led the Lakers to sweep the Cavaliers 4-0, completing the championship defense, and you won your third career Finals MVP trophy.

You made the All-NBA First Team, won the championship + Finals MVP;

Curry renewed the public’s understanding of basketball, taking the three-point shot to new heights, making the First Team, and winning the regular season MVP;

Harden truly showcased his scoring talent, made the First Team, and won the Scoring King;

The three of you dominated the regular season and the playoffs, this season was rated as the season marking the beginning of dominance for the 2009 class.

After completing the championship defense, Nash, who only appeared in the Finals Game 4 in the last quarter, announced his retirement at the start of the Western Conference Finals. Among the golden generation of ’96, only Bryant remains.

By the 2015 Draft, the Lakers selected Larry Nance Jr., a fourth-year graduate from the University of Wyoming, the son of Cavaliers legend and former Dunk King Larry Nance, known for his athleticism during his student years, twice winning the McDonald’s Slam Dunk Contest in high school.

With the start of the offseason, Wesley Johnson left the team, joining the Clippers on a 2-year, $9 million deal; Jordan Hill continued to demand high prices and was rejected, entering free agency but finding his desired million-dollar annual salary cold; he eventually joined the Pacers on a 1-year, $5 million deal; Boozer announced his retirement; and the player option for the 13th round pick Ryan Kelly was waived.

Due to the surge in TV ratings, ticket sales, and peripheral incomes from the 14-15 season games, the salary cap for the new season increased to $74 million, combined with the expiration of contracts and the departure of Jordan Hill, the Lakers’ total salary dropped below the luxury tax line, granting them the full mid-level exception.

Winning against the Clippers, they split the mid-level, signing Louis Williams for 2 years/$7 million and Brandon Buss for 2 years/$6 million, strengthening the Point Guard and Power Forward positions.

They completed a renewal with Wayne Ellington using a 1-year/$2.25 million bi-annual exception and kept Ed Davis with a 3-year contract averaging $6 million a year.

Winning against the Rockets, Marcus Thornton, a second-round pick from the 2009 draft, joined on a veteran’s minimum 1-year deal.

Management acted swiftly during this offseason, with July not yet finished, the offseason tasks were mostly complete, filling the 13-man main roster + cheerleading captain, leaving only one backup position undecided.

Point Guards: Bazemore, Williams, Clarkson; Shooting Guards: Bryant, Thornton, Ellington; Small Forwards: You, Young; Power Forwards: Buss, Davis, Nance; Centers: Gasol, Blake, Sacred.

Maintaining the core roster with minor tweaks, this has been the experience for multiple championship defenses since the 21st century, under Mitch Kupchak as assistant GM and GM.

On August 23rd, Bryant held a press conference on his 37th birthday, announcing live: Next season will be my last season, I am reluctant to leave the court, but it’s time to conclude. I will pour all my passion for basketball into the next season, try my best to help Jack complete the three-peat, I really enjoyed last season’s style of play, it allowed me at my current age to still become a key player on the court like a star.

Bryant’s remarks were a response to the comments after you completed the championship defense and secured back-to-back titles—Kobe has won his seventh crown, the Lakers are doomed, he is going to fight for shooting rights like in the days with the Shark.

This somewhat affected your team environment, Bryant’s live announcement of his decision nipped potential crises in the bud.

The 15-16 season arrived as scheduled, and you, Curry, and Harden, who dominated the last season, were highly anticipated from the start of this season.

But the most-watched player was—Kobe Bryant.

He showed up at every away game like a rock star on tour, with cheers everywhere.

He continued his performance from last season, playing 80 games, full attendance in 41 away games, averaging 26 minutes, scoring 15.8 points, 3 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 1.1 steals on 48.6% shooting, averaging 2.1 three-pointers, remaining the team’s best wing and top arc receiver, the third ball handler on the outside, and at critical moments your most trusted partner.

His performance made fans call for him to cling on for another two years.

The older Gasol’s performance did not drop but rose instead, playing 70 games, averaging 16 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1.8 blocks on 53.1% shooting, joining you and Bryant as All-Star starters, all three of you were placed in the front court in the voting, Durant, Leonard, Griffin, and others collectively hard luck.

The newly joined Williams served as the sixth man, averaging 14.1 points, 2 rebounds, and 2.6 assists, beating the Clippers’ Jamal Crawford and the Warriors’ Andre Iguodala, winning the Sixth Man of the Year.

Your performance continued to rise this season, with your career’s first shooting percentage over 50%, averaging 32 points, 7.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 2.5 steals at a 51.6% shooting rate, hitting 4.2 three-pointers per game at a 42% shooting rate.

You defeated Curry, who averaged 30.6 points, and became the Scoring King for the first time in your career, selected as the Steals King for 3 consecutive years.

Led by you, Bryant, Gasol, and Williams, the Lakers achieved a 65-17 record, ranking second in the Western Conference and second in the league, only behind the Warriors.