The flight back to Los Angeles was quiet. The loss still hung in the air like smoke.
But the sports world doesn't stop for one bad night. The media machine was already running full speed.
ESPN's headline was sharp and brutal:
"Two Points Short! Prophet's Game-Tying Shot Ruled Out on a Toe, Lakers Fall in Heartbreaker"
The cover photo showed Kobe screaming at Kwame Brown and the slow-motion replay of Link's foot on the line. The article ended with: "Link showed serious guts on that final shot, but Lady Luck wasn't on his side tonight."
The Los Angeles Times took a longer view:
"A Brutal Loss, But Maybe the Spark This Team Needed."
Fan forums were a mixed bag—some were furious about the review, others ripped Kwame Brown apart. But the loudest voices were talking about Link's near-hero moment.
"That fadeaway two at the end? Harder than a lot of open threes, man."
"Link had balls tonight! Stood up to Kobe and took the biggest shot. That's what a second option is supposed to look like!"
"We lost, but I feel like the Lakers are about to get stronger. That window between Kobe and Link just got smashed open."
Almost nobody mentioned Kwame Brown—the guy who took the worst of it.
On the plane ride home, Kwame sat in silence, staring out the window. Link could feel the collapse radiating off him. But that's pro sports. Nobody cares about your mental state when you're getting cooked.
According to history, Kwame's Lakers chapter would end after this season anyway. His final real contribution would be getting packaged in the trade that brought Pau Gasol to L.A.
---
The next morning in Los Angeles, the final All-Star voting results dropped from league headquarters.
Before practice even started, the whole team crowded around the locker-room TV.
When Commissioner David Stern appeared on screen, the chatter died instantly.
"Ladies and gentlemen, it is my honor to announce the 2007 NBA All-Star Game starters…"
Eastern Conference Starters
Guards: Gilbert Arenas (Washington Wizards), Dwyane Wade (Miami Heat)
Forwards: LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers), Chris Bosh (Toronto Raptors)
Center: Shaquille O'Neal (Miami Heat)
Western Conference Starters
Guards: Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers), Steve Nash (Phoenix Suns)
Forwards: Kevin Garnett (Minnesota Timberwolves), Tim Duncan (San Antonio Spurs)
Center: Yao Ming (Houston Rockets)
A small ripple of noise went through the room. Kobe making the starting lineup was never in doubt—his vote total was second only to Yao in the entire league.
Link finished sixth among Western frontcourt players.
Now came the real suspense: the coaches' selections for the reserves. Each conference got twelve total spots. With three starters already locked in for the West, four more frontcourt spots remained.
Carmelo Anthony and Dirk Nowitzki were virtual locks.
That left two final spots to be decided among:
Link, Carlos Boozer, Amar'e Stoudemire, and Shawn Marion.
The guys started speculating immediately.
"Stat's numbers are insane—25.6 and 12.3," Odom said. "Suns are second in the West. He's probably in."
"Which means Marion's chances drop," Walton added. "League won't give Phoenix three All-Stars."
Bynum nodded. "So Link's real competition is probably Boozer."
Boozer was averaging 20.9 and 11.7 with league-leading double-doubles. Link's raw stats weren't quite as gaudy, but the Jazz were a game behind the Lakers, and Link had the Lakers-market boost working in his favor.
The debate was still raging when Kobe stood up and killed the TV.
"Starters are set," he said, turning to face everyone. "Reserves come out tomorrow. Until then—focus on the court."
The room went quiet.
Kobe's eyes swept the group and landed on Link for half a second longer than everyone else.
"Get to work."
---
Practice that day was normal—no game, just a full team session. When it ended, Link stayed behind like always. He still had half of the [Defense (Advanced)] mission left to grind.
Mission: Defense (Advanced)
Progress: 5,000 / 10,000
Defensive work drained him more than offense ever did. Sweat poured down his face as he moved through the reaction drills.
"Your feet are still too stiff."
Link looked up. Kobe was standing on the sideline, arms crossed, watching.
They'd done this exact defensive work together last summer. The same issues were still there.
"Defense isn't a statue drill," Kobe said, stepping onto the court. "You have to read the offense, anticipate before it happens."
"I'm trying," Link answered, breathing hard.
Kobe grabbed a ball and dribbled twice. "Keep your center of gravity low, but keep your feet alive—like this."
He dropped into a perfect defensive stance—knees bent, back straight, feet chopping in tiny, explosive bursts.
"You're not waiting for the offense to happen. You're controlling the space where it can happen."
Kobe tossed the ball to Link. "You attack. I'll guard. Feel the difference."
For the next thirty minutes, Kobe guarded Link through every move he could think of—crossover drives, pull-ups, pump fakes, spin moves. Every time Link got beat, Kobe stopped and broke it down.
"Your weight shifted too much on that left jab."
"You let me catch that post-up too easy."
"Watch my pivot foot—if I turn on my right foot, it's almost always a fadeaway."
Sweat soaked both their shirts.
Slowly, Link started to feel it. He began reading some of Kobe's simpler tells. He wasn't stopping him yet, but the gap was closing.
Final rep.
Kobe held the ball on the wing. Link stayed disciplined, giving just enough space.
Kobe jabbed left hard. Link slid with him.
Then Kobe ripped the ball back, two long hesitation dribbles, and rose up for a clean pull-up.
Link had already read it. He exploded forward, hand high, completely taking away Kobe's vision.
The shot clanged off the rim.
"Not bad," Kobe said, the hint of a rare smile on his face.
Link was breathing hard, eyes bright.
He'd just gotten a private masterclass from one of the greatest perimeter defenders ever.
And tomorrow, the rest of the basketball world would find out whether that work had been enough to earn him an All-Star nod.