NBA: Built to Dominate

On November 20, the Los Angeles Lakers hosted the Toronto Raptors at the Staples Center.

The Raptors had a rough start to the season, winning only three of their first nine games. At 3–6, they looked bound for the lottery.

However, there was some good news for Toronto—Marcus Camby, the rookie big man they selected in the 1996 draft, had started to show his potential. After struggling in his first few games, Camby turned things around with three consecutive 20+ point performances, even dropping a career-high 29 points against the Knicks.

Now, Camby was eager to prove himself in a highly anticipated showdown with his NCAA rival, Alex Mo.

Pre-Game Pressure

During the warm-up, Raptors coach Darnell Walker pulled Camby aside for a pep talk.

"Marcus, this is your chance. Remember how Alex eliminated you in the NCAA tournament? Channel that frustration into fuel for today."

Walker made it clear: today wasn't just about winning the game—it was personal.

"We'll give you more touches. Go show him who the real best big man from the '96 class is."

Camby nodded. "I've been waiting for this moment. Time for payback."

The Lakers' Plan

On the other side, Lakers coach Del Harris gathered his team.

"Listen up, Mo. With Allen out, you're our only option for offense. You've got full control—play however you want."

"Want to play point guard? Fine, bring the ball up yourself.Want to dominate inside? The paint is yours.Prefer to stretch the floor? Shoot threes all day."

It was Alex Mo's show, and Del Harris made sure everyone knew it.

Tip-Off: Mo Takes Control

From the opening tip, it was clear Mo wasn't here to play around. A.C. Campbell won the jump ball, and Derek Fisher, starting in place of the suspended Iverson, passed it to Mo at midcourt.

"Give me the ball," Mo said calmly.

He took it, surveyed the floor, and exploded downcourt. The Raptors barely had time to react before Mo crossed the three-point line in three strides and soared from just inside the free-throw line for a thunderous dunk.

2–0, Lakers.

"Wow! Even without Allen Iverson, Alex Mo starts the game with incredible speed and power!" the commentator exclaimed. "It's like he's out to prove a point!"

Mo vs. Camby: No Contest

Mo dominated on both ends of the floor. Holding the ball beyond the arc, he drained back-to-back three-pointers right in Camby's face.

Camby froze. This wasn't the same Mo he had faced in the NCAA playoffs. Back then, Mo rarely shot from outside.

But now? Mo had a silky-smooth jumper to go with his already devastating inside game.

"He's totally different now," Camby thought as Mo hit a third consecutive three-pointer.

By halftime, it was clear there was no contest. Mo was too fast, too strong, and too skilled. He blew past Camby for dunks, swatted shots on defense, and nailed mid-range jumpers at will.

The Final Stats

In just three quarters, Alex Mo racked up:

45 points, 22 rebounds, 8 blocks

He came just two blocks shy of a triple-double. If the Raptors hadn't cleared their starters in the fourth, he might've hit that milestone.

With Mo's monster performance, the Lakers crushed the Raptors, improving to 10–0 and breaking the franchise record for the best start in Lakers history.

The media had doubted whether Mo could lead the team without Iverson. He answered with an emphatic "yes."

"Mo Ran just dominated the Raptors," said one analyst. "Camby didn't stand a chance. It wasn't even close."

Adidas Makes Its Move

As Mo celebrated the historic win, Adidas executives were already on the move.

In Los Angeles, Pierre Kanner, head of Adidas America, waited anxiously at Mo's home for a meeting with him and his agent, Bill Duffy.

"Pierre, let's get straight to the point," Bill said as they sat down. "What kind of offer are we talking about?"

Kanner grinned and pulled out a contract from his briefcase.

"Mo, Adidas is ready to offer you a six-year deal worth $28 million."