The inheritance of the three-point line: From Kobe to Tatum, the spiritual code behind the numbers

The Boston Celtics are experiencing a bitter defeat when Jason Tatum made that three-pointer over Derek Fisher in Madison Square Garden. The score of 113-121 has turned this milestone into a typical "milestone", but behind the numbers is a deeper narrative - Tatum's 286 playoff three-pointers, which put him only 6 goals away from the 11th place in history of Lakers legend Kobe Bryant. This is not only a change of statistics, but also a spiritual dialogue that spans time and space, a skill inheritance from the Purple Gold Dynasty to the Green Shirt Legion.

Kobe Bryant's 292 playoff three-pointers, each of which is engraved with the paranoid basketball philosophy. In the early 2000s, when Kobe's mid-range distance was still regarded as a weapon of "soft eggs", let alone attempts outside the three-point line. But Kobe redefined the offensive radius of the shooting guard with his signature back three-pointer and cold-blooded projection at critical moments. The double winning streak against the Suns in 2006 and the key long shots against the Celtics in the 2010 Finals, these scenes constitute the most precious memory film in NBA history. Kobe's three-pointer is never a simple accumulation on the data table, but a deadly weapon at critical moments. It is the most intuitive embodiment of the "Mamba Spirit".

Turn your eyes to Tatum, a young man who grew up in Kobe's basketball training camp, has the imprint of Kobe from his technical movements to his game temperament. Among Tatum's 286 three-pointers, there were too many Kobe-like elements: the tentative step after receiving the ball on the wing, the three-pointer who suddenly stopped in the transition attack, and the increasingly skillful back turned and shot behind the back. But Tatum is not a simple replica. He added the dimension of modern basketball to Kobe's skill blueprint - higher shooting points, faster release speed, and longer shooting range. In the 2022 playoff series against the Nets, Tatum paid tribute to Kobe with 44 points, including 6 three-pointers; in 2023, he scored 6 three-pointers in his record 51 points. These moments tell a fact: Kobe's skilled spark is burning new light in Tatum's hands.

From 286 to 292, the gap between these 6 three-pointers is just like the subtle distance between two generations of stars. Kobe scored 292 three-pointers in 220 playoff games, while Tatum approached this number in less than 100 games. This efficiency difference reflects the changes in the basketball era - the average number of three-point shots per playoff game in the NBA today soared from about 15 times in the Kobe era to nearly 40 times. But quantity has never been the only criterion for measuring greatness. Kobe has created higher critical moment value with a lower-frequency three-pointer, which is exactly the realm that Tatum is still practicing. When Tatum truly surpasses Kobe's three-point record, it will not only be a digital surpass, but also need to prove that he can make a Kobe-like fatal blow in the last five minutes of the game. The

three-point line, as the most democratic scoring area on the basketball court, witnessed the revolutionary change in the way the game was played. From the three-pointer as an auxiliary weapon in Kobe's era to the three-pointer as a conventional weapon in today's Tatum's era, this arc measures the evolutionary trajectory of basketball. But truly great shooters know that no matter how the times change, the courage to take action at critical moments, the creativity when facing defense, and the belief that you must score the next goal after missing a shot are the essential characteristics that distinguish ordinary shooters from legendary superstars. Kobe's key three-pointer in overtime in Game 4 of the 2000 Finals and his tough thrust against Artest in Game 7 of the 2010 Finals. These pictures define what "killer instinct" is. And Tatum's five consecutive games in the 2022 playoffs, including a 46-point victory against the Bucks, also wrote his own legend at the critical moment.

When Tatum stood on the playoff stage where Kobe had fought, every three-pointer made him continues a grander narrative. The feud between the Celtics and the Lakers adds dramatic tension to this set of data comparisons - a Celtic leader is chasing the footsteps of a Lakers legend. This inheritance that transcends the team's barriers just proves the universal value of great skills. The basketball world may always have the opposition between the Lakers and the Celtics, but the spirit of pursuing excellence will always be connected. Tatum has repeatedly stated that Kobe is the reason why he chose the No. 24 jersey, and now he is pressing forward step by step in the historical rankings in Kobe's way.

In the near future, when Tatum officially surpasses Kobe's playoff three-point record, it will be a time to think about. Behind the change of numbers is the intergenerational transmission of basketball skills, the progress of the game style, and the eternal and unchanging spirit of competition. Tatum needs to understand that it is easy to surpass a record, but truly inheriting Kobe-like game influence requires proving himself at every critical moment in the playoffs. As Kobe once said: "Love basketball is what you see, and obsessed with basketball is the reason for greatness. "

From Los Angeles to Boston, from 292 to 286 to the future transcendence, the three-point line has become a bond connecting two eras, two styles, and two legends. When Tatum takes a step back and shoots a three-pointer at a critical moment next time, basketball fans may be able to see two overlapping figures - one wearing purple gold No. 24 and the other wearing green and white No. 0. They use the same persistence to interpret the beauty of the sport in different time and space. This may be the most moving look of sports heritage: numbers will be refreshed and records will be broken, but those spiritual codes that define greatness will shine more and more through generations.