NBA great and Lakers legend Kobe Bryant is one of the fiercest players to ever play in the league. Over the years, Kobe has had rivalry and duels with multiple NBA players. Kobe isn’t someone who would shy away from the competition. He made sure he defended the best player on the opposite team, which paved the way for some great back-and-forth duels during his career. 

In the 2009 Western Conference finals, Kobe Bryant and the Lakers played against a prime Carmelo Anthony and the Denver Nuggets. The duel between Carmelo and Bryant was jaw-dropping, to say the least.

“Tired of This Team”: Massive Russell Westbrook Update Regarding Lakers Future Leaves NBA Fans Flabbergasted

But Dahntay Jones was tasked with the tough job of defending the Lakers legend in that series. And over the course of the series, Dahntay and Bryant had some physical plays. 

Kobe Bryant vs. Dahntay Jones

Kobe Bryant and Dahntay Jones’ rivalry is no secret to the NBA fans. A lot of fans also accused Jones of intentionally injuring Bryant during a regular-season game in 2013. Now, Dahntay has finally opened up about his rivalry with Kobe Bryant in the “No Chill with Gilbert Arenas” podcast.

Jones said that the Nuggets didn’t want to allow any easy layups or dunks. If he ever let his man get an easy layup, his teammates Chauncey Billups, Kenyon Martin, etc, would be mad. So he always had to make sure his man didn’t get past him.

Trending

Shaq Warns Lakers Locker Room Of Jeanie Buss Game Plan If Darvin Ham & Co Fail Vs Nuggets

April 24, 2024 09:42 PM EDT

Heat Injury Report: Latest On Jimmy Butler, Terry Rozier, Duncan Robinson Ahead of Game 2 vs Celtics

April 24, 2024 02:46 PM EDT

What Happened to Kenny Smith’s Legs? Unfolding the Sad Truth Behind TNT Host’s Dodgy Knees

April 22, 2024 08:05 PM EDT

Joel Embiid Banned By Empire State Building After Dangerous Incident On Court With Mitchell Robinson

April 26, 2024 02:59 AM EDT

“So Rigged”: All Hell Breaks Loose as Jamal Murray Forces LeBron James’ Lakers Into Bitter Embarrassment

April 23, 2024 06:21 AM EDT

Get instantly notified of the hottest NBA stories via Google! Click on Follow Us and Tap the Blue Star.

Follow Us

Speaking of Kobe, Jones said, “As I said before, I got a lot of respect for him, so I’m coming in respectfully. He doesn’t really care about you. So, while he doesn’t wanna be touched, he likes to do a lot of touching. He liked to elbow you in your face and he liked to push you to get open and like, which is all part of the game I’m not mad at. But he complaints to the refs, you can’t touch him…” 

WATCH THIS STORY – How Rich is Kenny Smith? Net Worth Comparision With Michael Jordan And Shaquille ONeal

Then Jones said that Kobe Bryant elbowed him in his neck to get open. This blow made it hard for him to breathe and made him angry. So Jones tripped over Bryant. Surprisingly, he wasn’t called for the call. In another play, Jones pushed Kobe off during a layup.

Then, in 2013, the rivalry reached its peak when Kobe was injured during a shot attempt and Jones was suspected of causing the injury. During the podcast, Dahntay said that he would never intentionally injure anyone. And even if he did, he wouldn’t want to wait till the last minute of the game.