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Guard (24) Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers prays before playing against the Detroit Pistons before the Pistons 97-83 victory over the Lakers at the STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Icon SMI/Icon Sport Media via Getty Images)
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Guard (24) Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers prays before playing against the Detroit Pistons before the Pistons 97-83 victory over the Lakers at the STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Icon SMI/Icon Sport Media via Getty Images)
Kobe Bean Bryant is one of the greatest players ever to have played the game of basketball. He was a player who became an idol for the next generations. Kobe came into the league straight from high school and started dominating the league. He went on to win five NBA championships with the Los Angeles Lakers. He had rivalries with many players but with Jalen Rose, he had a unique bond.
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In an old interview, Jalen talked about his dynamic with Kobe. He specifically talked about the incident when he injured Kobe in the 2000 NBA Finals. He said, “Now you look back in hindsight and I don’t think it’s cute… I don’t think it’s cool… I don’t think I am hard cause I tried to hurt Kobe Bryant in a game.”
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He continued, “I’m disgusted by it because you know I wanted to win that bad that I was willing to basically cheat to do it.. so that’s how I really feel about it.” See the video below –
Kobe Bryant – The legend who would never quit
The Charlotte Hornets selected Kobe as the thirteenth overall pick in the legendary 1996 NBA Draft. But he was traded on a draft-day trade to the Los Angeles Lakers for their center Vlade Divac. Other Lakers legend Jerry West was the brain trust behind this trade. Kobe had impressed him a lot during his trial with the Lakers.
Shaq and Kobe would form a deadly duo. They would dominate the West for 5 years, winning three championships together and going to four finals.
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LOS ANGELES, CA – JUNE 12: Paul Piece #34 of the Boston Celtics is guarded by Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers in Game Four of the 2008 NBA Finals on June 12, 2008 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
Things would then go sour between Kobe and Shaq. In the summer of 2004, Shaq would go to Miami and Kobe remained with the Lakers. It would be some time before Kobe would compete for the championships. When Pau Gasol got traded to the Lakers, he and Kobe went to three straight NBA Finals and won two. Let us know in the comments below your favorite Kobe memory.
Written by
Edited by
Veer Badani