When Jerry West drafted Kobe Bryant in 1996, he believed him to be better than most on the roster. He wasn’t wrong. Pairing with recently acquired Shaquille O’Neal, the Lakers were on the road to witness days of glory. But just before that, in the absence of the Big Diesel as the franchise remained on the cusp of its 12th championship, was when Kobe proved West right – a moment Ty Lue recalls 24 years later and Kevin Garnett savors.
On X, the All the Smoke Production team shared a vintage clip featuring Clippers head coach Ty Lue recounting a remarkable story about a young Kobe Bryant. In the video, Lue recalls a 21-year-old Kobe taking control of a game after Shaq fouled out. The team was in disarray, but Kobe’s confidence was unshaken.
Lue detailed how the team, in a state of panic, started playing erratically, rushing their movements. However, Kobe’s composure stood out. Despite missing three shots in a row, Kobe’s resilience shone through as he nailed a perfect three-pointer shortly after. He then signaled to his teammates to calm down, confidently stating, “I got this sh-t…”
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Kevin Garnett, sharing the video, added, “Lord! Bean was throwed off, in a good way…” complete with laughing emojis.
The moment happens to be from the 2000 NBA Championships when the Lakers were up 2-1 heading into Game 4. But the Pacers had momentum from their previous win. Interestingly, Shaquille O’Neal fouled out early in overtime after a tussle with Rik Smits for the rebound. Just when the Pacers thought they had a chance, they weren’t prepared for the 21-year-old Kobe to take over, finishing with an impressive 28 points.
Later, Shaq reflected on this game in an interview, sharing, “Kobe looked at me, and without a worry in the world, he said, ‘I got you big fella. Imma take over.’”
As Lue revealed, after the series, a reporter asked Kobe about his teammates feeling he didn’t trust them because he took a long shot. Kobe, with his trademark ‘Mamba mentality’, replied, “Well, I feel like I got a better chance of making a shot over two people than a guy who’s wide open.”
This incident, as Lue pointed out, marked a pivotal moment in Kobe’s career, marking the beginning to first of the three-peat win. Over his 20-season career with the Lakers, Kobe averaged 25 PPG, 5.2 RPG, and 4.7 APG.
Kevin Garnett’s respect towards Kobe Bryant and Lakers’ tribute
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During a recent appearance on The Stephen A. Smith Show, Kevin Garnett opened up about the deep connection he shared with Kobe Bryant. “When he hit that floor, he knew what it was and I loved him for it. I miss Kobe every day, man,” Garnett said, highlighting their shared mentality and unwavering love for the game.
Moreover, Garnett expressed his admiration for how people celebrate Kobe even after his passing. He mentioned that the celebrations make it feel as if Kobe is still alive, which he finds comforting and inspiring. Garnett even shared his aspiration of someday dedicating his future son to Kobe, a testament to the Lakers legend’s enduring legacy and influence on those who knew him best.
In a fitting tribute to the legend and his daughter Gianna, the LA Lakers unveiled their second statue on August 2, 2024. This date holds special significance, as Kobe wore the number 8 during the early part of his career before switching to 24, while Gianna proudly wore jersey number 2. Through stories and through tributes, the Lakers legend certainly lives on.
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Stay tuned for more such updates and join us for the exciting pilot episode of the “Dual Threat Show” as our host BG12 sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and SEC All-Freshman Team Selection, Silas Demary Jr.
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