The late great Kobe Bryant left quite an impression on the game of basketball while also leaving an incredible legacy for what he was able to accomplish during his two decades playing for the Los Angeles Lakers.
Everyone who played with Bryant or against him or even crossed paths with him at some point seems to have a memorable story about the five-time NBA champion.
Currently, Los Angeles Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue is one of the many with a story to share about Bryant and a memory he’ll never forget about the legendary Lakers guard.
In a recent appearance on the “All The Smoke” podcast with Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson, Lue shared a story about a 21-year-old Bryant in the NBA Finals against the Indiana Pacers when Shaquille O’Neal fouled out, via Showtime Basketball.
Kobe was really 21 years old silencing his own team in the NBA Finals ♾️
NEW episode of #AllTheSmoke with Ty Lue just dropped on our YouTube: https://t.co/MdxDP88F1Q pic.twitter.com/eNOwl3gII8
— SHOWTIME Basketball (@shobasketball) July 27, 2023
According to Lue, head coach Phil Jackson and some of his teammates were starting to get on Bryant for missing some shots, but then the superstar guard turned it on and helped lead the team to victory with 12 straight points.
Bryant proved in that moment that it wasn’t all about O’Neal and that he could carry a team as well, which he really put on display once the superstar center was shipped to the Miami Heat, leaving the franchise in his hands.
The Lakers legend went on to win a total of five rings during his time with the Lakers while leaving behind a legacy as arguably one of the best all-around players in league history.
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