Kobe Bryant rewrote basketball history while leading the Los Angeles Lakers to the summit of the NBA during the 2000’s.
Drafted by Charlotte Hornets when he was only 17 years old, Bryant was quickly traded to the Lakers, who believed in his potential to become a superstar in a career that spanned two decades.
Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal led the purple and gold to their first championship together. Kobe shined brightest in Game 4 of the 2000 NBA Finals when Shaq fouled out of an overtime meeting with Indiana Pacers. Bryant took over, scoring 28 points and providing the game-winning basket in the final second.
Udonis Haslem shares an epic interaction with Kobe Bryant
Kobe Bryant was also known to be a ruthless competitor and a great trash talker who would not back down from anybody, from his former teammates to the greatest basketball player of all time, Michael Jordan. That’s why his former opponent’s knew him as the Black Mamba.
Not everybody felt intimidated by Bryant, though. Speaking on The OGs Show, former Miami Heat power forward Udonis Haslem – who spent all of his 20 seasons career with the Florida team – talked about one time where he made Kobe keep his mouth shut.
“We were playing agains the Lakers. Me and Dwight (Howard) are going back and forth, and then Kobe got involved when I say ‘Stay out of this, Kobe, this ain’t got nothing to do with you.’ And he said ‘So you’re a tough guy’. I said ‘No, I’m a real n****.’ And he shut up. He respected me, he know he did.”
Haslem enjoyed playing against Kobe
Udonis Haslem added that he enjoyed playing against Kobe Bryant because he got to appreciate the Lakers‘ legend game and skills on the court. “For me, it was beautiful to watch because when we played the Lakers at 8 o’clock, Kobe was there at 4 o’clock, shoot four hours before the game.”
The former Florida Gators standout mentioned that Kobe Bryant always wanted to guard Dwyane Wade – Miami Heat‘s best player during his career -. Haslem mentioned that he wanted to guard Kobe Bryant, but the Lakers legend didn’t want to guard him because he “didn’t get no shots.”
“Watching that mentality of MJ, Kobe, those dudes, taking those two-way matches, dog, that’s what I miss.” Haslem said. During his playing days, Udonis was known to be one of the most dedicated and rough players in the NBA.
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