- Former Lakers guard reflects on iconic Kobe memory
- Bryant said Steph didn’t like being guarded from the side
- Bryant shut Curry down with his new techniques in the second half
Steph Curry, a 2x MVP, isn’t an easy man to guard. In fact, throughout his 14-year career, he’s become known for being unbothered by even the hardest defenders.
With that said, there may be a secret to slowing Steph down that was discovered by Kobe Bryant back during the 2015-16 season. In a story told by Lou Williams, he reveals the time that Bryant claimed the solution to guarding Steph was to get on his side, and it actually worked…
“We was playing Golden State and this was when Steph was starting to catch fire,” said Williams on the Knuckleheads podcast. “He was starting to turn into ‘The Chef.’ You know what I’m saying? And he came in and he said, ‘I f—— found it.’ He just kept saying, ‘I f—– found it.’ … He like, ‘He don’t like people standing on the side of him. He can shoot with you in front of him. He can shoot with you behind him. But on his side, he don’t like that. I’mma guard him the second half.’ Shut him down again. So, after that, I was a believer. After that, I’m like, ‘Everything that I’ve heard about Kobe Bryant is all true.’”
This happened during Kobe’s very last season, and he was somehow able to hold down Steph on the cusp of his breakout season. For Kobe, this was just one of many examples of his ultra-competitive nature, and it made him both an excellent player and extremely fun to watch.
Kobe Knew There Was Greatness In Steph
Kobe always gave his best for Curry, and it’s probably because he knew the guy was special from the start. As Bryant later admitted to his friend Killer Mike, he saw Curry as special before almost anyone else.
“Who I gotta watch? He said to me ‘There’s this kid I’ve been watching. He real small and thin, but if he can stay healthy,'” said Kobe on Steph. “There is this kid in Golden State, Steph Curry. I tell you, he’s the one, all he gotta do is stay healthy.’ That day, I started watching Steph and he hasn’t disappointed since.”
So, Kobe saw greatness in no. 30 and it explains why he was so eager to challenge him any time they faced off on the court. In the end, the two never battled it out in their prime, but Kobe was still able to make an impression on Curry that still lives on today.
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