The bright lights of L.A. are not for everyone. But Kobe Bryant never let the attention and pressure of playing for one of the biggest franchises in the league get to him. Considering the fact that Bryant entered the league straight out of high school makes it even more impressive.
By the time Kobe Bryant was done in the NBA, he had established himself as one of the GOATs of the Los Angeles Lakers. Kobe is undoubtedly one of the most iconic players to ever don the Purple and Gold jersey.
He won five NBA Championships with the team and gave the Laker Nation a plethora of memorable moments over the course of his 20-year-long career with the team. But all of this ties down to one crucial decision made on the night of the 1996 NBA Draft.
Kobe Bryant’s Furious Reaction To Getting Traded On NBA Draft Night
Kobe Bryant was initially drafted by the Charlotte Hornets in the 1996 NBA Draft by using the 13th overall pick. The Lakers acquired Bryant by trade on the same night, which turned out to be one of the best decisions ever made by the organization.
In hindsight, getting traded to the Lakers helped Kobe a lot. But when he initially found out he had been traded, Bryant was fuming.
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“I get on the phone with the Charlotte GM and he just tells me, ‘you know what’s going on right?’ and I’m like yeah, yeah. He goes, ‘well it’s a good thing that we’re trading you because we couldn’t have used you anyway.‘ I was already triggered. I was ready to go to the gym, like, f**k the media. I don’t wanna do any more interviews. What you telling me that for? I’m 17.”
At the time, Kobe was full of raw potential, but the Hornets’ general manager didn’t believe in Bryant.
Fortunately, Jerry West, the Lakers general at the time, showed full belief in Bryant’s potential. After developing for a couple of seasons, Bryant never looked back and, in 2016, retired as one of the legends of the franchise.
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