Newsletter
Fadeaway World
  • Fadeaway World
  • NBA News & Analysis
  • NBA Trade Rumors
  • NBA News & Media
  • Exclusive Interviews
  • NBA 2K
Reading: Kobe Bryant Studied How Great White Sharks Attack To Get His Revenge On Allen Iverson: “I Will Hunt You Obsessively”
Fadeaway WorldFadeaway World
Search
  • Fadeaway World
  • NBA News & Analysis
  • NBA Trade Rumors
  • NBA News & Media
  • Exclusive Interviews
  • NBA 2K
Follow US
Home > NBA News & Analysis > Kobe Bryant Studied How Great White Sharks Attack To Get His Revenge On Allen Iverson: “I Will Hunt You Obsessively”

Kobe Bryant Studied How Great White Sharks Attack To Get His Revenge On Allen Iverson: “I Will Hunt You Obsessively”

Kobe Bryant studied the hunting behaviors of great white sharks to help him guard Allen Iverson and get his revenge.

Divij Kulkarni
Jun 2, 2023
5 Min Read
Share

Credit: Fadeaway World

Kobe Bryant and Allen Iverson came into the NBA in the same draft in 1996. And while most people would put Kobe over Iverson in their all-time list, he came in as the 13th overall pick while Iverson was the first overall pick. 

In the early days of their career, Allen Iverson became a star much faster than Kobe Bryant did. And once Iverson scored 41 against him in 1999, the Mamba wanted to make sure he got his revenge. He revealed how he did it years later. 

“On March 19, 1999, Iverson put 41 points and 10 assists on me in Philadelphia,” Bryant wrote for the Player’s Tribune in 2017. “I had to study this man maniacally. I obsessively read every article and book I could find about AI. I obsessively watched every game he had played, going back to the IUPU All-American Game. I obsessively studied his every success and his every struggle. I obsessively searched for any weakness I could find.

“I searched the world for musings to add to my AI Musecage. This led me to study how great white sharks hunt seals off the coast of South Africa. The patience. The timing. The angles. On Feb 20, 2000, in Philadelphia, PJ gave me the assignment of guarding AI at the start of the second half. No one knew how much this challenge meant to me. I wanted him to feel the frustration I felt. I wanted everyone who laughed at the 41 and 10 he put on me to choke on their laughter.

“He would publicly say that neither of us could stop the other. I refused to believe that. I score 50. You score zero. That is what I believe. When I started guarding AI, he had 16 at the half. He finished the game with 16. Revenge was sweet.”

Kobe Bryant was built differently from any other superstar in NBA history. He wanted to truly own and dominate his opponents every time they matched up. He wanted to be the best of the very best. And this story is just another example of what made the Mamba one of the greatest to ever do it. 


Kobe Bryant And Allen Iverson’s Head-To-Head Stats Show An Incredible Rivalry

Kobe Bryant would win five NBA championships in his career, and Allen Iverson would win none. But it wasn’t until his 6th game ever against Iverson that Bryant outscored him. The game Iverson scored 41 points was the 5th time they faced off, and the Sixers won that game comfortably. 

The very next time they faced off is the game Bryant spoke about. Allen Iverson had just 16, while Kobe Bryant had 18 and the Lakers won by three points in their sixth matchup against one another. After that, things went Kobe’s way more often than not. 

Kobe Bryant and Allen Iverson faced one another 38 times in the NBA, and the Mamba’s team was victorious on 24 occasions. It was even more stark in the playoffs, with their nine games resulting in eight wins for Kobe, and just one for AI. 

Although Iverson averaged more points against Kobe Bryant in their head-to-head matchups overall, Bryant is the one who got the championships, even beating AI in the 2001 NBA Finals. Bryant did everything he could to be better, and ultimately, no one would argue he wasn’t.

We sincerely appreciate and respect you as a reader of our site. It would help us a lot if you follow us on Google News because of the latest update.

Thanks for following us. We appreciate your support.

Follow on Google News

Thank you for being a valued reader of Fadeaway World. If you liked this article, please consider following us on Google News. We appreciate your support.

TAGGED:Allen IversonKobe BryantLos Angeles Lakers Archive
Share This Article
Facebook Email Copy Link Print
ByDivij Kulkarni
Follow:
Divij Kulkarni is an NBA columnist for Fadeaway World. He has covered the NBA and the English Premier League, with 4 years of experience in creating sports content. Finding exciting and intriguing content about all things NBA is both his job and his passion. Divij loves the Dallas Mavericks and can be regularly observed getting emotional during games. Outside of basketball, he enjoys reading fantasy and sci-fi novels, consuming copious amounts of movies and TV, and spending time with his dog, Olivia. Expertise: NBA, Historical Sports ResearchFavorite Team: Dallas MavericksFeatured On HoopsHype, Sports Illustrated, Secret Base, MSNPrevious Work: Tribuna
Previous Article “I Used To Beg MJ For His Shoes”: Rip Hamilton Reveals How Michael Jordan Always Had New Jordan Products In Locker Room
Next Article Damian Lillard Posts A Weird Tweet That Really Confused NBA Fans: “Who Travel And Do Facials”
Leave a Comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Newsletter

Stay up to date with our newsletter on the latest news, trends, ranking lists, and evergreen articles

Newsletter
Facebook X-twitter Instagram

You Might Also Like

Golden State Warriors News & Analysis

Seth Curry Admits He Didn’t Want To Team Up With Stephen Curry Until Now

October 3, 2025
Sep 29, 2025; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Nuggets player Nikola Jokic (15) takes questions during media day at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
Denver Nuggets News & Analysis

Nikola Jokic Remains Loyal To The Nuggets Despite Not Signing An Extension This Summer

October 3, 2025
Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook (4) controls the ball in the first quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
NBA News & Analysis

Kendrick Perkins Claims Russell Westbrook Has Been Blackballed By The NBA

October 3, 2025
Mar 23, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Quentin Grimes (5) in action against the Atlanta Hawks in the third quarter at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
Los Angeles Lakers Trade Rumors

NBA Trade Idea: Quentin Grimes To Los Angeles Lakers

October 3, 2025

NBA - Fadeaway World

  • Atlanta Hawks
  • Boston Celtics
  • Brooklyn Nets
  • Charlotte Hornets
  • Chicago Bulls
  • Cleveland Cavaliers
  • Dallas Mavericks
  • Denver Nuggets
  • Detroit Pistons
  • Golden State Warriors
  • Houston Rockets
  • Indiana Pacers
  • Los Angeles Clippers
  • Los Angeles Lakers
  • Memphis Grizzlies
  • Miami Heat
  • Milwaukee Bucks
  • Minnesota Timberwolves
  • New Orleans Pelicans
  • New York Knicks
  • Oklahoma City Thunder
  • Orlando Magic
  • Philadelphia 76ers
  • Phoenix Suns
  • Portland Trail Blazers
  • Sacramento Kings
  • San Antonio Spurs
  • Toronto Raptors
  • Utah Jazz
  • Washington Wizards

Pages

  • NBA Trade Rumors
  • NBA Media
  • Exclusive NBA Interviews
  • NBA 2K News & Updates

© 2025 Fadeaway World @ All Rights Reserved

  • About Fadeaway World
  • Fadeaway World Authors
  • Editorial Team
  • Ethics Policy
  • Corrections Policy
  • Editorial Guidelines
  • Fact-Checking Policy
  • Contact Us
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?