Kobe Bryant had already played in the NBA for 13 seasons when Stephen Curry was drafted in 2009. He was already among the alpha dogs of the NBA when Curry was just a rookie. But that did not stop Curry from taking a shot at him on the court with his trash-talk, as the Warriors’ future star didn’t fear anyone coming into the league.
Curry, in a recent interview, recalled how Bryant reminded him of his place in the NBA without even saying a word. Speedy Morman of Complex Sports recently released his interview with the Warriors superstar, where he recounts this incident in detail.
“It was a game at home, at Oracle, and they were up by six or something like that down the stretch, and we started to do the foul game. And when he was going to the line, I just walked by him like, ‘Yo, you nervous?’ The look he gave me was one I have burned into my brain.”
“Like, for one, I’m a rookie talking to him. But two, like am I nervous? What are you talking about? I lowkey like expected him to do like the Jordan thing and walk up there and shoot it blindfolded or close his eyes and then look at me. Like ‘Mutombo, this is for you.’ I think that’s what Jordan said. The look he gave me said it all: You just got here, relax,” said Curry.
“Stay in your lane,” added Morman, and Curry seemed to agree.
“If he had missed, I would have been running home telling that story,” Curry declared as he claimed Kobe Bryant made both the free throws to seal the game.
According to Curry, this seems to be a story from the game in March 2009, where the Warriors faced the Lakers in the Oracle Arena in their fourth game of that season. The game ended 124-121 in the Lakers’ favor and was decided by Kobe Bryant’s visit to the free-throw line in the final seconds of the game. Curry and Bryant were tied in that game for the most points with 29 each.
However, Curry seems to be recalling the game incorrectly. Upon closer inspection, we saw that Bryant missed one of his two free throws down the stretch in that game.
It was earlier in the season, at a game in the Staples Center, when the Warriors were forced to play the foul game down the stretch, and Bryant iced the game with two free throws. Bryant had 44 points in this game, while Curry had only 15 points as the Lakers won this game 124-118.
It had been over a decade since his rookie season, so we can give him the benefit of the doubt here for not remembering correctly.
The Lakers won all four games in their series against the Warriors that season, and Bryant dominated that matchup, leading all scorers in three out of four games while averaging 31.0 points per game. He also averaged 7.0 assists and 4.3 rebounds while playing only three games in the 2009 series.
Meanwhile, since Curry was just a rookie, the likes of Monta Ellis and Corey Maggette were usually leading most statistical categories for the Warriors in this matchup. But Curry still put up a respectable 17.0 points, 7.0 assists, and 5.5 rebounds per game in that series.
We already know that Kobe Bryant played mind games with his opponents and dominated them in the trash-talk without even needing to open his mouth, usually. This was one of those incidents where Bryant reminded the league why he’s considered one of the greatest players to ever play the game.
While Curry was good at a lot of things in his rookie season, trash-talking was certainly not on that list, especially with Kobe Bryant.
