During its 75+ year run, the NBA has given birth to some incredible franchises. Throughout sports, very few leagues have multiple illustrious franchises to their name. However, the cream of the crop remains the Los Angeles Lakers. While their run at the top began in the 1970s, it still reigns supreme to this day. Whether it was “the Logo” Jerry West, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, or Kobe Bryant, the team has played host to some of the greatest talents the game has ever seen. Further, it remains tied with the Boston Celtics for the most championships in NBA history at 17. That fact remains true to this day, as it employs the services of one LeBron James. However, today we take a trip down memory lane.

During his time on the rise, there was one man Kobe had to eclipse. Before the?Mamba?became the Lakers faithful’s epitome, there was another. Coincidentally, Bryant was a guest on his short-lived talk show.

Kobe Bryant meets his predecessor

Before he became the bona fide superstar that we all know and love, Kobe was still carving out a path for himself. Moreover, he was trying to cement himself in the league. Even though his attitude had made him a fan favorite, the resume needed to catch up.

Soon, the first notch in his belt came in. Kobe Bryant – youngest All-Star ever. Prior to him, that honor was for one Magic Johnson. Appearing on his show,?Magic World,?the 3-time MVP brought up the same. “You took my crown from me. Because I used to be the youngest all-star and you came along and you became the youngest all-star”.

As the live crowd showered the young No. 8 in appreciation, he dove into his experience at the All-Star game. “That was the first time I’ve ever gotten so nervous before a basketball game”. However, Kobe also revealed how Magic was instrumental in his success at the game. “It just came to me like hey man, just have fun. Go out there and play and I learned from you so.”?As the crowd once again showed its love for the two, the conversation moved along. However, the entire ordeal could have been far more different. While the show had a short runtime anyway, it could have seen some comedic chops within it.

The $75-Millon Snub

In the early production stage, two more names were in contact to play a role in the show with Magic Johnson. Today, those two names stand as among the best in comedy and media. Both Stephen Colbert and Jimmy Kimmel have become mainstays in the industry.

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However, the two couldn’t come to terms with the decision. As a result, the show went ahead without them. Who knows, perhaps the involvement of the two creative geniuses could have salvaged the show? Ultimately, the show was discontinued within a few months. However, this episode with Kobe Bryant remains a highlight of its short tenure.

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