“Kobe Kicked My A**”: Lakers Legend Confesses How a 17-Year-Old Kobe Bryant Embarrassed Him Before the NBA Draft

Kobe Bryant was a lethal force in the league for twenty years. As a deadly scorer, Kobe often torched his opponents with his basketball abilities and mental strength. During his time as a Laker, the ‘Mamba’ won 5 titles, an MVP award, and gave fans several high-impact performances. He even left the sport on a high as he dropped 60 points over the Utah Jazz in his last ever NBA game.

Aside from basketball skills and mental strength, Kobe also possessed an extremely high competitive spirit that he featured even during his days as a high-school player. It was this competitive spirit that former Laker legend Michael Cooper experienced during Kobe’s pre-draft workout.

Michael Cooper’s Kobe Bryant Story

Prior to being drafted as the 13th pick for the Lakers in 1996, Kobe attended a pre-draft workout with the Lakers. It was there that former Laker, Michael Cooper, who was on the coaching staff at the time, defended Kobe during the workout.

Cooper mentioned that the regular scenario during pre-draft workouts was for the coaching staff to simply watch the players shoot and pass the ball. However, when Kobe arrived on the scene, Cooper was asked by Jerry West to defend Kobe during the workout. This was when Kobe gave him a hard time.

“So we started out on the wing, and I was just supposed to play him, and it was probably the best workout I’ve ever had. A lot of people said Kobe kicked my a**, I’m gonna agree, I think I got after his a**,” said Cooper.

Thereafter, Cooper spoke about how Kobe’s low post abilities left him amazed. Kobe was able to go in his favored direction, despite Cooper forcing him a certain way. Furthermore, Kobe’s workout was so impressive that Jerry West decided to pick him in the 1996 draft.

Kobe in the NBA

When Kobe first arrived in the NBA, he wasn’t the best player on the team, despite having the drive to make a strong impact. However, he’d come back the following year with a major improvement in his game. He’d even make his debut in the All-Star Game that year. Clearly, the man was on a mission to succeed.

READ MORE: Kobe Bryant Once Admitted How Stephen Curry’s “Calmness” Makes Him Lethal On the Court: “You Got a Serious, Serious Problem On Your Hands”

In the years that would follow, Kobe teamed up with Shaquille O’Neal and helped the Lakers win 3 championships. After Shaq’s departure, Kobe would go on a relentless run of scoring performances. One of these would be the 81 point game against the Toronto Raptors. Additionally, he’d go on to win the MVP award despite losing to the Boston Celtics in the finals. But the man would earn his redemption by winning 2 back-to-back titles over the next two seasons.

Kobe has always been considered as one of the fiercest competitors. He embodied hard work and dedication to his craft as he took over the NBA. Clearly, Michael Cooper witnessed a legend in the making when he played Kobe as a 17-year-old.

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