Once Snubbed by Kobe Bryant, Hollywood’s Favorite Adam Sandler Joins 19000 Fans in Special Black Mamba Tribute

How fun would it have been to witness Kobe Bryant on screen with Adam Sandler? That dream almost became a reality a few years ago, only for things to fall apart in the end. However, that didn’t stop Sandler from showing up at Crypto.com Arena supporting the team. As the Los Angeles Lakers faced the Denver Nuggets on Kobe’s statue night, they brought back the famed Mamba jerseys that became the talk of the town in the Bubble in 2020.

Sandler was also seen sporting the black and yellow jersey with a green overcoat on top of it. The 19,000 fans in the Lakers arena wore the same jersey too. That was only because the Lakers organization decided to give all of their fans who attended the game a mamba jersey as a tribute.

The lucky fans also had the opportunity to twin with the players and Adam Sandler. The excitement was not just for the fans but also for a few newly added stars of the Lakers. 

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Rui Hachimura, Taurean Prince, and Austin Reaves grabbed their first chance to wear the mamba jersey as they joined the team after the 2020 championship. The Lakers shared a video of these youngsters getting these honorable jerseys of their own. While it was a night of celebration, Sandler’s appearance brought back memories of the time he was supposed to work with Bryant.

How did Adam Sandler get snubbed by Kobe Bryant? 

One of Sandler’s famous projects is the ‘Uncut Gems’. The crime/thriller had a defined and hand-picked cast, which surprisingly landed Boston Celtics legend Kevin Garnett in a crucial role. But to everyone’s surprise, this script was first written with Kobe Bryant in mind. The Safdie Brothers, who directed this thriller, approached Bryant first and altered the script for him. 

However, Bryant didn’t want to work in front of the camera, so he requested a role behind it as a director. That did not sit well with the Safdie Brothers, who went with Garnett as their final option. Although Adam Sandler was a good friend of Bryant, the latter rejected the role. The 57-year-old Hollywood star did not keep any of that in mind, though. All he wanted to do was honor his late friend. 

It would have been nice to see the two together on screen. Sadly, we do not have a chance anymore. What are your thoughts on the above story? Share it in the comments below. 

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