It’s a lesser-known fact that when the Los Angeles Lakers won the 2009 title, they had an undervalued player on the team. That never showed more than when Kobe Bryant and his squad were on the victory circuit. During an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live, the newest recruit was put on the spot by the host and his teammates. That clip has since resurfaced to give Internet users some chuckles.

The centre of the joke is Adam Morrison, a former player who has two NBA championship titles on his resume. Yet fans have a hard time recalling who he is except for a funny moment that occurred on TV in 2009.

Late night host put Kobe Bryant’s teammate on the spot

In 2009, Kobe Bryant won his fourth championship with the Lakers. As is customary and the team has done before, they did the rounds of the media as part of the victory festivities. One of their major post-championship appearances was on Jimmy Kimmel Live.

The whole team was on the show, including those who didn’t directly contribute to the win. One of them was Adam Morrison. He signed with the Lakers that season but saw very limited playing time.

He was lowkey on Kimmel but Kobe wouldn’t allow it. As a resurfaced clip reveals, the comedian asked the team where the Lakers were going after the festivities were over. Bryant turned in his seat to directly ask Morrison, “Where you going Adam?”

He’d further tell Kimmel, “He’s the quiet one, you gotta make him talk.” And so Kimmel did. He blurted, “Adam is so baked right now,” making Bryant, the Lakers and the audience burst out laughing.

Morrison smiled through the pain and said, “Staying here.” It’s been over a decade since then but the whole 2009 squad’s interaction is still making fans laugh.

An user commented, “Great way to ruin someones high, thanks kobe.” 

Another one said, “That boy hit a dab and said f**k it live television time.”

“Kobe a menace where u going dawg?”, a third chimed in.

Another fan said, “Poor Adam. Give him a break… or a snack.”

A fan pointed out, “Obviously take Kobe out of this…But Adam Morrison was probably a better college player then the all them dudes.”

“Why he put Adam on blast like that ?”, said another.

One fan stated, “One of the most classic moments ever lol”

Lakers’ most underrated player

Morrison was a highly rated prospect from Gonzaga who competed in junior US national teams. He won the gold in the 2004 FIBA U20 championship before the Charlotte Bobcats selected him third overall in the 2006 NBA draft.

The Lakers would release him in after the 2010 season and play internationally till 2012. Despite their short time as teammates, Bryant had an immense appreciation for Morrison’s talent. He even did a special gesture for Morrison.

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Morrison didn’t become memorable to Lakers fans. Some questioned if he deserved to call himself a two-time NBA champion at all. But as he’d say later, he did practice with them, cheered for his teammates, and formed friendships with them.

Though Kimmel made people laugh during that 2009 appearance, Lakers fans would later slam the late night host for it. Kimmel would taunt Morrison again in the team’s 2010 appearance, though he was absent. Fans didn’t like it, but Kobe salvaged the situation by heaping praise on his former teammate.

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