Post by Joey on Dec 29, 2015 19:41:27 GMT -5
The truth has two versions, apparently.
The Charlotte Hornets drafted Kobe Bryant with the 13th pick in the 1996 draft - widely considered among the best draft classes in NBA history - and ultimately decided to send the skinny teenager packing to L.A.
With Bryant's legacy about to be wrapped in gold and placed near the top of the Association's proverbial trophy case, the story of that fateful draft day almost two decades ago still seems to be fodder for debate.
"Charlotte never wanted me," the 37-year-old Los Angeles Lakers icon said after Monday's loss to the Hornets.
Although Bryant was years away from morphing into the "Mamba" basketball fans have come to love (or hate, depending on their affiliations), the prep-to-pros phenom was deemed expendable by then-head coach Dave Cowens, according to Bryant.
"Cowens told me he didn't want me. It wasn't a question of me even playing here," Bryant said. "They had a couple of guards already, a couple small forwards already. So it wasn't like I would be off the bench much."
Conflicting accounts, however, have long purported that Bryant's agent at the time, Arn Tellem, and then-Lakers general manager Jerry West did everything in their power to ensure the wiry shooting guard - oozing with potential - would wind up in purple and gold.
Assuming Bryant would've eventually flourished on Charlotte's roster - or any other team's for that matter - would be a exercise in hindsight bias.
Who's to say Bryant would've become the living legend he is today had the Hornets not swapped him for current Sacramento Kings general manager Vlade Divac?
Bryant, for one, is grateful for the impact the immediate change in zip codes had on his evolution.
"I knew who Dave Cowens was and (was) pretty excited (to play for him). Then I was like, 'Oh, all right.' I quickly transitioned from smiley kid to killer instinct," he said.
The Hornets should expect a thank you card from Laker Nation any day now.
Source: www.thescore.com/nba/news/922850
The Charlotte Hornets drafted Kobe Bryant with the 13th pick in the 1996 draft - widely considered among the best draft classes in NBA history - and ultimately decided to send the skinny teenager packing to L.A.
With Bryant's legacy about to be wrapped in gold and placed near the top of the Association's proverbial trophy case, the story of that fateful draft day almost two decades ago still seems to be fodder for debate.
"Charlotte never wanted me," the 37-year-old Los Angeles Lakers icon said after Monday's loss to the Hornets.
Although Bryant was years away from morphing into the "Mamba" basketball fans have come to love (or hate, depending on their affiliations), the prep-to-pros phenom was deemed expendable by then-head coach Dave Cowens, according to Bryant.
"Cowens told me he didn't want me. It wasn't a question of me even playing here," Bryant said. "They had a couple of guards already, a couple small forwards already. So it wasn't like I would be off the bench much."
Conflicting accounts, however, have long purported that Bryant's agent at the time, Arn Tellem, and then-Lakers general manager Jerry West did everything in their power to ensure the wiry shooting guard - oozing with potential - would wind up in purple and gold.
Assuming Bryant would've eventually flourished on Charlotte's roster - or any other team's for that matter - would be a exercise in hindsight bias.
Who's to say Bryant would've become the living legend he is today had the Hornets not swapped him for current Sacramento Kings general manager Vlade Divac?
Bryant, for one, is grateful for the impact the immediate change in zip codes had on his evolution.
"I knew who Dave Cowens was and (was) pretty excited (to play for him). Then I was like, 'Oh, all right.' I quickly transitioned from smiley kid to killer instinct," he said.
The Hornets should expect a thank you card from Laker Nation any day now.
Source: www.thescore.com/nba/news/922850
