“He was overdoing it to show that they weren’t going to run him over because he was a teenager” - How Kobe Bryant introduced himself to the Lakers

Most modern-day NBA fans know Kobe Bryant to be one of the most audacious athletes to play in the NBA. He was always a bold player who took on every obstacle and did it without any complaints. Bryant always worked hard behind the scenes and kept standing out amidst all his obstacles.

That audacious attitude was innate because Kobe was not shy about showing off when he joined the Association. The NBA’s Vice President of Basketball Operations, David Booth, was a player on the Los Angeles Lakers training camp roster, and he saw how Kobe conducted himself ahead of the 1995/96 regular season.

“He wasn’t in awe of the NBA as most people would be at that age. He would jump up and twist, twist, twist, and try to reverse when he could’ve just laid it up on that side. Sometimes, he would fall to the ground,” Booth said in an interview about Kobe. “He got up and said, ‘My name’s Kobe Bryant and no one’s gonna punk me.’ He was overdoing it to show that they weren’t going to run him over because he was a teenager.”

Kobe was brave from the get-go

Most players would struggle to do the same thing that Kobe said to the rest of the Lakers squad. The team had a stacked roster, which included Nick Van Exel, Shaquille O’Neal , and Eddie Jones. Saying that to them showed how Kobe was confident in himself but willing to work hard to prove himself.

Bryant knew he had the potential to shine as a superstar in the NBA. However, he had much to prove, given that he was a player who came out of high school to compete in the professional ranks. He had a target on his back but had no issues facing them because he knew he had the talent to win.

Kobe was willing to take some of the most crucial shots during his first postseason run with the Lakers. He air-balled multiple of them, but his willingness to take those and the blame showed he was prepared for superstardom when he matured. He was down at first, but Shaquille O’Neal and the Lakers were there to lift his spirits up.

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Kobe eventually became a superstar

Kobe’s boldness became a big part of his game because he was never afraid of taking shots. He had an irrational confidence, which made him one of the top scorers in NBA history, with over 30,000 points. His attitude and hard work in training made him one of the best players the fans ever witnessed.

With five championships, two Finals MVPs, a regular season MVP, and many more accolades on his resume, Kobe deserves to be called an all-time great. His ascent to superstardom was meteoric, but it started with some trash talk in training, which he backed up after growing within the Lakers organization.

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