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Kobe Bryant: The Greatest Upset in NBA History!
Kobe Bryant: The Greatest Upset in NBA History!
Kobe Bryant: The Greatest Upset in NBA History!
Welcome to Kobe Bryant: The Greatest Upset in NBA History! Kobe Bryant, what comes to your mind when you hear him? Black Mamba? Kobe and Shaq? The four championships? Loyalty? His work ethic and determination for greatness? Or how about his Draft-Day in 1996?
From all the questions listed above, today, we will be exploring the worst and best day of Kobe’s career. The funny thing is this: How different it would have been without the trades, the betrayal, and multiple teams.
Intro to young Kobe:
Before we dive head first into things, we need to get a sense of clarity; a sense of where he is at before heading into the 1996 NBA Draft, let’s jump into it!
The High-School Years:
First of all, there were no college years for Bryant. He never attended to go to college, the plan was always to go from high school to the NBA. To the pros, to live out a dream, and become successful.
Lower Merion High School, that was the school Kobe Bean Bryant played for; plus, got his high-school number retired: That was number #33. His success, accolades, and achievements were all the talk he needed to prove he was a “special” 17-year-old heading to the NBA Draft.
His accolades and accomplishments? Bryant’s career on points would be 2,883, Won the 1996 Pennsylvania State Title, made the McDonald’s All-American Team, plus won both the Gatorade and Naismith Player of the Year awards. Needless to say, the man was already climbing the ranks fast. Imagine if he would have played in college what his career would have been in terms of awards and stats?
If he wanted to go to college that would not have been a problem, he was academically prepared and already tested into colleges. He was smart beyond his years, already figured out what he wanted to do, plus determination was always his top priority. Choice came between college and ball, not school readiness. Academics were already a strong suit for him as he learned many languages and had a firm understanding of subjects.
Fun Fact:
Before Kobe Bryant, there were only four other basketball players that made the switch from high-school to the pros, their names?
- Reggie Harding
- Moses Malone
- Shawn Kemp
- Kevin Garnett
Now, getting into the good stuff.
Draft Day: Featuring Kobe Bryant
The year is 1996, and the NBA Draft is here. What was/did happen with Kobe Bryant did not only change rosters… but also NBA History.
With the 13th pick in the 1996 NBA Draft, the Hornets select…
The stage has been set, everyone was anticipating who it would be, and they announced the name of Kobe Bryant. However, that immediately changed as the Hornets traded Bryant for Vlade Divac. Both sides got what they wanted, at the time, a proven player and getting an extremely motivated rookie.
Jerry West, Laker’s Management, got rid of that huge contract of Divac and got itself a great rookie. However, again, there was some controversy. reports came out that the Hornets never thought of Kobe to be anything, that he wasn’t going to bring them value. Hence the reason why they traded.
But also, given the time and circumstances, Kobe bypassed college and went straight to the pros and didn’t have enough experience. Plus, this was going to be a draft-and-trade type situation.
This could of, and is, the greatest mistake in NBA History. Why? Because imagine after Magic Johnson, Kareem-Abdul-Jabbar, Nick Van Exel, Eddie Jones, etc that was it. That was it for the Lakers to have a megastar or a superstar type player.
What would have been with the Hornet’s roster, their gameplay with Kobe, or even the way they managed him going forward? Same with Kobe and the Lakers, there would have been no championship run, iconic battles would have never happened, and, personally, if they would have kept Kobe they probably would have underused him.
Kobe Bryant made a compelling tweet against the Hornets:
“Charlotte never wanted me,” Bryant said in 2015. “[Hornets coach Dave] Cowens told me he didn’t want me. It wasn’t a question of me even playing [in Charlotte]. It wasn’t a question of me even playing [in Charlotte]. They had a couple of guards already, a couple small forwards already. So it wasn’t like I would be off the bench much.”
Is he correct or is he wrong? If they would have kept him, my fear is this, that he wouldn’t have come off the bench; and he most certainly would not have been able to express and show off his amazing and unbeatable skills on the court. If he was coming off the bench with limited minutes, we would be having a different conversation about the Black Mamba.
Trades are an amazing thing… aren’t they?
While this still is the greatest, most idiotic trade to ever happen to this franchise and even in the NBA History itself. We have to remember this, that this was planned.
Kobe Bryant always wanted to go to the Lakers, all that needed to happen was the Hornets able to draft him. If they got past the Nets at the eighth pick, they were home free.
The plan, and always the intent, was to send Divac to Charlotte for Kobe in exchange for L.A.
Both sides, in theory, got what they wanted. Especially Kobe because he wanted to go to the Los Angeles Lakers, he did not want to hang around a team that wasn’t going to give him the chances he wanted or could have gotten. Plus, would he have demanded a trade to L.A. or somewhere else if it didn’t fall through? Who knows, Pandora’s Box would have been opened for sure with what-if questions.
Now, where does the two-weeks come into play?
Arguments and different topics came up that it did not happen that night or in the next few days, actually it happened in the next two weeks. Take it like this, yes the trade talks were happening on that day and they made that happen unofficially; but it took about two weeks for it to become official.
Right? The draft concluded on June 26th, and the transaction was official on July 11th. That’s where some of the confusion comes into play.
This isn’t a what-if, this is controversy!
Now, what if I told you that the Hornets weren’t too convinced of trading Kobe? Would you guys call me a lair, fake, clickbait, etc? Maybe, maybe not. But this is the truth. Their own General Manager, Mitch Kupchak, and former Laker’s assistant in 1996, said they had some regret even before making the trade official.
Hesitancy and confusion were real and alive. Read what he has to say about this:
“There was such excitement around the pick that Charlotte actually didn’t want to go through with the deal,” Kupchak recalled. “There was a time there, whether it was Vlade (Divac threatening to retire) or just pressure on the franchise, where the deal was actually in jeopardy.”
“It was Jerry’s vision that we just had to get the pick (to acquire Bryant), which we didn’t have,” Kupchak recalled. “Somehow the kid was there” at No. 13.
Imagine this…
Kobe Bryant wearing number eight…. on the Hornets. Having Dell Curry, Glen Rice, and Muggsy Boates on your team. Having a mostly veteran team and rarely coming off the bench. That would have to be the scene.
It is contested and questioned, that would it have worked out better for Kobe or for worse?
I would have to say for the worse, why? The championships is what made his career and with the dominance of the Bulls, before it came crashing down, and the rise of other demanding teams. I don’t believe he would have had that success of winning many championships; plus, if he was just coming off the bench with 15 or so minutes. We could have been seeing posting an average of 10/5/2 per game, which wouldn’t have done anything for his career and hype with his rivals with Jordan, etc.
Also, the veterans and Anthony Mason would have dominated the head-liners and wouldn’t have shown Kobe’s true potential. Right? Curry, Bouges, Mason or whoever else would have stolen the spotlight and shot-takes.
Imagine, no Kobe-Shaq Era, no dynasty with the Lakers, Lakers would of had a tougher time (potentially), Shaq might have been the lead star in L.A. if no Kobe, and history would have been different. Most importantly, this could have put a halt to the Black Mamba, not even getting that off the ground for his career. Also, this could have put a damper on players coming right from high-school to the pros to show their inexperience and raw-talent; if there was no Kobe.
Imagine. No. Kobe. Bryant.
Conclusion:
So, as you can see, life in the NBA and his life would have been much different. Miracles and persuasion helped change the future of the NBA and their history. All it took was Divac to not stop the transaction by retiring and putting up a struggle; or even the Hornets not rethinking the trade after agreeing to it.
When an underrated, raw-talent, 17-year-old got that much attention and got what he wanted in the trade. You knew you got something special and pretty talented, just go look at the highlight reels.
How one thing could have led to the next or even worse, could have killed an NBA career and dream. Would the Black Mamba be where his legacy is now with the Hornets? Would he still have those epic rivals with Shaq, Jordan, or anyone he could dominant? Hard to say, but we’re glad the trade went through.
A trade. A draft. Many conditions. Many mistakes. One Mamba. It was a ride, a journey, and a special from the very beginning. This, my friends, was the greatest upset in NBA History.
One team’s mistake turns into another team’s treasure and gold.
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The Phoenix Suns are destined for more than just the playoffs!
The Phoenix Suns are destined for more than just the playoffs!
The Suns are destined for more than just the playoffs! They have gone through so much in this past decade from front office decisions, new coaches and coaching staffs, and to players that have gone up and down through the years. They were considered a laughing stock in the league for the past few years, this would be before 2020. We have gone through developmental players like TJ Warren that showed promise in college then failed to perform for the Suns; we have also seen the worse days of our roster like Tyler Ulis and Tyson Chandler. Those were just one of the many bad players that signed and tried to use.
Now the Suns are clinching a playoff berth and becoming one of the most dominant teams in the league, currently. So, the question begs itself. Why is this more than the playoffs for the Suns?
First up: History lesson on the Suns
The Suns began their impressive journey back in the 2020 NBA Bubble when they went on the incredible 8-0 run. Phoenix would have been in the playoffs, however, a not so good Nets team at the time chocked and cost the Suns the opportunity. However, this was made into something more.
Momentum. Momentum was given to the Suns as Booker was playing like a madman, there bench players were lighting it up, Oubre (who was there before being traded) was cashing in, Ayton was playing like the stud the team drafted for. Things were lining up and we were heading into the next season with confidence.
Confidence that Monty Williams could lead your Phoenix Suns and become a good team that hasn’t seen the light of day since 2010. Then the Suns decided to trade for Chris Paul, one of the greatest moves ever. Why? Because when he was with the OKC Thunder they had a two percent chance of making the playoffs, they did that and demolished the odds. It was due to the fact that they had great talent and leadership within Chris Paul.
How does this transition to the Suns?
Paul was able to take this team currently and make it into something. Meaning, Booker was becoming more explosive and turning into that player he looked like in 2016-17. The man turned Ayton into the player that the PHX Suns drafted; he got more vocal, more dominant with the boards, became a true big-man under the scheme and play-fit of Williams. Paul as the point guard transitioned this team smoothly to where Booker did not have to rely on taking the ball up the court and trying to hit a shot; he was able to create his own shot off the dribble or in place, able to drive to the lane more. Communication was big, Paul said and commanded there be communication on both ends of the court.
Why do you think the Suns are doing better without Rubio, Oubre, and some other players? Because the missing piece of their team was that veteran leader and guider. His coaching on the court has made a tremendous difference for this team and it is not even close. This team with Booker, CP3, Ayton, Bridges, and Crowder is the best lineup since the Steve Nash era. Really since 2010.
Second up: What contracts are coming up for the Suns?
Look, before we jump into how this team is destined for more than the playoffs. We need to understand where this team lies after this postseason and into the offseason.
For contracts we have several names, however, Chris Paul is the biggest one and the only one to have a player option this offseason. The rest are unrestricted free agents. Some of those names? Frank Kaminsky, Cameron Payne, Torrey Craig, and other names that are not as significant as those presented. Right? These players are bench and potential role players.
Depending on how the playoffs go, I would be like get the player option as your advantage to get Paul back and then work out a 2-3 year contract worth around $50-$55 million dollars. Why do that? Here is the reason: This is a facilitator and commander on offense and defense; and from what I am seeing this is a guy, even though going to be 37-years-old, has great leadership and mentorship roles left in him. This is a player that the Suns need, in my opinion, that will keep them thriving on momentum and skill. Not luck.
So you gotta work this deal throughout the season, or even in the offseason, and make sure you sign him. That has to be on top of your list because you originally went all-in on him, now you have to keep it that way. This team is inching closer and closer to greater things, great strides are being made and this is being taken notice.
Sign him, don’t hesitate, it will stab you in the back. Trust me.
Finally, why are the Suns destined for greater things beyond the playoffs?
Suns are going to have an interesting path, an interesting road, to the NBA Finals. That is their goal, but you need to take it round by round. And they’re not idiots, they know they have to do that. I am just laying that out there, to keep hope alive for the gold you need to win round one. If you lose in round one then all that work, all that motivation and momentum was for not. If you at least get to the second round, you are gold. That meant that you were able to successfully win games in crunch time and battle like crazy.
The reason why I lay it out this way is due to the fact that if we can do that then it will have more motivation for Paul to come back to the team. That would lead this team to even more confidence of making it to the next round the following year in hopes of a championship bout. The last time they had a championship opportunity they had Charles Barkley against a primed and seasoned Chicago Bulls team that consisted of Jordan and Pippen.
I believe with all my heart and soul that they are destined for greater things beyond the playoffs because they have Monty Williams, coaching means everything. Do not tell me otherwise; why? Look at the New York Knicks they have a great head coach now and have turned around that franchise. They are going to the playoffs, something they haven’t done in forever. He is doing great as he has developmental players and bums working harder and better. Randle is a great case, Barrett is developmental as he is working and achieving high numbers. This team is in number three right now in their division. So, yes, coaching matters.
So, they have a good HC… what else is there for the Suns?
A good head coach always has some good weapons, in William’s case he has several. Bridges is great in the stretch of a game and when it is needed of him. Booker can drive down the lane, pass the ball exceptionally, create the open shot, get guys open, and so forth. Same with Paul, he can play magnificent defense and offense and his IQ in the game of basketball is outstanding. Another reason to have him on your team regardless of age. Ayton is also improving to being the big man that Monty Williams wanted and needed. Not a bust but a future star. The bench is becoming very good, rotations are on point, minute restrictions and overall minutes per player is fantastic. The scheme, the play calls, and the general physicality and awareness on the court is something that has been working for the Suns.
Lastly, you have the front office and ownership. Sarver has been putting tons of money recently in paying players and making sure that his team is finally winning games and potentially playoff games; same with the front office, the general manager and everyone included have been making smart player and business decisions. Most notably with the recent trades including Chris Paul. With ownership and the front office finally making and getting into a comfortable and profitable situation they are making moves we have not seen in a while. Good coaching, good ownership/office, and good players will lead to a successful team. It has been proven time and time again, without fail.
Conclusion:
This wraps up everything about why the Suns are destined and potentially set for greatness and success beyond the NBA Playoffs. Like we have mentioned before when you have a working office that knows what they are doing and get pieces like Chris Paul, you are going to see the positive upside. Especially when you already have pieces like Ayton and Booker.
The Suns could either be facing the Lakers or potentially someone else if they stay in second place and LAL stay in seventh; however, things could change as LAL will be in the playoff tournament and we could see a shift in power. Especially with injuries for the Lakers, most notably Anthony Davis (on same levels) and LeBron James.
Anyways, the NBA Playoffs begin on May 18th as that begins the exciting play-in tournament. Thank you for reading this article from our exclusive newsletter; if you want more of these exclusive articles and/or deals then continue to read the newsletter every week on Sundays.
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