Dirk Nowitzki on Kobe Bryant recruiting him to Lakers: That felt super cool to get that call from him
Dirk Nowitzki on Kobe recruiting him to join the Lakers… “That felt super cool to get that call from him, but I think he respected me almost more when I said, ‘Listen, I’ve been here in Dallas so long; I want to finish my career here.’”
Source: YouTube
Source: YouTube
What’s the buzz on Twitter?
CBS NBA @CBSSportsNBA
Kawhi Leonard vs. Kevin Durant is historic matchup, and Clippers star can join Kobe in exclusive company
(By @doug_clawson)
cbssports.com/nba/news/kawhi… – 12:47 PM
Kawhi Leonard vs. Kevin Durant is historic matchup, and Clippers star can join Kobe in exclusive company
(By @doug_clawson)
cbssports.com/nba/news/kawhi… – 12:47 PM
Mike Vorkunov @MikeVorkunov
Are there unwritten rules to wearing your opponent’s shoes against them on an NBA court? Kobe and MJ’s words used to ring in players’ head. But times are changing, and the old flamekeepers can’t fight it.
“It’s a new day and age. It’s a lot of crybabies.”
theathletic.com/4425011/2023/0… – 12:11 PM
Are there unwritten rules to wearing your opponent’s shoes against them on an NBA court? Kobe and MJ’s words used to ring in players’ head. But times are changing, and the old flamekeepers can’t fight it.
“It’s a new day and age. It’s a lot of crybabies.”
theathletic.com/4425011/2023/0… – 12:11 PM
Dalton Johnson @DaltonJ_Johnson
I’m telling you, @bomani_jones on Steph Curry and Kobe Bryant was so damn good on today’s The Right Time – 8:39 PM
I’m telling you, @bomani_jones on Steph Curry and Kobe Bryant was so damn good on today’s The Right Time – 8:39 PM
Nick DePaula @NickDePaula
Nike is releasing another “Mambacita” themed shoe — this Kobe 4 Protro in Gianna Bryant’s Mamba Ballers team colors will release on what would have been Gigi’s 17th birthday on May 1st: pic.twitter.com/YkfssICZCF – 6:02 PM
Nike is releasing another “Mambacita” themed shoe — this Kobe 4 Protro in Gianna Bryant’s Mamba Ballers team colors will release on what would have been Gigi’s 17th birthday on May 1st: pic.twitter.com/YkfssICZCF – 6:02 PM
Gerald Bourguet @GeraldBourguet
Most 25-point games in NBA playoff history:
1. LeBron James (183)
2. Michael Jordan (152)
3. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (126)
4. Kobe Bryant (123)
5. Kevin Durant (119) – 11:07 AM
Most 25-point games in NBA playoff history:
1. LeBron James (183)
2. Michael Jordan (152)
3. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (126)
4. Kobe Bryant (123)
5. Kevin Durant (119) – 11:07 AM
Matt Williams @StatsWilliams
De’Aaron Fox scored 35 more clutch time points than the next closest player in DeMar DeRozan.
That is the largest difference in the top-2 players in total clutch time points in a season since 2009-10 when LeBron James had 40 more clutch time points than Dirk Nowitzki. – 7:18 PM
De’Aaron Fox scored 35 more clutch time points than the next closest player in DeMar DeRozan.
That is the largest difference in the top-2 players in total clutch time points in a season since 2009-10 when LeBron James had 40 more clutch time points than Dirk Nowitzki. – 7:18 PM
Nick DePaula @NickDePaula
Kings in Kobes for the #NBAplayoffs:
• Davion in the “Barcelona” Kobe 6
• Sabonis in the “Mambacita” Kobe 6
• Malik in a Kobe 6 PE
• Trey Lyles in a “Wizenard” Kobe 4 PE pic.twitter.com/7cwcZIDiyx – 11:30 PM
Kings in Kobes for the #NBAplayoffs:
• Davion in the “Barcelona” Kobe 6
• Sabonis in the “Mambacita” Kobe 6
• Malik in a Kobe 6 PE
• Trey Lyles in a “Wizenard” Kobe 4 PE pic.twitter.com/7cwcZIDiyx – 11:30 PM
More on this storyline
Dirk Nowitzki on initially telling the NBA he didn’t want the MVP Award… “I was embarrassed. I let the city and my team down and all I wanted to do was go somewhere where nobody knew me and go on vacation or something. And then sure enough, I got the call from the NBA, ‘You cannot leave yet, or not quite yet. There is a chance you might get the MVP.’ And I remember saying, ‘Just give it to somebody else.’” -via YouTube / April 20, 2023
Dirk Nowitzki on debating never coming to the NBA in the first place… I remember sitting by the pool on some sleepless nights, ‘Do I feel ready for this or should I stay in Europe?’ And then I was like, ‘I’m going to try it.’ In the back of my mind I was thinking, ‘Listen, I signed a rookie deal, after two or three years doesn’t work out at all, I can always go back to Europe, go back to Germany and play.’” -via YouTube / April 20, 2023
The Mavericks finished with the best record in the NBA that season by some margin, with a record of 67-15 earning them the number one seed in the Western Conference. Despite that regular season dominance, however, they were unable to get past the Golden State Warriors in the opening round of the playoffs, losing that series 4-2. The San Antonio Spurs went on to win the championship. In a recent interview with Rachel Nichols, Nowitzki said that he was “embarrassed. All I wanted to do was go somewhere where nobody knew me.” Unfortunately for Nowitzki, the NBA had other plans. According to the Mavs legend, he received a call from the league telling him to stay where he was as “there is a chance you might get the MVP.” Nowitzki’s response to learning he might receive the prestigious award, however, was “just give it to somewhere else.” -via Clutch Points / April 20, 2023
What sort of players did you watch growing up at the pro level? Cody Williams: For me, I watched a lot of Kobe [Bryant] just because his mindset and his footwork. Him and [DeMar] DeRozan I watched a lot of post footwork. DeMar DeRozan has some insane footwork. The only thing is I couldn’t really emulate a lot of Kobe just because I’m completely different built and play type, but I watched a lot of his footwork. Kevin Durant, I’m watching how he can get to his midrange pull-ups. My dad had me watch a lot of Chris Paul. Just seeing Chris Paul was never rushed. He’s never in a hurry or looking like he’s out of breath. -via HoopsHype / April 14, 2023
Pierce’s peak in the NBA coincided with that of Kobe. During that time, they were two of the top superstars in the league. This only meant that there were going to be fireworks whenever they faced each other on the court. Apparently, this personal rivalry spilled over outside the four corners of the hardcourt — at least from Kobe’s perspective: “In the commercial … you are supposed to fake it,” Pierce said on a recent episode of the i am athlete podcast as he told his experience of shooting a commercial alongside Bryant. “So I’m going to make a move and he knocks the ball out my hand. … He really trying to play defense. I’m like ‘Dawg, I didn’t come up here for this.’ … I was tripping off of that. I was like, ‘Damn, you really gotta go hard everywhere.’ That’s how hard he went every time.” -via MSN / April 14, 2023
Who reminds you most of Kobe Bryant in today’s game? Snoop Dogg: That’s a hard question because I don’t really see nobody with that, you know, killer Instinct. The closer that I say would be Steph Curry because Steph Curry got that killer instincts when it’s time for the playoffs, when it’s time for the big game -via YouTube / April 13, 2023