Former NBA guard Jeremy Lin spent the 2014-15 season with the Los Angeles Lakers, and he got to see Kobe Bryant’s tough love up close.
While they were only teammates for one season, Lin offered an amazing story about how Bryant said goodbye to players that he thought were going to be traded at the trade deadline that season.
Imagine being on the #Lakers with Kobe Bryant and going into February w/ trading deadline approaching with a 13-34 record. @JLin7 recalled a practice during that 2014-15 season.
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“I remember at this time, he had gotten hurt and he was out for the season,” Lin said. “So, he wasn’t around for quite some time, just rehabbing and being away from the team.
“All of sudden, we hadn’t seen him in a few weeks, and all of a sudden, he walks into the gym, and this is the day before the trade deadline and we’re all about to start practice. We’re on the baseline, we’re stretching, doing our dynamic warmup or whatever, and then he comes in. Sweatsuits, he has a sling around his, for his hurt shoulder. He has his shades on, his Kobe shades.”
Lin said that everyone was excited to see him walk in.
“Carlos Boozer was like, ‘Kob, it’s good to see you bro.’” Lin said. “‘We haven’t seen you in a bit, how come you came today?’”
Bryant issued an incredible response.
“He was just stoned-faced and he was like, ‘I just came to say bye to some of you bums who are going to get traded tomorrow,’” Lin recounted.
Absolute gold.
Lin said that after Bryant said his part, one of his teammates told him that he lost “all motivation” to go through practice that day.
The late Bryant was known for his extreme competitive spirit and for pushing his teammates, but this is just downright hilarious.
And while Bryant may have said goodbye, the Lakers actually did not trade anyone at the 2015 NBA trade deadline.
