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Report: Kobe Bryant Made Commitment to Sign With Clippers Until Jerry West Stopped Him
- Updated: January 29, 2020
As more and more stories about Kobe Bryant come out following the Los Angeles Lakers superstar’s death early Sunday morning, the most shocking of them all has been unveiled.
According to Jerry West, who now works in an advisory role for the Los Angeles Clippers, Bryant had made a commitment earlier in his career to leave the Lakers to sign with the Clippers.
Jerry West says Kobe Bryant made commitment to sign with the Los Angeles Clippers until Jerry West stopped him.#Lakers #Kobe #KobeBryant #JerryWest pic.twitter.com/e763uM1DUR
— Lakers Daily (@LakersDailyCom) January 29, 2020
However, West, who was close to Bryant through his 20 years in the league, forbade him from playing for the owner of that organization at the time, Donald Sterling.
Sterling, who was the owner of the Clippers before Steve Ballmer took over, came under fire after his racist conversations regarding African-Americans were leaked.
Thankfully for the Purple and Gold, Bryant decided to heed West’s advice and stayed with the Lakers for the rest of his career.