Kobe Bryant the Rookie
As a teenager, Kobe Bryant immediately captured attention. His style of play blended elegance with fierceness, and his confidence was there from the start. While his influence from Michael Jordan was evident, Kobe’s road to legendary status would follow a much different path, starting by skipping college.
His performance during his draft workout at Inglewood High became the stuff of legend. Despite being just 17, Kobe Bryant dismantled Michael Cooper, hitting one fadeaway jumper after another while the former Defensive Player of the Year repeatedly took elbows to the ribs. Lakers GM Jerry West left the session declaring Kobe to be superior to anyone else the Lakers had, despite the presence of current All-Star Cedric Ceballos and future All-Stars Nick Van Exel and Eddie Jones.
The Lakers were aiming to transition from being first- or second-round playoff contenders to genuine championship contenders, with their sights set on signing 24-year-old superstar free agent Shaquille O’Neal. This was before the era of max contracts; superstars could earn as much money as teams were willing to offer within salary-cap constraints. Consequently, West needed to clear some salary cap space to make the most enticing contract offer to Shaq during the 1996 free-agency period. Trading starting center Vlade Divac made the most sense, as Shaq would take his place, and Divac was set to earn $4.7 million through 96-97 season – nearly 20 percent of the projected $24.4 million salary cap.
West found a willing trade partner in the Charlotte Hornets, who held the 13th pick, but there was no guarantee that Kobe would still be available by then. New Jersey Nets' newly hired head coach, John Calipari, had developed a strong interest in Kobe during workouts. With the Nets holding the eighth pick, Calipari seriously considered drafting Kobe.
However, Kobe and his agent, Arn Tellem, were adamant about their desire for the Lakers and dissuaded Calipari by suggesting that Kobe would play professionally in Italy if the Nets dared to select him. Their strategy paid off, and New Jersey opted for Kerry Kittles instead. Subsequently, the Hornets selected Kobe at No. 13 before promptly trading him to the Lakers for Divac.
This scenario marked perhaps the only year in which a prospect of Kobe’s caliber could have fallen so far in the draft. While his talent was widely recognized, there was no precedent for 17-year-old guards in the NBA, and risk-averse GMs hesitated to draft him.
Even the concept of 19-year-olds being drafted after a single year of college was not as common then as it is today, partly due to the differences in the sport itself. Modern spacing principles were still a decade away, and mid-'90s basketball primarily revolved around 3-out, 2-in motion offenses, mostly operating within 20 feet of the basket. With at least four bodies typically crowding the paint in half-court situations, size and physicality were highly valued.
Under such conditions, teenage players, especially guards, faced significant challenges. While Kevin Garnett became the first high school-to-pros player in 20 years when he was drafted fifth in 1995, no perimeter player had made such a leap before Kobe chose to bypass college and enter the 1996 draft.
Kobe's initial games garnered little attention. Long before Lakers rookies attracted swarms of fans to Las Vegas for Summer League, the event was a modest affair held at the Long Beach Pyramid. Crowds were sparse, as Lakers fans were more focused on the pursuit of Shaq, and Summer League simply didn't carry the significance it does today.
Kobe showcased his brilliance in those matches, albeit receiving only fleeting recognition in the condensed box scores featured in newspapers. He lit up Alvin Gentry’s Detroit Pistons with a stunning 27-point performance in his debut game. On another occasion, he poured in 36 points. Even during the team's trip to China, he managed a respectable 22 points. Despite being among players several years his senior, he consistently stood out, dominating the stat sheet both alongside and against them.
The Lakers sealed the deal with Shaq on July 18, 1996, marking the inception of the Shaq/Kobe Lakers era. However, initially, they weren’t perceived as a duo. Kobe was more of a curiosity than a fully-fledged superstar at that juncture. He was akin to a prodigy, but not an arrived expert. Initially, he wasn’t even slated for regular playing time. With Nick Van Exel and Eddie Jones firmly entrenched as the starting backcourt, and with the Lakers adding Byron Scott and Jerome Kersey to bolster the backup wing positions, Kobe was expected to observe, learn, and bide his time while the seasoned veterans took charge.
But this scenario wasn’t a surprise for the rookie. He might have seen immediate action had he opted for Calipari and the Nets, but the Lakers had immediate ambitions irrespective of Shaq's signing. They were a team on the ascent, a dynamic group of twenty-somethings that had reached the playoffs in the two preceding seasons.
However, even those modest plans encountered a rough beginning. Kobe suffered a wrist injury in a pickup game right before training camp, followed by another setback that sidelined him for most of the preseason. His NBA debut consisted of a single, unremarkable stint, lasting 6 minutes and 22 seconds, during which he didn't score and attempted only one shot. For the first 30 games of his career, he lived the life of the 11th man, filling in sporadically when rotation spots opened up temporarily—six minutes here, eight minutes there, sometimes 16 minutes if someone got into foul trouble early.
The NBA has a knack for exposing the flaws in every prodigious talent, and Kobe was no different. While his skills were remarkably advanced for his age, he struggled to discern which ones to deploy in different situations. Throughout his rookie season, he often found himself resorting to double-clutching to extricate himself from precarious positions he had created.
His acrobatic maneuvers weren't merely a means of escaping tight spots for a young, athletic player who had penetrated too deep into the paint—they were a preview of the dominance he would soon exhibit.
In this play, Kobe initiates a drive to his right from a triple-threat position, brushing off Jim Jackson's hand-check in the process. As he approaches the paint, Joe Kleine stands ready, yet Kobe takes off on his left foot, a common mistake for rookie Kobe who often found himself off-balance due to incidental contact while executing one-footed jumps in traffic.
However, this move also highlights his ability to adjust mid-move, foreshadowing Kobe’s mastery of making contested shots. After elevating from his left foot, he swings his right leg around, twisting his hips towards the basket while keeping his upper body facing the corner. Unlike Jordan, who famously palms the ball in similar scenarios, Kobe needed both hands to control the ball during these maneuvers, pulling it behind his right ear to both draw Kleine's contest and shield the ball from it. As Kleine descends, Kobe exploits the difference in their leaping abilities to align himself perfectly with the basket before scooping the ball up and in.
Kobe's segmented movement allowed him to execute shots from any angle in any situation. Throughout his career, he honed his ability to make shots from various angles, fulfilling the shot-making potential he displayed in his early days in the league.
As a rookie, Kobe also possessed a formidable crossover, back when it was the preferred move for many of the league's top scorers. He would deceive defenders by selling his drive in either direction with a hang-dribble, shifting his weight onto one foot before swiftly planting the other foot and crossing his dribble beneath the defender's hand and close to his body.
Eventually, Kobe finally had the opportunity to showcase his talents in an expanded role, starting in mid-January against Grant Hill's Pistons. Despite the availability of Scott and Kersey, Kobe delivered a stunning performance in a double-overtime loss, tallying 21 points in 32 minutes. This game marked a significant milestone in his budding career—it was the first of many instances where he would lead the Lakers in scoring.
The Lakers head coach at the time, Del Harris, began giving Kobe a bit more freedom after that game. While he would still be pulled if his performance faltered, Harris allowed him to remain on the court if he was in rhythm. Kobe averaged 11.8 points in 23.2 minutes over the nine-game stretch leading up to the All-Star break, marking the first consistent minutes and production of his career.
He emerged as the standout performer in the preliminary events during the All-Star weekend in Cleveland, clinching victory in the Slam Dunk Contest and registering 31 points in the Rookie Challenge game.
However, Kobe's role remained inconsistent following the All-Star break, with a couple of games where he didn't see any playing time at all. He reclaimed significant minutes in late March, a trend that persisted until the end of the regular season. However, when Harris narrowed his rotation for the playoffs, Kobe found himself on the sideline. In his playoff debut against the Portland Trail Blazers, Kobe saw just 46 seconds of garbage time action, and he only received significant minutes in Game 3, which happened to be the Lakers' sole loss of the series.
Despite the Lakers' 56 regular-season victories, they secured only the fourth seed in the fiercely competitive Western Conference. This meant they faced the Utah Jazz in the second round, a team led by John Stockton and Karl Malone, who had been playing together since Kobe was a first-grader in Italy. The Lakers proved to be no match for the seasoned precision of the Jazz. Quickly falling behind 3 games in the series, Game 3 loomed in Los Angeles.
With Eddie Jones going scoreless in 28 minutes during Game 2, Coach Harris turned to Kobe, granting him an expanded role as the Lakers returned home. The team displayed inspired defense in the first half, limiting the Jazz to a mere 36 points and holding Malone to a dismal 1-for-13 from the field.
Entering the fourth quarter with a 13-point lead, Bryant seized the opportunity to close out his first playoff opponent. He relentlessly attacked the basket, earning 12 free throws in the final frame, showcasing the unstoppable scoring ability that would define his career. Despite Shaq's ejection with 7:21 remaining, the Lakers had already secured a commanding lead, securing their sole victory of the series.
Nick Van Exel struggled to find open looks, a common challenge for smaller point guards, especially in playoff scenarios. Meanwhile, Jones possessed the size to excel in postseason play but lacked the necessary ball-handling skills. Kobe, on the other hand, provided the Lakers with an explosive threat from the perimeter, capable of complementing Shaq, but he was still a teenager navigating unfamiliar territory, and learning a grown man’s game.
In Game 4, Utah intensified their defensive focus on Kobe, employing additional resources to contain him. Despite attempting to rely on his natural talent to counter their disciplined defense, Kobe frequently misread situations, resulting in five turnovers and a 3-for-9 shooting performance in 28 minutes. The Jazz emerged victorious in that contest, securing a commanding 3-1 series lead with a 110-95 win.
As the series returned to Utah for Game 5, the energized Jazz crowd sensed victory. Holding an eight-point lead at halftime, Kobe remained scoreless during his nine minutes on the court. The second half unfolded with a sense of inevitability, as the superior Utah team appeared poised to clinch the series within the next 24 minutes of play. Despite Kobe failing to score after missing two shots in the final 2:32 of the third quarter, the Lakers managed to narrow the deficit to five points heading into the fourth quarter, thanks to their faithful defense, which limited Utah to just 13 points.
However, the fourth quarter would tell a different tale. Having drawn the attention of Utah's formidable wing defenders following his Game 3 heroics, Kobe opened the final period by showcasing his offensive prowess. Kobe went with a right-to-left crossover against Shandon Anderson, followed by a behind-the-back dribble to create separation for a jumper while drawing a foul for a potential three-point play.
Utah managed to claw their way back to tie the game after Shaq fouled out with 1:46 remaining. With just 11 seconds left on the clock, Van Exel executed a steal from Greg Ostertag, prompting the Lakers to call a timeout with the score deadlocked at 89. Instead of devising a specific play, Harris entrusted the ball to Kobe. In such critical moments, securing the final shot becomes paramount, typically reserved for the player most adept at creating their own opportunities. In this instance, that responsibility fell to 18-year-old Kobe Bryant.
Deliberately, Kobe advanced up the court and initiated an attack on Bryon Russell with a forceful dribble pull-up while veering to his right. Despite Russell's defensive efforts, Kobe executed a step-through move, fading away for the shot...only to airball as regulation time expired, leading the game into overtime.
Following the missed shot at the end of regulation, Kobe's struggles continued in overtime with three more airballs, including a critical miss when the Lakers trailed by three with just five seconds remaining. With Utah clinching the series 4-1, the Lakers' season came to an abrupt end. Yet, these misses represented the initial steps toward long-term success amid short-term setbacks in Kobe's career. While he may not have been fully prepared for such pivotal moments, he also never shied away from them.
Despite Jordan's Bulls ultimately triumphing over Utah in the 1997 NBA Finals, highlighted by Jordan's legendary Flu Game, the prevalence of Michael Jordan of the league’s best shooting guard, and the Bulls’ continued dominance remained. But soon Kobe Bryant and the Lakers would make their mark on NBA History, with Kobe mirroring MJ’s style, and the Lakers seeking to match the Bulls recent success.
The Youngest All-Star
Kobe Bryant’s Rookie season came to an abrupt and disappointing halt as his own shot attempt missed everything. The airball episode in the final game of his rookie season invited ridicule and fueled the belief that perhaps he should have pursued a college career, instead of jumping straight to the NBA out of High School. These missed shots marked the onset of numerous public setbacks across his illustrious 20-year NBA journey, yet his response to adversity remained consistent, both in his early years and as he matured.
Undeterred by the surrounding narratives, Kobe embarked on a path of self-improvement. Transitioning from a high school senior at Lower Merion High School, where he typically towered over his opponents, to a rookie in the NBA competing against seasoned professionals, Kobe's game was rapidly evolving. His commitment to conditioning intensified during the subsequent offseason in anticipation of the rigorous demands of professional basketball.
Let’s look at the second year of Kobe Bryant’s NBA Career, where he became the youngest All-Star in NBA history. If you enjoy the video, please leave a like, and subscribe, and thank you.
Building upon his strengthened physique, Kobe entered the 1997-98 season prepared to shoulder a heavier workload. Lakers head coach Del Harris entrusted him with the role of sixth man, requiring him to provide support for both Eddie Jones and newly-acquired free agent Rick Fox. Eager for increased playing time after feeling constrained during his rookie year, Kobe understood the importance of proving himself capable of handling the added responsibility and physical toll.
A pivotal moment came during a preseason matchup against the Washington Wizards in Las Vegas when the Lakers found themselves in a stagnant end-of-quarter situation. Isolated against Jimmy Oliver near mid-court, Kobe showcased his growing skills with a right-to-left crossover that left Oliver grasping at air. Despite the presence of Ben Wallace, a future four-time Defensive Player of the Year, who attempted to draw a charge, Kobe rose above him with authority, delivering a thunderous dunk that left a lasting impression.
From the wiry teenager navigating through tight defenses during his rookie season, Kobe had transformed into a player capable of absorbing contact and imposing his will on opponents.
Throughout Kobe's rookie season, the Lakers predominantly utilized large lineups, even by the standards of that era. They often deployed both Shaquille O’Neal and Elden Campbell in the starting lineup, accompanied by Jerome Kersey, Robert Horry, or occasionally Corie Blount at the small forward position. While this strategy enabled them to overpower opponents with their size, it also restricted driving lanes for perimeter players.
In the subsequent season, Harris made adjustments to the starting lineup by replacing Campbell with Horry, while Fox secured the starting small forward position. Both Horry and Fox commanded respect on the perimeter, resulting in a significant improvement in the team's spacing. The 1997-98 Lakers resembled a modern NBA team, featuring four shooters surrounding the league's most dominant big man, and consequently elevating to second in offensive rating after ranking ninth in the previous season.
This alteration in the team's rotation and roster configuration greatly benefited the Lakers' guards. With increased space to maneuver and Shaq's gravitational pull diverting defensive attention, the guards flourished. In a specific play, Horry sets a screen as Tim Duncan attempts to contain Kobe in a drop coverage. Employing an inside-out, right-to-left crossover, Kobe evades Duncan, prompting David Robinson to provide help defense on O’Neal, allowing Kobe to dish off for a powerful dunk.
With the 97-98 Lakers, there existed unprecedented freedom to maneuver on the court, however, it was still the late 1990s, and the significance of the 3-point shot had not yet been fully realized. The ability to execute fadeaway mid-range jumpers was highly esteemed as the epitome of a wing player's skill set, a legacy attributed to Michael Jordan. The congestion in the paint often dictated the necessity for such shots.
In these scenarios, Bryant began to exploit his most notable physical advantage over other ball handlers — his size.
Under Harris's guidance, the team employed a flex-motion-style offense that required Kobe to navigate through screens more frequently than he would in later years under Phil Jackson's coaching. In a particular play, Bryant initiates by setting a back screen before swiftly maneuvering to create separation with a decisive front turn, positioning himself deep in the post against Jaren Jackson. Employing a shoulder fake towards the baseline, Kobe adeptly navigates Cory Alexander's double team before confidently sinking the fadeaway shot. He had honed this skill to the point where he could consistently score over defenders, not only near the rim but also from the mid-post area.
Before the All-Star break, Kobe averaged 17.9 points in just 26.7 minutes, benefitting from improved spacing on the court and his own physical development. He demonstrated efficiency as well, boasting a 56.5 true shooting percentage in a league where the average player shot 52.4 percent. Lakers fans enthusiastically voted him into the starting lineup for the All-Star Game held in New York, where he joined Shaq, Nick Van Exel, and Eddie Jones in the midseason festivities.
At the age of 19 years and 170 days, Bryant became the youngest All-Star starter in NBA history, showcasing his youthful exuberance at Madison Square Garden. He led the Western Conference team with 18 points, exhibiting boundless energy as he raced up the court alongside fellow preps-to-pros standout Kevin Garnett, symbolizing the bright future of the game.
However, Kobe's momentum began to wane after the All-Star break. Having already accumulated more minutes than in his entire rookie season, the strain on his strengthened legs became increasingly evident. The contested fadeaway shots that he had been converting with ease earlier in the season now fell short, prompting heightened criticism of his shot selection.
This marked the onset of numerous philosophical disagreements between Bryant and his coaches regarding his decision-making on the court. While similar issues had arisen during his rookie season, the remedy then was straightforward: Coach Harris could simply bench him when his play strayed too far from the team's offensive strategy. However, with Kobe now indispensable to the team's success, Harris faced the challenge of effectively communicating with him to address these concerns.
Kobe's questionable shot attempts not only irked his teammates but also offered the public the initial insights into the dynamic between him and Shaq, a relationship that would shape the Lakers' fortunes for several seasons to come.
"We've got guys on the team who think they're Rex Chapman, shooting fadeaway jumpers," O'Neal lamented to Scott Howard-Cooper of the Los Angeles Times following a loss to Washington in early March.
While Bryant's offensive decisions became increasingly frustrating, his defensive prowess continued to evolve. He utilized his size to overwhelm smaller guards and outmaneuvered larger wings with his speed, frequently disrupting plays by swiping at the ball. His defensive presence extended beyond individual matchups as he actively patrolled the weak side, seamlessly transitioning from defense to offense. Teaming up with Fox and Jones, Bryant formed one of the most formidable defensive trios in the NBA.
However, Kobe's fervent defensive approach also had its drawbacks. His eagerness often left him vulnerable to jab steps and shot fakes, as he tended to react impulsively to them, leading to compromised positioning.
In the ensuing play, Jordan employs a swift pump fake before executing a drive to the basket, displaying the basketball finesse for which he was renowned. Bryant falls for the fake, granting Jordan an advantageous position, which he capitalizes on by executing a smooth shoulder dip, ultimately converting an effortless left-hand layup. Jordan frequently exploited Kobe's relative inexperience in their early matchups, showcasing his mastery with moves like a captivating step-through maneuver during the All-Star Game.
Bryant wasn't the sole Laker struggling as the season drew to a close. Van Exel's persistent knee problems hampered his performance, resulting in him losing the starting point guard position to Derek Fisher just six weeks after his sole All-Star appearance. This adjustment proved pivotal for the Lakers' defense and elevated Jones as the clear second option among the starters. Consequently, the Lakers surged to a 26-7 record for the remainder of the regular season, concluding with an impressive 61-21 overall record.
The Lakers maintained their momentum through the initial playoff rounds, securing a 3-1 victory over the Portland Trailblazers and a five-game win against the Seattle Super Sonics. However, Kobe's role diminished along the way due to injuries, causing him to miss two games in the second-round series and limiting his playing time to just 30 minutes across the other three games. As they faced the Utah Jazz in the Western Conference finals rematch, Kobe's form was a far cry from the dazzling performance he had delivered at Madison Square Garden just three months earlier.
Although Kobe started Game 1 with promise, scoring 13 points in 14 minutes during the first half, his teammates struggled, shooting a dismal 5-for-29 collectively in the first two quarters, allowing the Jazz to seize a commanding 26-point lead by halftime. The Lakers faltered, resulting in a decisive 115-77 victory for the Jazz, setting the tone for the remainder of the series.
As the Lakers faltered, the Jazz's dominance persisted, and Kobe's performance grew increasingly inconsistent as the series progressed. This reached its climax with a Game 4 defeat in Los Angeles, sealing the sweep and sending the Lakers home at the hands of Utah for the second consecutive season.
Bryant experienced a glimpse of stardom at the start of the 1997-98 season but struggled to maintain it. His narrow focus and individualistic approach alienated coaches and teammates who urged him to embrace a broader team concept. This marked the end of his adolescence, both personally and professionally, as he confronted the looming expectations of adulthood.