Kobe: The air up there

Every few years you’ll hear experts talk about how this NBA draft is the best to come along in generations. The players will affect the league for  years to come. There’s multiple superstars available in the Top 5. The last time this frenzy his was the 2014 NBA Draft where Andrew Wiggins was taken with the top pick, Jabari Parker followed and the presumed No. 1 Joel Embiid slipped to slot three following a foot injury.

For my money, I’ve only witnessed three classes that deserved the ink. The 1984 draft, which, rightfully so has a book full of ink, in the form of Filip Bondy’s “Tip Off.” Then there’s Bron Bron’s class, which produced the King, Carmelo, D-Wade, Chris Bosh and company in 2003. And the one closest to me: the 1996 class featuring Allen Iverson, Marcus Camby, Starbury, Ray Allen, Kerry Kittles, Antoine Walker, Steve Nash, Peja Stojakovic, Big Z, Derek Fisher, Jermaine O’Neal and Kobe Bean Bryant.

It’s been ill to watch Kobe’s career in real-time and how he evolved. He’s the gunslinger from a different era now who’s not afraid to shoot. Hell, there’s the Kobe Assist now that exists as a result of his high-volume chucking. And his peers give him props for being able to physically put up so many shots.

Back in ’97, he was a gunner but the accolades, the clutch shots and the rings weren’t there yet. So, it’s incredible to think about this team—the Los Angeles Lakers—in the playoffs after a brief drought and in an important game who does the rock go to? Not Shaq, who finished with 23 points. Not Nick Van Exel, who cooked with 26. They went to Kobe. And then Kobe. And then Kobe.

This was an elimination game and the kid put them up. And airballed one after the other, again and again. He held his head high and kept shooting. That’s the kind of shit that could melt rookies. Let alone a teen, when making the leap from high school was still a novelty.

In KB8’s first season he managed to play 15 minutes a game while shooting 41.7% and averaging 7.6 points. After this Game 5 debacle (the Show lost to the Stockton/Malone Jazz 4-1), Bryant returned for a sophomore season where he doubled his per game averages in minutes played and points scored before his third season, which he hit his stride and became a starter.

I know Mike has the commercial where he talks about failing over and over again (that’s why he succeeds), but damn if he ever had to take an L like Kobe did in front of everyone.