Lots of players were dubbed ‘the next Michael Jordan.’ Kobe Bryant met the hype | The Class of ’96
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- čas přidán 16. 05. 2024
- On this episode of The Class of ’96, Bomani Jones looks at the life and career of Kobe Bryant. The 13th pick in the 1996 NBA draft out of high school, Bryant was the rare player anointed as “the next Michael Jordan” to live up to the title. He won five NBA championships with the Los Angeles Lakers and was equally prolific off the court as both a brand icon and a creative force.
#NBA
0:00 The story of Kobe Bryant
1:31 An incomparable legacy
3:19 The beginning
5:49 The prime years
8:11 Defining moment: The Achilles Game
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![[FULL] Kobe Bryant's 2017 interview on First Take](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/SGR0sMHLizA/mqdefault.jpg)
0:00 The story of Kobe Bryant
1:31 An incomparable legacy
3:19 The beginning
5:49 The prime years
8:11 Defining moment: The Achilles Game
Thank you for the amazing video but may I know the beats please ?
Bomani Jones?
I’m loving these vids Mr. Jones! Keep them coming please
Sueb
Roxx
"Every player says they'll go until can't anymore. Kobe Bryant literally did that, and then made the free throws." Just amazing...
I dropped my phone and Clapped loud af 💪💪😢
Klay Thompson did the same EXACT thing in Game 6 of the NBA Finals....
..... Yeah yeah. I'll stfu. Today is about Kobe. I'm just saying tho..
@@romanbaure Achilles injury is much worse but ya I feel you. Klay Thomson is also a savage dude compared to other players.
I have never witness this determination on any basketball players.
@@romanbaure hey at least u said stfu for yourself before anyone could say to to you.😂😂
Kobe’s not gone. He’s just steps ahead of us. As always.
Miss you everyday, Kobe Bean!
Thats a perfect way of putting it🤯👏🏿
exactly how I feel
@@214Kevo bro he just took that somewhere else
Agreed!
no he's gone
It's not just the fact that he hit those fre throws,
It's the fact that he STILL walked off the court afterwards
💯💯💯
If you think about it, he was real close to getting 7
@@demontime618 yeah he was something's tried to hold Kobe back yet still is one the best to do it
Absolutely nobody would have said anything if he was carried or wheeled off the court. But Kobe just refused to show weakness. His competitive fire was just out of this world.
Facts 💯
I know he modeled his game after Jordan but at what point can we just appreciate him for being Kobe
Yea he had his own spin on it
Keeping your likes at 24
He is Kobe Bryant, one and only
The media want let up
We already do. Who doesn't want to be like mike.
Can we all say Kobe Bryant is one of the most motivational players to ever play the game??
Wow thanks for 700 + plus likes!!
Not only in basketball, but in all sports
THE most motivational probably
Also the most motivated
@@nor2418 I was surprised when I found out he like soccer!
@@jamesthompson5287 Probably mamba mentality is just amazing🤩🤩.
I don't care what anyone says. He's one of the 3 basketball Gods of this game. Maybe one of the top 10 Gods of Sports in history. He is that inspirational.
Absolutely No Question about it.
Bill russell. Jordan. Magic. Kareem. Chamberlain. Etc. Bra think before u speak
@@charismatic9904 Only one better is Jordan out of those
@@ultrajeed7594 dude really? Stfu. Ur like 13
@@charismatic9904 just speaking facts my guy lol
8:00 Natalia’s little grin when Kobe says “I got one more than Shaq”😂
It always freaked me out for some reason
Kobe would had been proud of Natalia off to college. I'm glad his oldest daughter is still here.
I miss him so much man 😔
Me too My Guy and He was my favorite basketball player Every time I played Basketball 🏀 I said Kobe!!!!!! Shoot Kobe!! But Now I don,t because he’s no longer Here he’s gone but never forgotten he was a Legend a Hero he was like a God!!!! 😔😔😔
I dont
@@toliverkinney5108 you a Bot 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
@@toliverkinney5108 bruh
Jordan still making headlines and hasnt played in like 20 years. Kobe still makin headlines and hes dead. Thats greatness!
meanwhile.... LeBron gets called "the Man Who Destroyed the NBA" and has driven away millions of former fans who vow to never watch another basketball game again
@DUMMY EXTERMINATOR according to every expert, big boy
wait, dont tell me. you dont know LeBron has 2 lowest rated Finals all time, lowest rated Christmas Day game of all time, lowest rated All Star game of all time and his Lakers regular season games are lowest rated all time. an average WWE match gets more viewers than a Laker game today ha ha ha ha !!
they are both fake sports but fans would rather watch fake wrestlers flop and whine than fake LeBron flop and whine on the basketball court hoo hoo hoo!
Jordan has 4 highest rated Finals of all time and probably highest rated All Star game and Christmas Day game all time, im not going to check
*average viewers Jordan regular season game 6.7 million viewers*
*average viewers LeBron regular season game 800,000 viewers*
HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!
Lol man I misread this I was about to say Kobe retired in 2016 but you said Jordan hasn’t played in over 20 years
@@youboob6297 this has nothing to do with LeBron
@@Jdcjr1991 no it does
the original comment pointed out that 20 years after retirement Jordan still draws more viewers than LeBron with his "Last Dance" documentary while LeBron struggles to get people to view him
The Last Dance drew 23.8 million viewers on Netflix
LeBrons Mickey Mouse Bubble Trophy Finals drew 5 million viewers. they _lost_ 11 million viewers from the year before when Toronto Finals drew 16 million viewers ha ha! that was just Nielson boxes counted in USA they didnt even count hpw many viewers in Canada tuned in
Jordan and Kobe = makes fans want to watch basketball games
LeBron = makes basketball fans quit basketball and vow to never watch another NBA game ever again
Shed a tear not even a min in. We miss you Kobe...
"I don't get 5 championships here without him" - Kobe's comment about Michael Jordan 🐐 in the Last Dance Documentary
Growing up in SoCal Kobe was like superman with the things he was doing on the court for so many years 🔥
Kobe was my MJ .90s baby stand up !
That’s the problem with you youngsters. That’s like listening to Hendrix but only getting excited about Stevie Ray Vaughn.
Kobe’s our guy he was Jordan to us 90’s early 00’s babies
🙌🏾Ehhh
The greatest scorer and the most skilled to ever played.
As great as he was he’s still second to his airness in those regards
@Bruno Sousa Kobe was a better shooter from long range
KOBE THE REASON I STARTED LOVIN BALL ❤️💯
I watched this man grow from a rookie in the NBA to the transcendent Hall of Fame player he became. His commitment to fatherhood after he retired helps me to remember to embrace every moment with my children. To Kobe's family: He will always be with you!
To the 1% who see this have a blessed day. Wish y'all nothing but success and happeness
And you also, God bless to you
Thank you brother!
Amen🙌🏽same to you
Thank you, and all the best to you 👍
Thanks 👍
he may not be crowned as the greatest to some nba fanatics but you cannot deny the fact that he influenced a lot of players that are playing the game now, without him the NBA would be a much different story.
Wow ESPN is actually talking about kobe. Bout time!!! But the media should of been doing this. Stephen Jackson and Matt Barnes was saying this way before he died.
Joke?
They still take pot shots at him. James Harden is a better scorer than Kobe...all that kind of stuff. Last week on his podcast Bomani said KD is better than Kobe. There's plenty of people that work for them that will simply never respect his greatness
@@Wormholt Kobe may not have attempted as many 3s but he definitely did have a 3. He would shoot well beyond the 3 point line before we saw Curry doing it later on. Although not as efficiently as Curry, he was still taking the long range 3s and making them. James Harden on the other hand, either shoots the step back 3 or attacks the rim. Not saying that he doesn’t have a midrange game, but he refuses to take the midrange shots. We can’t really compare their scoring because their primes were in 2 completely different eras. However if I had to choose, I’d probably lean more towards Kobe as the superior scorer. I think Kevin Durant is a better scorer than both of them though. While Harden does average a lot of points, let’s not forget his usage right was one of the highest in the league. He dribbles the ball a million times before finally making his move. Durant scores quickly. Imagine if Durant did all that dribbling that you see Harden do, all those isolations. The man would be averaging 40, but it’s just bad basketball.
@@DetroitJaxn he is a better scorer
@@danielo9606 I disagree. KD never had to play with prime Shaq. Kobe played in the slowest era of NBA basketball and averaged 35ppg. After years of the ball hog label he decreased his shot attempts to focus on making his teammates better and won 2 championships. Kobe could've averaged 35 for years like Harden did but he was more focused on wins than numbers. He has more skills offensively and KD himself admits that. KD is at a supreme advantage Kobe never had...and while injured Kobe didn't miss games until he was 34+
He actually pulled it off. Only thing missing is a 6th ring
DPOY, 4 MVPs & 9 More scoring titles don’t factor In that too? Lol
@@DM-lj2mn Kobe got robbed from 3 or 2 mvp
@@DM-lj2mn There are a few things Kobe did that Jordan never done
@@DM-lj2mn to Kobe's defense, lots of ISO scorers that time, AI, Tmac, Melo,Wade, Pierce then came players like Kd, Curry etc who can really put up scoring numbers..
also he played with a dominant beast,Shaq who will get lot of touches too
on Mj bulls most of the time he took the shot
@@august6281 I hear you but that’s besides the original point being made
Huge ego huge talent huge work ethic
He didn't only talk. He also walked the walk.
An incomparable legacy! Well said about the 13th pick in the 1996 NBA draft, best draft in NBA history. Kobe is my personal GOAT 🙏🏿
I miss my idol so much he just great on and off the court his inspirational☹️🥺
Class of 96 was an amazing class. Kobe was my fave player in the NBA. I never saw Michael play, but I saw Kobe. Kobe was a perfectionist who understood that perfection can't be attained. He was brash, he was audacious. Dude always rose to the occasion and hit the grind when ever he came up short.
Sad day when he took his last shot. Doubly sad day when he took that flight. He wasn't perfect but he never stopped chasing.
Mamba forever!
Kobe has made so many memorable moments, both good and bad. I think there truly will never be another athlete quite like him. How can anyone duplicate the unique journey he's been on?
Instead of being the next Michael Jordan, he made his own name in the game of greatness Kobe Bryant!!!💪🏿
1999-2013 that's how log his prime lasted 🤯 he ain't human bro..
Legend ❤️
Greatest player of all time❗️
Kobe was/is the closest player to Jordan in regards to athleticism and playing style. No player yet has come close to mimicking MJ or Kobe.
Edit: Outstanding documentary on Joseph Vincent CZcams channel called the Black Mamba. It's definitely worth the time.
In US, Kobe maybe is in the shadow of Jordan. But In China, Kobe is way beyond just a basketball player. In China, Jordan is like Wilt Chamberlain, everyone knows his legacy, but very small percent of people actually can claim has watched a full game.
In Contrast, Kobe's prime time is in the internet age. Plus his dominate performance in 08 summer Olympic games in China. So many young kids admire him, tens hundreds millions of people watched lived game when US vs Spain.
He is definitely one, the most loved American athlete by Chinese fans.
“One more than Shaq”
Legendary
Kobe is the most entertaining player ever....Jordan, Stephen and prime LeBron and kd are very close but with Kobe it felt like he could just hit any shot when he wanted 2....
He took tough shots but wasnt as efficient at scoring as MJ or KD
@@Marrab2 true but just go watch some of the full games...he hit a lot of clutch shots that didn't even result in wins but he would just hit a random 30 foot fadeaway to bring the game closer from 6 to 3 or 4 to 1..and of course he got a lot of buzzer beaters.. the real ones know what I'm talking bout
Yea and nobody played more 50+ win teams then Kobe not Michael nor lebron James
@@Lyrunfromda214 I know what you mean. I watched his whole career.. ppl make it seem like he only scored bc he took a lot of shots, but there are a lot of games where he was efficient.
@@Marrab2 because he wasn't am athletic freak like mj and wasn't 7ft like kd. Also his TS% was above league avg and higher than his other guard counterparts in the 2000s like AI,TMac,Vince,Ray allen
Thank You Bomani & ESPN, I needed that. miss You Mamba.
Greatest player of the greatest draft in history.
Thanks for remembering this basketball legend
I miss Kobe so much. I got teary-eyed watching back some of these clips
Love how Shaq says it's time to take of that jersey, Jordan's, and put on his own! Respect
I still can’t watch my Brother Kobe Highlights without shedding tears
As someone who watched Jordan growing up I thought nobody would come close to the skill that he brang to the game. Kobe didn’t only do that but he expanded on it. My favourite and number 1 player of all time
Could watch this piece over and over. Great job espn
Kobe my goat and fav player. Man was unreal
its amazing what Kobe was able to do once they got Pau Gasol
Kobe definitely met the hype. I was never a Kobe fan but I was ALWAYS excited to see him play just as I was excited to see Michael play.
Kobe the closest to MJ. Mfs in the media turn this into “the closest in terms of style”. Dude ain’t work the hardest for 20 years to be stylistically similar to MJ. He has mastered the form and function of MJs moves and added a more street ball version to the blueprint. But where MJ distinguishes himself is the athletic superiority and the size of his mitts. In terms of pure skills, Kobe may have even surpassed him.
The two MOST COMPLETE players the league has ever seen (on both ends).
There’s a reason MJ says: Kobe is the only one worthy of comparison and that Kobe is the only one who can beat him.
But some of you bums would rather listen to the likes of Nick Wright.
@lucas 💯
The most complete player of all time is Lebron, dont know what your on about. Notice i said most complete, not best
I could not have said this better myself. Nick Wright and these networks like to diminish Kobe and gloss over his accolades. Its sad to be honest. They will say things like Kobe was never the best player in the league at any point of his career. They will say he failed to make the playoffs the year after Shaq left, but omit the fact that he misses nearly the entire second half of the 04-05 season due to a season ending injury. But on the other end give Lebron a pass for missing a few weeks with a groin injury and say he missed the playoffs cuz he was hurt.......its disappointing how they push these narrative and people eat it up.
More skills? That's questionable. MJ was superior in both sides of the court. An old MJ at the Wizards schooled younger players in their prime. MJ wasn't flashy and as what Kobe said, he was surgical in his approach of the game. No wasted movements. Hence he made it look so easy. He can shake off defenders without dribbling while Kobe had to do some impossible shots (difficult) so he missed a lot. MJ was more efficient and effective.
Kobe was a hard worker like no other. MJ may have been as hard working but he had a life outside of bb while Kobe dedicated his life almost exclusively to the game especially while he was in the league..
@@lamefart8831 sure. Mj was more effective because he was bigger,stronger, and faster. I wouldn't say more skilled. Think if you put kobe's skill set in jordans body and vice versa. Which player would you take in this freaky friday thought experiment? I know who I would take
Kobe was a special player
Miss you, Bean! My 🐐 Forever!
These videos are beautifully done. Enjoy everyone that you’ve done. Thank you.
When Shaq said “Need to take that jersey off and put your own jersey on playa”
Can’t watch this without crying
Kobe wasn't the heart of LA.... He was the heart of basketball.... Thank you for sharing LA
Instant tears. The wounds are deeper than I thought.
Most skilled and hardest working player ever.
@DUMMY EXTERMINATOR for real
If we are going mention what happened about the case, where's the mention of the veto chris paul trade?
Yeah, cause raping someone and a denied trade are the same thing.
@@Telechontar09 lol you're a hater he was never convicted, and was never in that kind of situation again.
@@Telechontar09 no proof
@@Telechontar09 proof or stfu
Mamba Forever always... Kobe Bryant became a model father and a humbled legend who inspired the fans from across the world. I truly believed him ever since Kobe Bryant made his final speech to The Laker Fans.
A 10 min video that was watched in a 20 + min span. Thank you ESPN this was some great stuff.
I cried when Kobe passed away. Not sure why, I guess I love basketball and the manner in which he died kind of hit me
Never died in my mind, in my heart.
We still missing you Kobe💙
Rest in peace Kobe. I typically avoid watching anything to do with him ever since he passed away because it always brings me some degree of sadness but for some reason I couldn't avoid this one.
Kobe Bean Bryant, my basketball hero!
Kobe ! 🙏🏀🐐 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆
Really loving these vids!! Keep them coming please!
Almost made me cry all over again
Rest In Paradise Kobe 🕊
kobe making the free throws after tearing his achilles is one of my favorite moments in basketball
It's one of my favorite moments EVER. Not just in basketball, but in LIFE!
Miss you Kobe, you’ll always be in my heart 💜🕊, mamba4L
the immediate 60fps old footage makes me so happy to see
also rookie kobe was so hilarious i miss him so much
I hated this man when he was playing. But I also had nothing but respect for his skills. Dude was literally Jordan reincarnate. Both had that killer instinct.
I see Espn are having a slow day. I remember when Kobe was alive they never gave him appreciation.
LESPN.
That’s why they’re BSPN
Le Espn
I've always had a theory LeBron has a secret contract with them since he was 18
Kobe Forever 💕
He left it all out on both ends never a play off. That’s what I admire the most
People should watch Jamal Mashburn highlights. His mid-range fadeaway was pure. He's been slept on over the years among the many 90s stars.
I've only cried over sports twice. The first when he retired and I wouldn't see him on the court again and second when he passed away and I'd never see him again. I will forever owe him a debt. Some of my favorite memories with my dad are going fishing then coming home and watching the Lakers play.
So True!!🤙🏿🤙🏿Great video.His loved as a Player and a Man♥️
Well narrated, thanks 💜💫
Kobe is the greatest Laker ever. Change my mind.
Magic Johnson
@@smokeydabear33_74 Kobe was better
@@karanveerdhillon7867 impactful yes. Skill wise no.
@@smokeydabear33_74 Kobe was the most skilled player ever.
Mamba rest up 🙏🏾
I think he had so much more to offer than only being a basketball player
He was an example of living your life and work hard for everything you want. Kobe was a mentality. I miss him a lot. Just knowing he was in the world being an inspiration, doing good deeds and spending his retirement with his family fulfilled my heart.
This almost made me cry may the mamba live forever
Relax homie u didn’t know him
“And THEN he made the free throws” Mamba Forever
i cry every time i see kobes legacy explained and broken down. the man was seriously a god amogst men
Bomani did such a beautiful job commentating this literally made me go back to check his name
Kobe was like MJ for Millennial Lakers fans. I did not know until Vanessa said it a few years ago that Kobe was really 6'4 3/4. He and MJ could be a tad under 6'5 barefoot. MJ had a longer wingspan but smaller feet.
Thaaaank you for making this, it’s about time I see some new Kobe Videos. All this MJ vs Bron is bs
Amazing video 👏🏾👏🏾
Forever loved ❤
Kind of a misleading portrayal of Kobe's statement at 3:10. " Although I truly believe this encounter between us was consensual, I recognize now that she did not and does not view this incident the same way I did. After months of reviewing discovery, listening to her attorney, and even her testimony in person, I now understand how she feels that she did not consent to this encounter." Would have probably given a more accurate picture.
I approve this message, and also add he’s the most skilled player we’ve ever seen.
Kyrie and kd would like to have a word
@@koldheartedbam1064 Right ? But they’ve both said the same thing about Kobe.
Imo in terms of skill its Mj,Kobe,Kd. You can put them in whatever order but those three are the most skilled players to ever play the game.
@@pradayou5405 Agreed. Curry might be in in there with Harden
Live on Kobe💎🙏
I have the biggest lump in my throat from trying not to cry. Things like this will forever be hard to watch!
The 1984 draft class is still better, Bomani. The 1996 class was deeper. The 2003 class was more top heavy. Kobe is the only one from '96 who can make top 25 all-time. But '84 had three of them.
@@cyrussalmassi7118 jordan the goat and hakeem is easily top 10 dude won mvp dpoy finals mvp and the Championship in one season then he went on to beat Malone Barkley robinson and Shaq in one championship run
Y’all still disrespect him
Yup.
I am 28 I grew up watching Kobe he was my Michael Jordan
The Legend, the Great Kobe Bryant..
Steph Curry is always there when a goat tears down an achille
*Imagine if kobe didn’t get traded to LA* 😳
Everything happens for a reason. Can’t even imagine him anywhere else.
Imagine if the Lakers did trade him when he requested it😳
Dude they had to trade him. It's not like they wanted to
Imagine if Chris Paul trade wasn’t vetoed
The Legacy lives on!
Thank you♥️
I think its really low to even mention the sexual assault allegations,, and even dare to say its part of his legacy whether we like it or not?? like really espn ?? Kobe wasnt even guilty and that case was dropped.. He apologized because of the circus and drama it brought, not because he was guilty...
I'm willing to bet that some douche snowflake liberal espn writer or producer added that portion in
@@HeathOverledger facts
That was low af I know Bomani didn’t want to bring it up
@@HeathOverledger That writer needs to be fired !!!
Y’all it was 20 seconds in a 10 minute video praising kobe. They didn’t even say he did it, just that it happened. It is part of his legacy because it cause changes in his career, including the change of numbers and the mamba mentality. Don’t be sensitive it’s just reality
KOBE BEAN BRYANT