Cut from the same cloth as Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant had an identical style of play and passion for the game. Just like his role model, Kobe was heavily competitive. Regarded as one of the most lethal trash-talkers in NBA history, Bryant was among the pool of players who could back up all the chirping. Displaying utmost confidence in himself, the Los Angeles Lakers once pushed Gerald Wallace to make a $500,000 bet on a single free throw. Three years before this incident though, Kobe got into a tussle with a future hot-headed teammate of his – Metta World Peace.
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Call it egoistic or extremely competitive, Kobe Bryant was always ready to bet hefty amounts backing himself. During the Los Angeles Lakers-Brooklyn Nets contest from November 2012, Bryant was willing to gamble half a million dollars on a single shot. Of course, the Black Mamba knocked down the shot. But, it is uncertain whether or not Wallace paid up the $500,000.
Kobe Bryant got into an altercation with Metta World Peace
During the 2008-2009 season, Kobe Bryant was playing some of the most dominant basketball in the league. Suiting up for all 82 games, the 6-foot-6 star averaged 26.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.9 assists. Over the course of that season, the Shooting Guard humiliated each and every defender that came his way. Unfortunately for Metta World Peace, he was one of the victims of the same.
Metta World Peace was a solid role player in the league who was infamously known for the “Malice at the Palace” incident in 2004. Clearly, the Forward was one of the more aggressive players in the league. There have been numerous quarrels that the former All-Star has gotten into over the course of his 17-year career. However, during his battle against Kobe, the Lakers leader ended with the last laugh.
On March 11th, 2009, the California side was hosted by the Houston Rockets at the Toyota Center. Kobe was having himself a field day, offensively. During the final few minutes of the clash, World Peace made the irrational decision of talking trash to an in-form Bryant. As seen in @kobe.showcase’s reel, the Rockets big man claimed that ‘Bean’ was afraid of him. With a classic Kobe Bryant reply, the LAL leader replied “I’m not ready for you?” Laughing hysterically, he called World Peace a stand-up comedian.
The Lakers ended up winning the contest 102-96. While Metta World Peace finished the game with an 11/2/2 performance, Bryant had a much better 37-point, 5-rebound, and 6-assist display. Maybe this altercation played a huge role in Kobe recruiting World Peace on the 2010 Lakers team to replace Trevor Ariza. Little did Kobe know that this same player who he fought with would eventually hit a crucial three-pointer to win the NBA title merely a year later.
Bryant also recruited Matt Barnes for the same reason
Following their encounter, Kobe recruited Metta World Peace to the Lakers the very next campaign. Matt Barnes was also recruited to the Purple & Gold for the same reason. During the Lakers-Orlando Magic contest from the 2008-2009 season, things got a bit heated between Kobe and Barnes.
Instead of beefing with Barnes, Kobe recruited the Forward to the Lakers in the 2010 offseason. Unfortunately, the 6-foot-7 role player had a subpar stint with the Lakers. A Laker for two seasons, the former UCLA Bruin averaged 7.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game. In both those campaigns, the LA-based organization failed to advance to the Western Conference Finals.
