harveycmd

Refs need an enema.

We got some balls. "You play for Sean Miller."

You're seventeen. You beg to work out for Jerry West, the best talent evaluator in the history of basketball. You think you're pretty good. You not only make him think you're pretty good, but make him think you're gonna be best basketball in the world soon. You prove him right. Truly nuts stuff.

You're a thirteen year old boy in 1992 that your family wants to be as good as Magic Johnson. You want to be better than Michael Jordan. That's some serious pressure crap.

It's truly amazing. Imagine that you have a sixteen year old kid in high school kid in 1995. You think he's good enough to play big time. So big time you want him to play for the LA Lakers and win titles. He's the real deal. Becomes the youngest basketball player to ever to win three world titles. Becomes one of the best players to ever dribble a basketball.

Magic knows this and that's part of the reason Magic says Kobe is the greatest Laker ever. Kobe lived up to it and actually is the greatest Laker ever.

It's important to remember that Kobe begged West to work out for the Lakers multiple times. Kobe paid to go to LA to meet Jerry West and work out for the Lakers about five times. Chumps don't do that any one. I don't think anyone ever did it before. I don't think there's been a case of player literally dictating his draft team more than Kobe. His maternal grandfather loved Magic and pushed him to the Lakers.

Why wouldn't you want to go to Lakers if you were Kobe?

It's true. Kobe's agent Arn Tellum put it out that he only wanted to play for the Lakers. Jerry West told him to do that after he kicked Michael Cooper's ass one on one. It was a gamble, but it worked. Kobe let everyone know he'd go to Duke if he didn't go to the Lakers.

I'm not arguing Jordan. Kobe was the most skilled player ever. More total first team all NBA and all first team defense than any player. No contest between him and Shaq. These guys talking about analytics is Seinfeld stuff.

I remember talking to Adrian Wojnaroswki in 2004 when Shaq left. He said Kobe was being selfish. Told him every real Lakers fan would rather have Kobe than Shaq. Told him to get back to me in ten years. He didn't.

Fat boy never worked for anything, whereas Kobe never stopped working.

It was hard to believe for most, but getting Kobe was more important that signing Shaq. Jerry West said it at the time.

I heard that in late May 1996. As a Laker fan I never had any doubt West would get Kobe and we'd win multiple titles.

Player Original PickCareer MVP AwardsNBA ChampionshipsAll-Star Selections Kobe Bryant13th1 (2008)518 Allen Iverson1st1 (2001)011 Steve Nash15th2 (2005, 2006)08 Ray Allen5th0210 Ben WallaceUndrafted014

Ohio State is bleeding talent.

True enough. I remember watching TNT draft coverage with Dave Cowens say, "We don't won't high school kids." Jerry West then said on an interview, "We think this kid will be the best payer in the world soon." Jerry was right.

Not likely. Only thing close is Jordan v Kobe. We talking 12 guys.

I remember reading an internet story from the LA Times from like 20 July 1996 which reported Jerry West told Shaq that Kobe was already better than him. Guy said it was nuts. Guy had no nuts.

Of course. Best player from the best draft. God bless Jerry West.

Allen Iverson (Philadelphia 76ers) Marcus Camby (Toronto Raptors) Shareef Abdur-Rahim (Vancouver Grizzlies) Stephon Marbury (Milwaukee Bucks, traded to Minnesota) Ray Allen (Minnesota Timberwolves, via trade) Antoine Walker (Boston Celtics) Lorenzen Wright (Los Angeles Clippers) Kerry Kittles (New Jersey Nets) Samaki Walker (Dallas Mavericks) Erick Dampier (Indiana Pacers) Todd Fuller (Golden State Warriors) Vitaly Potapenko (Cleveland Cavaliers) Kobe Bryant (Charlotte Hornets, traded to L.A. Lakers) Predrag Stojaković (Sacramento Kings) Steve Nash (Phoenix Suns) Tony Delk (Charlotte Hornets) Jermaine O'Neal (Portland Trail Blazers) John Wallace (New York Knicks) Walter McCarty (New York Knicks) Žydrūnas Ilgauskas (Cleveland Cavaliers) Dontae' Jones (New York Knicks) Roy Rogers (Vancouver Grizzlies) Efthimios Rentzias (Denver Nuggets) Derek Fisher (Los Angeles Lakers) Martin Müürsepp (Miami Heat) Jerome Williams (Detroit Pistons) Brian Evans (Miami Heat) Priest Lauderdale (Atlanta Hawks) Who was the best player from this draft?

Times up. It's universally recognized as 1996.

Let's go back. Which year was the best draft ever in history?