Kobe Bryant and Rip Hamilton date back to their high school days. Back then, Hamilton saw himself as the best high-school player in the country. That's until he played against Bryant.
In an AMA with Bleacher report, Hamilton shared a story about his first encounter with Bryant. He knew of Bryant through his coach who said that there's another kid his age who is as talented. Hamilton refused to believe it.
“Being from a town of only 10,000 people, I thought I was the best thing since sliced bread. My HS coach one day was like, ‘Hey, man, you think you're really good, there's a kid down the street who's probably just as talented as you.' I was like, yeah right.
In the pregame, Hamilton saw Bryant showing off his dunks. He still did not believe that the kid he's looking at is as talented as him. But things changed when the game started.
“I remember in pregame looking at the opposite end of the court, looking at him, he started doing 360s and windmills, I was like, oh man, maybe he does jump higher than me, but it really doesn't matter until the ball's thrown up,” he said. “He ended up getting the win and he outscored me. That was the first time in my basketball career someone came into my [high school] gym and outscored me.”
Of course, Kobe Bryant and Hamilton both made into the NBA and put on a great show, including an NBA Finals matchup in 2004. Hamilton and the Pistons got the best out of Bryant and the Lakers then. But best believe that respect is always intact.
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