Thursday marks the one-year anniversary of Sacramento Kings shooting guard Ben McLemore's failed attempt to receive a personal challenge from Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant. Last year on Mamba Day (8/24), Bryant issued a number of challenges to NBA players via social media.
Bryant requested that Isaiah Thomas make the All-NBA first team, John Wall make All-Defensive first team and Giannis Antetokounmpo win MVP. Unfortunately, none of these three were able to pass Bryant's challenges for the 2017-18 season.
McLemore — a member of the Memphis Grizzlies at the time — wanted in on this challenge as well:
https://twitter.com/BenMcLemore/status/902767531131363330?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E902767531131363330&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fbealestreetbears.com%2F2017%2F09%2F01%2Fmemphis-grizzlies-ben-mclemore-trolled-mambachallenge-tweet%2F
Too bad Kobe never responded.
McLemore entered the 2013 NBA Draft with a lot of hype. He was selected No. 7 overall by the Kings and averaged 8.8 points, 2.9 rebounds and an assist in his rookie campaign. As he enters his sixth year in the league, his career stats stand at 9.1 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game.
After some time in the NBA G League and a stint with the Grizzlies last season, he has found his way back to Sacaramento. The Kings have a talented young core that features De'Aron Fox, Marvin Bagley III, Harry Giles, Buddy Hield and Willie Cauley-Stein.
If McLemore can scavenge enough minutes from his young team this year, maybe he can finally earn the recognition he craves.
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