Lakers news: Kobe Bryant says he would've attended Duke had he played in college

Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant would've played for coach Mike Krzyzewski at Duke had he went to college right after high school.

Kobe Bryant is one of the most successful players to ever play in the NBA. He also belongs to a small group who went straight to the league from high school, never playing in a single college game. Times have changed, and now it is required for players to spend at least one season in college, or be out of high school for a year before they can become eligible for the draft. Recruitment has been as competitive as ever, as schools are looking to add the best talent available in order to continue their respective program’s success.

There is no doubt that Los Angeles Lakers legend would’ve been a prized catch for an NCAA school had he pursued playing in college. Many wondered which school he may have joined, but he recently shed light to the mystery.

In a response to a tweet, Bryant made it known that he would have chosen Duke University to play under the tutelage of legendary coach Mike Krzyzewski. Of course, the question about North Carolina surfaced, but Bryant said Coach K did not stop in trying to recruit him, making him lean towards the Blue Devils instead.

Duke https://t.co/RDyzJ0PMUw

— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) November 20, 2017

Maybe but Coach Smith stopped recruiting me. He thought I would go pro and wished me luck. Coach K kept at it. https://t.co/xS6OD8SmEV

— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) November 20, 2017

As it turned out, however, Kobe Bryant was selected 13th overall in 1996 by the Charlotte Hornets, and traded on draft night to the Los Angeles Lakers. He had an illustrious 20-year career, and won almost all awards the league has the offer, including the MVP. He was also named an All-Star 18 times. The 6-foot-6 shooting guard won the NBA championship five times, and made a name for himself as one of the fiercest competitors the game has ever seen.

It may be difficult to imagine Bryant wearing a Duke jersey before the Purple and Gold of the Lakers, but with all the success he's had during his professional playing days, he may not want it any other way. He has become a household name, and one of the most recognizable NBA players of all time, and his legacy will forever live on, even if he did not play college basketball.