Part of Kobe Bryant's legacy will always be his unwavering confidence. Even before he entered the NBA, Kobe always thought highly of himself and knew he could take on any challenge.
On the Rejecting the Screen Podcast, host Noah Coslov was joined by former NBA player Rex Walters who shared several stories about Kobe Bryant as a high schooler playing against the Sixers in practice.
Noah Coslov: As his national reputation grew his status as a local legend was exploding. There were even rumors of the Lower Merion High School prodigy practicing with the Sixers and dominating the Sixers' star wing Jerry Stackhouse in games of one on one. Rex Walters was on the Sixers in 96 and told us how he remembered it.
Rex Walters: Kobe Bryant did come to practices or he would come afterward and come work out at St. Joe's. I didn't know who Kobe was, once again, I didn't follow high school basketball as an NBA player. I wasn't into that. I'm sitting there. I'm leaving to go home. I'm kind of straightening up in the locker room and Kobe Bryant, sure enough, walks in and I'm just making conversation with this kid. I'm like, hey, what you're doing here, you going to go work out, and I'm like, oh, you pretty good player? This guy had to be looking at me like, what are you some kind of idiot or something? Then I'm like, what schools you're looking at? Oh, you know, I'm talking to Kansas and talking to Carolina. He's like, but there's one other thing I'm thinking about. I'm like, oh, okay, I was like, what? Hey, you know, Dean Smith was a great coach, Michael Jordan. You know, you should think about Carolina. Obviously, Coach Williams is my coach. Great coach. You should think about those schools. Trying to help out my guy, you know?
Next thing you know, next preseason game this guy's yelling over to his point guard, Nick VanExel and I'm guarding him and he's saying, I got a mouse over here. I got a mouse. I'm like that's a little disrespectful. I tried to help you my man and you're calling mouse in the house on me. So obviously he had to be thinking what's this guy talking about?
The Rejecting the Screen Podcast is honoring Kobe Bryant's life and career with a two-part special this week. Hear stories you haven’t heard anywhere else about Kobe from teammates, opponents, coaches, and journalists.
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