Kobe Bryant was an excellent basketball participant, however he had bother getting alongside along with his teammates all through his profession. Be it his disagreements with Shaquille O’Neal after the Lakers’ three-peat or his well-publicized feud with Smush Parker, the Black Mamba was typically concerned in tussles along with his staff members. Nonetheless, Metta Sandiford-Artest (previously Metta World Peace and Ron Artest) beloved sharing a locker room with Kobe.
He lately revealed why on the most recent episode of Podcast P with Paul George.
Trying to salvage his status after the notorious Malice at the Palace incident, MWP moved from staff to staff, hoping to discover a place the place he may use his distinctive skillset to contribute to successful basketball.
Finally he discovered a house with the Purple and Gold in LA. Artest recalled what it was like sharing a locker room with Kobe. Fierce rivals on the within, Artest and Bryant had loads of battles on the courtroom throughout follow, taking part in on opposing groups. They talked trash on a regular basis, the viciousness of which typically disrupted the stream of the follow classes.
“We was jawing loads, disrupting follow. He [Lakers’ Head Coach] simply put us on the identical staff…We by no means ever performed on reverse groups”, Standiford-Artest recalled on the podcast. Nonetheless, he identified that their animosity was born out of aggressive fervor and never mutual dislike. The truth is, the 44-year-old really had enjoyable taking part in with Kobe.
Nonetheless, coach Phil Jackson wished the follow to stream easily. That’s why the duo all the time ended up on the identical staff throughout follow.
All these items solely introduced the 2 gamers nearer, as Standiford-Artest attested. He personally by no means had a problem taking part in with Kobe. Quite the opposite, their bond solely grew stronger with time.
Standiford-Artest’s game-winner within the 2010 Finals
A few years in the past, on the Club Shay Shay podcast, Standiford-Artest talked to Shannon Sharpe about his clutch three-pointer to seal the 2010 Championship for the Lakers. Describing how his and Kobe’s relationship was constructed on the similarity of their personalities, the previous Laker spoke about how he made errors earlier in his Lakers stint with clutch passes and turnovers.
He went on to say that Kobe by no means snapped at him for such errors as a result of they have been so comparable. And that was the rationale their bond was so robust.
Regardless of all this, Standiford-Artest’s instant response after the 2010 Finals was considered one of pure pleasure. Within the press convention following the Sport 7 victory, he spoke passionately about how Kobe wished to be a winner above all else, and the way he ensured that the Lakers had a stable likelihood of lifting the Larry O’Brien Trophy.
To conclude, Standiford-Artest giddily exclaimed, “Kobe handed me the ball! He by no means passes me the ball!” It might nicely have been one of the vital vital assists of Kobe Bryant’s 20-year profession, as a result of the ensuing three-pointer from Standiford-Artest assured the Mamba his fifth ring.
