When Kobe SABOTAGED The Lakers ON PURPOSE & Had To Explain…

This is Kobe Bryant completely disinterested in a game 7 a must win situation against the Suns in 06. The Mamba stands way out here for the entire possession watching Smush Parker brick a fadeaway jumper.
The very next possession, they’re down by 17, Kobe is taking over right? Naaah, he’s clearing out to the opposite corner and when the ball gets to him, he quickly passes away.
And look at this: Bryant is not even in frame on this play.
After scoring 23 points in the first half of a do or die game, he attempted just 3 shots in the final 24 minutes of their season, and literally watched the Lakers lose the game and the series.
So why did he do it, why did he have to then explain himself on national TV, and how did this debacle ultimately lead to them winning the championship.
The most underrated Kobe story deserves a flashback. So let’s get into it.
These are your 05-06 Lakers.
Lamar Odom, Brian Cook, Kwame Brown and Smush Parker. Wow.
Now you understand what Kobe had to do to drag this team into the playoffs.
And no, Bynum and Vujacic are non-factors this season as the big man was a 17 year old rookie scoring 1.5 points per game, while Sasha was a sophomore with a 3.9 point per game average.
To keep the Lakers afloat, not only did Bryant lead the league in scoring that season but he also had iconic games of 62 points in 3 quarters against the Dallas Mavericks, and of course the legendary 81 point game against the Raptors.
Kobe’s heroics were just enough to make it to the postseason as a 7th seed. Their opponents were Mike D’Antoni’s Phoenix Suns and their revolutionary playing style for that era.
The Suns had the back to back MVP Steve Nash, were missing their leading scorer Amare Stoudemire who missed the entire season with an injury. This is where the Lakers saw their chance in this first round matchup. And they were right.
With a 2-1 series lead, game 4 at home in Staples Center was one for the ages, and they wanted to win at all costs.
So, down by 5 with 12 seconds to go an unlikely hero emerges.
Parker cuts it to 2 and then you all know what happens.
And in overtime the most legendary jump ball in NBA playoffs history.
A commanding 3-1 series lead for LA taking them just 1 step away from the second round.
And after losing in Phoenix, game 6 at home, it was time to seal the deal. So in a tight game, and a thriller ending, Kobe delivers the final blow with half a minute to go. All the Lakers need now is just one final stop and they will complete the upset over the number 2 seeded Suns.
Tim Thomas with the most clutch shot of his entire career, ties the game and the Suns rise again like a Phoenix from the ashes. In overtime Nash is the ultimate puppet master pulling all the strings and securing a win and a game 7 at home, back from being down 3-1.
Getting so close to the win and seeing it slip away, the emotions are high and there’s always the need to point out a scapegoat, somebody to blame for this. And despite an unbelievable 50 point game by Bryant, he was the one that was being blamed for the loss- for not trusting his teammates more.
And nobody could have ever imagined the way that Kobe would respond to this in the final game.
At the start it was Mamba mentality, as he takes and makes some crazy shots looking unstoppable for the defense scoring 23 points in the first half. But his team is trailing.
Still, Bryant is pumped up and engaged as he even responds to the crowd chanting Kobe sucks.
So you expect that there’s a storm coming in the second half. But in a shocking turn of events, the complete opposite happened.
Bryant would just throw an entry pass and would literally stand way out here watching the rest of the Lakers fighting to get a bucket. Look he’s nowhere near the action for this entire possession.
Again, another entry pass and heading back.
And again, look. Only 4 offensive players are battling here. Bryant is out of it.
The lead ballooned to 20, and even tho we’ve seen many comebacks from down 20 in the third quarter, it was obvious that it wouldn’t happen in this game, as Kobe wanted to make a statement and prove to everyone who criticized him that they were wrong.
However, in the aftermath of that game 7 loss, even harsher criticism followed as Charles Barkley went off on him.
When Kobe saw this, he was absolutely furious. And went ballistic towards Chuck, cursing him out in text messages.
The very next show, Chuck revealed all of this to the public and basically told Kobe if you got something to say come on the show. And a few days later Bryant came to the studio to tell his side of the story.
This is not how you get the others involved. Just throw them the ball and watch them fight against the other team.

[MrFreakazoid]

I remember watching that team they were abysmal, Kobe had to play otherworldly just to somehow secure a 7 seed. The fact they were up 3-1 on that Suns team and should have won the series speaks VOLUMES to how good Kobe actually was. Its no wonder as soon as he got some pieces who could play they nearly won 3 in row.

[ChroniclerOfJudah]

I remember watching this as a kid and having no idea how serious this was. Especially looking back at it as an adult lol

[akingwithwords]

The fact that he got them to the playoffs and a game 7 with that lineup is crazy

[ix_racing]

"you got something to say? pull to the studio."

Kobe: *PULLS UP*

[suave]

Imma be honest lmao. They were getting open af without Kobe and blowing everything. Even simple passes

[jordanjenkins]

The real issue is that Kobe wasn't doing stuff off-ball to help his teammates -- setting screens, running, cutting, trying to get rebounds, etc. If Kobe at least did that, he'd have a better case to argue "I tried to get my teammates better involved".

I'm sure later on he would agree that he could have handled it a little better. Still won 2 Finals a few seasons after that. After retirement, Kobe just seemed at peace with his career and was looking forward to his next stage in life. The love he got from fans in his last season says it all about how the world respects and organically loves Kobe Bryant.

[frpmz]

This was a legendary Heat Check! RIP Kobe #8 #24

[JC-zkrt]

This was nothing short of remarkable. Just look at the team he had, he actually made the playoff and almost prevailed against the highly favored #2 seeded stacked phoenix Suns!They actually made the playoff without any top 5 or hall of famers. This speaks to Kobe’s greatness.

[djkilpatrick]

The years Kobe didn’t have any help were brutal to watch…

[davidem]

The Lakers locker room at halftime must have been hell for Kobe to go out like that in the second half

[ozzyku]

Always here for a great story! Thanks bro. 🤙

[uItimatewarrior]

Same people defending Kobe in the comments are the same ones talking trash Lebron for demanding the same thing. These fanboys are ridiculous.

[yrudonking]

Kobe was being aggressive and they were still getting crushed. At some point others have to give you something. Those Suns teams were ahead of their time on offense and spacing but they were awful on defense.

[TheGamingShogun]

I like how people are fine with Kobe doing this and requesting a trade for lack of front office movement for only 2 or so years but when LeBron absolutely drags a garbage franchise in the Cavs to 5 playoffs and 1 finals appearance but leaves he's the villain for not waiting for nothing to change

[geebster.]

Iverson dealt with much more hate from the media on a regular basis, was regularly blamed for playing selfish and yet he carried a horrible team to the finals. Imagine if he checked out like this because his feelings got hurt?

[StatsNeard]

Kobe not answering the phone but pulling up to the show is the most kobe thing ever 😂

[Noushauga]

Even Barkley didnt like what Kobe did, later on Kobe did admit that Barkley was right about what he said. At least Kobe admitted he was wrong unlike Jordan lol.

[august]

as a Suns fan, i was happy that time when they recovered from 1-3.
But since they didn't reach the finals, i always wish(yeah wish) that Kobe and LA didn't choke that series.
I wanted to see Kobe carry that team

[teowillpasta]

Watching this Lakers and Suns series back then in my highschool days, I totally didn't notice what Kobe did, I only remember they blown out 3-1 lead and I was so sad that time😔

[demramiller]

I love how Bynum and Pavlovic being a rookie and 2nd yr player get Kobe a pass for QUITTING 🤷🏾‍♂️ and to thin Bron gets crucified for breaking mentally against the Celtics in a season where the Cavs proved (AGAIN)/that they weren't giving him help on court, and off court issues involving a teammate and his mom... Crazy