By Skyler Trepel (@skylertrepel)
LOS ANGELES, CA- Mamba Moments Mondays is a column that shares never before-heard Kobe Bryant stories, new insights into Kobe stories and moments, updates on how Bryant’s legacy continues, and even how his legacy lives on in today’s NBA.
Mamba Moments Off-Court:
On the latest episode of “Mamba Moments,” I interviewed Lakers Digital Content Manager Joey Ramirez. Ramirez shared an epic, rare Kobe story. It was Thanksgiving 2013, and Bryant had just bought the entire travel party a big Thanksgiving meal.
The feeling was one of love and gratitude all around the room… until they brought in a ping-pong table. At this point, Kobe took the reins on the ping-pong table and started beating everyone until veteran Lakers sideline reporter Mike Trudell stepped up.
“Little did he know that Mike Trudell, sideline reporter, grew up with a ping-pong table in Minnesota and so they have this epic ping-pong match: Kobe Bryant vs. Mike Trudell… and Mike wins,” Ramirez said.
While the Trudell story has been told on a few occasions, this next part sums up Kobe perfectly and appears to be new information.
Trudell then told Ramirez, “Kobe got a ping-pong table within a week.” This exemplifies the competitive spirit of Bryant and is very reminiscent of Michael Jordan in “The Last Dance.”
In all his years, Bryant never lost a game of one-on-one. Jordan himself even once claimed that he believes Bryant is the only player that could ever beat him one-on-one.
However, after one ping-pong loss Kobe was on his way to becoming a ping-pong master as he was obsessed with being the best he could be at whatever he tried. Kobe even fictionally switched to ping-pong after retiring from basketball in a Chinese food ad, and now the joke makes a bit more sense.
Mamba Moments On-Court:
Ja Morant recently hit a Kobe-esque floater to put the Grizzlies up for good and secure the number 8 seed in the Western Conference playoffs. There were multiple aspects of this play that contained shades of Kobe.
First, there was the killer crossover reminiscent of Kobe’s crossover in the 2000 NBA playoffs before dishing his signature alley-oop to Shaquille O’Neal. This crossover contained shades of Allen Iverson as well, but just take a look here.
Then the second part of Morant’s play was reminiscent of the veteran #24 Kobe spin-move, footwork and clutch floater to put his team up for good.
What’s even more wild is the moves were from similar spots on the floor to these plays using the same hand. Kobe’s crossover was right to left just like Morant. Kobe’s spin move was from the left to his right hand for the clutch finish to put his team up for good similar to Morant.
Nitecast Media founder Nick Hamilton recently compared the two players on Mamba Moments. “The guy to me [that] really reminds me of a young Kobe on the come up is Ja Morant. That is a guy that is fearless,” said Hamilton.
Hamilton continued to discuss how Morant worked out with Bryant and that he learned from Kobe’s technique and preparation.
After the game Morant commented, “I want that pressure.” One of Kobe’s greatest quotes was, “Everything negative – pressure, challenges – is all an opportunity for me to rise.”
Clearly, Morant possesses that Mamba Mentality and his career is just beginning. Legends never die and the spirit of Bryant is omnipresent throughout the league.
