Kobe Bryant was one of the best players in the NBA without going to college.
LeBron James and Kevin Garnett are other names that did well on their own without going to college, but Bryant has had former league players guide him to the NBA.
This was due to how Kobe Bryant’s games went in high school, with the La Lakers legend going to Lower Merion in Philadelphia, leading the school to a state title and winning the National High School of the Year Award.
His game was very similar to Michael Jordan, one of the most influential players in the history of the game.
Bryant was drafted by the Charlotte Hornets for the NBA in 1996, but moved to the Lakers on trade.
But even before he entered the league, Bryant was struggling with the defenders, one of them being Vernon Maxwell.
Maxwell was one of the best defenders in the 90s, winning two championships with the Houston Rockets.
He then moved to the Philadelphia 76ers, where in one of his practice the team’s then head coach decided to take Bryant with him to play against the team.
It was there that Maxwell first fought against Bryant and was left shocked by the younger players of the time.
Speaking about the fight on the “All the Smoke” podcast, Maxwell said:
Maxwell said Bryant has some tough moves, but he was trying to feel the path to playing professionals.
He added: “He started putting my A__ in that post and talking about it all.
Maxwell revealed that Bryant’s performance was when 76ers coach John Lucas called a timeout and blow him up for the defense of a young high schooler.
“He came down and gave me like a 12 straight. John Lucas stopped and called time out and asked, ‘When will you protect this M_____r guy?’ ”
“That’s what I said to Kobe Bryant, I said, “Kobe, I want to tell you something son, the guy doesn’t touch the college ball, you’re not ready,” Maxwell added.
After leaving high school, Bryant went to the Lakers. The Lakers are one of the NBA’s most iconic franchises.
He put a lot of pressure on him as he was the first security guard to be drafted directly from high school.
He showed a glimpse of the glow, but Bryant still had much to learn.
He averaged 7.6 ppg and shot 41.7% off the field.
The Lakers made the playoffs in his rookie season, and it was there that Bryant had another learning moment.
In Game 5, the Western Conference semi-final against the Utah Jazz, Bryant fired four airballs in the nearly dying minutes of the game.
Bryant continues to inspire a generation of basketball players, becoming a five-time champion with the Lakers.