In the 1996 NBA Draft, the Hornets selected Kobe Bryant with the 13th overall pick. Before he was chosen by the Hornets, the 17-year-old Bryant had made a lasting impression on then-Lakers general manager Jerry West, who immediately foresaw potential in Bryant’s basketball ability during pre-draft workouts.
Similarly, why did Charlotte Hornets trade Kobe Bryant? The thought was that if other teams didn’t get a good enough look at Kobe before the draft, it would dissuade them from picking him. This ultimately helped him slide to the Hornets so the Lakers could execute their trade with them.
Also know, did Kobe refused to play for Hornets? I wish it were that simple, but everyone knows that Bryant had his own thoughts about Charlotte during the draft. He simply refused to play with any other team except for the Lakers. Even though he did not want to play for Charlotte, the Hornets could’ve not traded him if they wanted to.
Moreover, what team was Kobe on? Kobe Bryant, in full Kobe Bean Bryant, (born August 23, 1978, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.—died January 26, 2020, Calabasas, California), American professional basketball player, who helped lead the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA) to five championships (2000–02 and 2009–10).
As many you asked, what happened with Kobe and the Hornets? The Hornets drafted Bryant 13th overall in 1996, with the intention of trading his draft rights to the Lakers in return for veteran center Divac. The deal was agreed to prior to the draft, but Divac threatened to retire, rather than move to the Hornets. … Bryant went on to a Hall of Fame career.In 1996, Bryant took R&B singer Brandy to his senior prom. Ultimately, the 17-year-old Bryant made the decision to go directly into the NBA, becoming only the sixth player in NBA history to do so.
What team drafted LeBron James?
As two highly-touted prospects, LeBron was selected No. 1 overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2003 NBA Draft while Melo went No. 3 to the Denver Nuggets.
Did Kobe almost go to the Bulls?
The Blockbuster Trade The Los Angeles Lakers Rejected: Kobe Bryant Almost Played For The Bulls. During the 90s, the Chicago Bulls were an icon. After winning his sixth championship, going a perfect 6-0 in the NBA Finals, it felt pretty bare for a few years after 1998.
Who drafted Scottie Pippen?
In 1987 the Seattle SuperSonics selected Pippen in the first round of the NBA draft and traded him to Chicago. During his rookie season (1987–88), he became a regular in the Bulls’ lineup.
Did LeBron James go to college?
LeBron James never played college basketball. He was drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers directly out of high school in 2003.
How many times did Kobe foul out?
After 1,072 games, Bryant has fouled 2,822 times (2.6 average).
How did Kobe get drafted at 17?
In 1996, two notable players made the jump from high school to the NBA. The first was Kobe Bryant, selected by the Charlotte Hornets with the 13th pick of the NBA draft, but traded almost immediately to the Los Angeles Lakers. The second was Jermaine O’Neal, selected by the Trail Blazers with the 17th pick.
Who is the lowest drafted Hall of Famer?
Mike Piazza, taken by the Los Angeles Dodgers with the 1,390th pick in the 62nd Round of 1988’s MLB Draft, is now the lowest-drafted Hall of Famer.
Who did the Clippers draft instead of Kobe?
The Clippers of course passed on Bryant, choosing to draft Lorenzen Wright instead.
