The late Los Angeles Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant remains one of the most beloved figures in NBA history. Many stars have shared stories about his unmatched work ethic and uplifting mentorship, like when Kyrie Irving recalled Bryant’s guidance after the 2016 Finals, and when Giannis Antetokounmpo cherished his motivational challenges.
Yet, not all stories about the five-time champion paint the same picture. In a surprising twist, a former NBA champion once shared a shocking account that made fans see a different side of the Black Mamba.
What Was Stephen Jackson’s Shocking Revelation Regarding Kobe Bryant?
In a June episode of “Byron Scott’s Fast Break” podcast, Stephen Jackson sat down to revisit his battles against Bryant.
While praising Bryant’s greatness, Jackson also unveiled a story that sounded more like a wild conspiracy theory than a simple memory. According to Jackson, the “Black Mamba” had a knack for pushing the boundaries of the game, and sometimes he crossed the line and even got away with it.
“Yeah, they used to let him cheat!… I’m guarding Kobe, and I drive to the basket, and I kind of get fouled, and they did not call it, so I’m talking to the referee on the way back, and I am talking to the referee, and Kobe’s coming up.”
“He [the referee] was like, oh stop talking, stop talking, you better pay attention. Kobe just pulls up and hits the three,” said Jackson during the podcast.
The former swingman went on to describe one particular incident where he was about to take a shot, only to feel a sharp slap on his arm from Bryant. The referee witnessed the foul, Jackson claimed, but no whistle ever came.
“I’m losing it now, you know. I was a hothead. I’m losing on the ref. I’m talking to the ref while running back, and you know, I’m crossing half court, still jawing at him… and Kobe launches one… Cashhhh!” added Jackson during the podcast.
The story can be dated back to the 2003 Western Conference Semifinals series, which was between the Lakers and the San Antonio Spurs. Jackson, at that time, was a key role player in the Spurs squad.
However, despite Bryant’s intensity and alleged in-game cheating, the Lakers ultimately fell short in that series. The Spurs defeated the Lakers and even went on to capture the 2003 NBA championship as they defeated the New Jersey Nets in the Finals.
Tim Duncan’s dominance led to the elimination of the 3x champion Lakers (00, 01, 02) securing his second championship ring in the 2003 Western Conference Finals. Shaquille O’Neal’s moniker, “The Big Fundamental,” aptly describes Duncan’s exceptional all-around game,… pic.twitter.com/RofRqxV4P9
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Now, coming to Jackson, he was selected by the Phoenix Suns in the second round (42nd overall) of the 1997 NBA Draft. But he didn’t officially start playing in the NBA until the year 2000.
From there, he went onto have a successful 14-season career. He averaged 15.1 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.3 steals per game while shooting 41.4% from the field and came to be known for his clutch performances.
Moreover, if we see throughout his career, Jackson faced Bryant 35 times. To be specific it was 29 times in the regular season and 6 times in the playoffs. Interestingly, despite Jackson’s allegations of preferential treatment, Bryant’s teams held only a slight 18-17 edge in those head-to-head contests
While fans often celebrate Bryant for his legendary skill set, Jackson’s story provides a rare glimpse of how intimidating Black Mamba was to his opponents.
