Lakers trade for Kobe Bryant in 1996 NBA Draft

27 years ago, the Charlotte Hornets drafted Kobe Bryant with the 13th pick in the 1996 NBA Draft.
Jerry West and the Lakers traded for the high school phenom, and the rest was history. 🐍

[@multiplepassions3694]

Jerry West was a killer himself, it takes one to know one 😤

[@usernamenotwrittenoutoflaz9865]

Unfortunately he had to face the God Squad that was the 1960s Celtics in the finals. The fact that Jerry is viewed as one of the GOAT Clutch players even after losing so many finals tells you how good he was.

[@bigstone75]

He was a great player in his day.

[@kb5509]

​@@usernamenotwrittenoutoflaz9865... Whilst having 3 major HOF players on his team.

[@TheArob]

@@usernamenotwrittenoutoflaz9865He’s the only player to win Final’s MVP while losing, shows how incredible that performance was

[@ken33935]

The Logo.

[@hanj31]

This is why Jerry West is an all time great GM

[@kb5509]

He is a great, but there are some major holes in his resume.

[@josephrafferty6763]

You should research this a bit - Kobe refused to play in Charlotte. They literally drafted him without getting the opportunity to work him out and then he just said no. They had 0 leverage. West didn't do anything except take advantage of that situation.

[@hashmoncrief6965]

​@@josephrafferty6763you should research better, Kobe never refused to go to Charlotte, he just wanted to play in a bigger Market, never said I won't play for Charlotte🤡, and Jerry and the Lakers already had this set up before the draft🤡

[@alexamazingg7794]

@@josephrafferty6763Kobe never said that you’re pulling random stuff out of your ass

[@BrucePerkins-eg7hj]

@@kb5509 like what? He the ICON,

[@5100yes]

And the Hornets are still the Hornets .

[@josephgarcia6808]

technically, the Hornets that drafted him are now the Pelicans but yea they still are who they are 😂😂

[@RickLibre]

Still bums

[@5100yes]

All i can say though is that MJ bought the team for 264 million and sold the majority of the Hornets for 3 Billion Thats a win right there!

[@josephgarcia6808]

@@5100yes the only win 😂😂

[@KlayThompson37]

@@josephgarcia6808🤣🤣🤣

[@beau84]

The pure confidence jerry had in him right from the get go speaks volumes

[@ddave7026]

Actually kobes dad Joe "Jellybean" Bryant called Sonny Vaccaro (Nike and Adidas heavy hitter) in the High school and collage sneaker game and asked if he could invite Kobe to ABCD Camp. No rating on him Just a high school kid, BRILLIANT! That's when GMs took notice Those Adidas Crazy 8s were dope!

[@iswimmmm]

They don’t even let Kobe finish his workouts because they don’t want another team to see how good he was.. As told by Jerry West

[@idubbztv223]

Jerry’s faith in Kobe legit makes me tear up man.

[@mrprolific2027]

💯

[@jonb2756]

That's gay

[@shalumbey6079]

I also teared up!! Very few people actually know real talent and ability!! He predicted the future and who even caught onto that fact!! Jerry West❤

[@kobehighlight]

Jerry West knew. Follow our new Instagram @ KobeHighlight_ 🐍🐐

[@Onlyinbean]

Great leaders around him who saw the determination Kobe had and did good bringing him in

[@SimplyCrossFire]

He knew greatness when he saw it 🐐🐍🔥

[@eredinbreaccglas3935]

Yup like Cus D'Amato to Mike tyson.

[@larrylopez9614]

Facts! Jerry knew exactly who Kobe was gonna become.

[@ClaudeChalk]

Takes a goat to know a goat 🙌🏾

[@cacallis86]

The fact that Jerry West always had Kobe's back 🫡

[@drakebutler2114]

He had something to prove to them and he definitely succeeded!!!

[@blackberry_700]

Kobe’s work ethics was tremendous as vouched by Jerry West in practice everyone came late and left early while Kobe came the earliest and the latest

[@stevenjohnson1152]

Jerry West aka the Logo seen it....I mean he believed it with everything in his heart...he would of bet all of his savings that Kobe was going to be WHO we all seen him to be...that's an eye for great potential.

[@zekeharris5276]

Nah, really ? I didn’t know that.

[@fredrickjohnson9473]

​@@zekeharris5276okay smart ass punk😂😂😂😂😂

[@kb5509]

He was giving up a center he didn't need, not the biggest risk in the world.

[@dextew69]

​@@kb5509even before the draft he had his eyes on kobe. He would be willing to trade whoever for kobe on draft day

[@wilber2020]

The fact Steve Nash went 15th..... that was an epic deep draft

[@marcoperez7330]

Best draft class ever...

[@terencemackay1990]

That’s the best draft class ever majority of them are HOF that’s something to talk about

[@edgarramirez9113]

​@marcoperez7330 sir calm down. Great draft class but not the best.

[@ajmcknight86]

​@@edgarramirez9113arguably is the best. Which draft is better than theirs???

[@edgarramirez9113]

@ajmcknight86 1984 go look it up if u don't know who was on it.

[@WayneMumford-wg7cn]

The Mamba was the true definition of a Assassin. Deadly, Motivated, committed and Dedicated. The Logo wasn't wrong!

[@user-gk5ov2rd5o]

Damm you got yo mode on with dat interpretation SMOKIN !!!

[@tyronesullivan8165]

Jerry West is one of, if not the best talent evaluator in association history 🐐🐐🐐.

[@Bonescratcher]

That’s what makes Jerry West a legend. Not just his skill on the court but his ability to spot talent

[@christianehmling5080]

Jerry is a GOAT and he straight up saw it in Kobe, gotta love it

[@janmejayupadhyay9216]

"yes, he will....yes he will" He did and how!🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@jasonmenjivar7195]

A legend, recognized another Legend....

[@SaltStorm007]

That 96 draft was CRAZY🤯

[@badingcalimlim]

the sense of greatness by jerry west is different ❤

[@anon-soso-anon]

Jerry West is the GOAT GM.

[@yp1c]

imagine jerry west GM and greg popvic coach

[@yp1c]

For the same team

[@tempota7792]

The utter confidence he had in him in the last clip.

[@isaaclopez5828]

Five championships later thank you RIP the goat Kobe Bryant

[@isaaclopez5828]

@@perrycoffey5410 no one even said anything about the other people that died or disrespects and it’s not a kid game it’s a man sport

[@MetallicSZN]

@@isaaclopez5828What did the other guy say?

[@TheRealPunisher]

​@@MetallicSZNmost likely some dumb shit since he deleted the comment lol😂

[@jogendron6320]

What? Kobe’s dead? I didn’t even know he was sick.

[@MetallicSZN]

@@jogendron6320 He died in a helicopter crash 3 years ago…

[@Dan_Boston]

I love seeing these kinds of clips

[@slimerretayy]

Love that jerry knew he found an absolute killer on the court

[@siyabongakunene5052]

The logo, man 🙌🏿. He just knew. Real recognize real.

[@babyprince8923]

People don’t understand how tough Kobe’s era of basketball was.. from playing against some of the old school greats like Mj to new school players like Lebron. He definitely was the true definition of an old and new school baller and no one else in the nba today could say this.

[@SaSaUrmULi1]

Mr West knew his money’s worth and Kobe delivered him a legend in return 😎

[@anitaa24]

Miss you KB. 🙏🙏💜💛

[@siyabongakunene5052]

😢💜💛😭

[@jddII]

It just takes one person to see something in you, makes it even better when you see it too!!

[@ozrivera]

It's amazing how much the ownership believed on his potential and supported him 💯

[@shirleymcclain8794]

Yeah Kobe always my hero, my love of basketball came from you 🤗💕

[@ChargersCity]

🙏🙏Blessings forever GOD loves y'all too forever tell everyone you know and don't know. Jesus loves y'all too forever. Teach everyone how to see and enjoy their blessings too forever,

[@gpropho]

I love Jerry West* we all need someone to believe in us as much as Jerry did Kobe

[@vignesh8811]

oh my god, this gave me goosebumps, just thought about how this will all be primed in a documentary series like the last dance.

[@_badmanmo]

“Yes he will, yes he will, yes he will” nuff said

[@orlandotocano1323]

The Logo, best talent scout ever!!

[@ChargersCity]

🙏🙏Blessings forever GOD loves y'all too forever tell everyone you know and don't know. Jesus loves y'all too forever. Teach everyone how to see and enjoy their blessings too forever,

[@jizzyj9074]

it's a blessing when someone believes in you

[@theentertainmentproducer]

Hornets: we f**ked up

[@tommypiffington3374]

Jerry the genius real recognize real 🙌🏽

[@zachkelly4091]

Jerry I have you to thank for another 5 championships. Holy damn you’re the best thing to happen to the Lakers GM wise

[@tonyrivers5320]

Greatness knows greatness, big ups to J West

[@nuclearwinter391]

He saw that fire and dedication. Besides insane talent.

[@ducc764]

And that’s when he took it personally

[@1stNumberOne]

Chills. True greatness. You can FEEL IT.

[@turmericspark2045]

The logo knows what he is talking about 😂😂😂

[@heyyoo38]

If people see your potential and you show up. It makes it all worth it. So many people with high hopes so those workouts were so he didnt disappoint

[@ParkMRLot]

Charlotte just gave up one of the greatest players of all time ,rest in peace Kobe

[@JosephDaniel1213]

Jerry knew what was going on

[@chucknola484]

Jerry West was a great HOF player. He was and still is a great HOF GM.

[@Milan-jd3he]

Jerry West & Kobe Bryant Real recognizes real

[@brianbroughton8439]

Ol Jerry was right after all who knew?

[@gawdsage5229]

He the logo for a reason bruh…

[@The-Reckoning]

Much respect to Jerry West, he seen what no one else did it. R.I.P

[@jasonlommen4769]

The great Jerry West knew about Kobe. He was one of the greats and a fantastic GM to boot.

[@psun316]

Thank you Kobe. Just thank you for all the wonderful memories.

[@Meechdamamba]

Jerry west is what mel kipper wants to be 😭

[@edgarramirez9113]

😂😂😂😂😂💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀

[@Ericmau41]

The difference between a good manager (GM) and a goofy manager is vision to see the future NOW! Great pick West! Legend KOBE RIP!

[@rjhooper9226]

Jerry west amazing judgment of talent

[@davidswain2601]

The rest is history

[@theecharmingbilly]

I miss TNT draft coverage!!!

[@tbone90280]

Espn 2023 draft coverage was garbage!.

[@theecharmingbilly]

@tbone90280 Absolutely, it was agonizing. Like some never-ending shift on a monotonous job.

[@sheldon6248]

Jerry West speaks you listen! This man knows basketball better then most. He knew!!

[@victorinovegajr.5319]

Legend recognizes Legend..Jerry West is on point

[@Khris_Man]

Kobe I miss you man

[@dexterterneza1258]

The man,the legend him self

[@DarkSideDisciple]

This is a credit to the genius of the great Jerry West ‼️👏🏾Good eye 💯🔥🔥🔥

[@dennyharkin4417]

BEST PLAYER EVER 3 PEAT I WAS THERE WELL NEVER FORGET KOBES WE LOVE YOU!

[@shutey709]

Ppl have to give jerryvwest credit he saw something in Kobe that no one else saw and had his back while actually getting him to boost his value and give him confidence and then Kobe became the greatest laker ever ppl have to give jerry west credit and thank him for making the best steal in draft history and giving us the great memories and 5 nba championships to the city of la and imo 2nd greatest of all time and no other player ever that’s so motivational and inspiring to make you just wanna do better and become the best version of your self R.I.P MAMBA FOREVER WILL BE MISSED💯🐐💯🐐

[@tiffanypalmer9918]

I remember that day. 💜💜DAMN it just flew by! Best 20 years of basketball ever!

[@johnwoses2536]

The logo sure knows what's up

[@teddylukusamandela2811]

The Logo was sooo sure abount Mambaa.. Love it

[@ProtegeTrackz]

Bruh when the logo says you the truth...YOU ARE THE TRUTH! 💯💯💯

[@justinyang6675]

It would of been nice if you made the clip more dramatic with a hip hop music and some of Kobes highlights in the Lakers killing it in the end!!!😱😱😱😱

[@richardpeetrinpeetrin9817]

The former 6'3"HOF guard Jerry West was hip!......

[@Hitch_49]

Thank you mr west for giving us an all time great and close to two dynasties with bean.

[@g-rom564]

The nerve of Jeanie Buss to not even include Jerry West in the top 5 most influential Lakers ever

[@ns671fr]

Jerry believed in a tmac kobe tandem but it never got pulled off. What a GM

[@Marco-sq4ki]

That "Okay, okay" sounds like "And I took it personal"

[@avelinomiseray6868]

Jerry West is the best player turned front office personnel hands down. People dont recognize that also had his hands on over the GSW dynasty when they assembled that team.

[@ThePopbanks007]

Yup, threatened walk away if they traded Klay for Love.

[@avelinomiseray6868]

@@ThePopbanks007 100% Jerry got the eye for ballers...

[@ruru30]

Jerry West is a GOAT, what a legend

[@albertpahati5888]

Jerry West. is really a VISIONARY. He already knew....

[@Expizzapie1811]

The Logo never doubted HIM!!!

[@Powerslave13]

Jerry West was so damn good at spotting real superstar talent and then getting them to LA

[@Swooshman_3]

Belief goes a long way… The Logo saw the vision others didn’t. Salute Mr West

[@carlomagnoaborde3999]

Jerry West is the only person who saw a young player who has a potential to be a franchise player who will carved his name in the world of basketball forever

[@emaginechild]

Jerry West is the greatest Laker of all time~ Add up his playing days and his GM days, he’s responsible for lots of championships

[@TheGrx13]

Give me fucking chills, 17yo kiddo... was wtching him rise back then, fucking unreal.

[@jonlong5541]

The reporter asked " even in the NBA he'll be able to create shots" 🤣🤣if that reporter only knew how stupid that question is

[@judithemerson4197]

Jerry west boy supreme confidence in Kobe unreal 👏 applaud that man

[@Jezze-rc6yv]

Whe you get strangers that believe in you, you top that with your 💯 🔥 Legends never dies

[@gavinbrando8255]

Thats why Jerry is the logo.... he KNOWS basketball 🏀!

[@PBCkiller23]

Jerry west hit the nail on the head 5 to 6 years 2001 2002 back2back 3peat 2000 crazy

[@spiderphil]

Bro all the people in ny middle school was talking about back then. He was a legend to usb

[@mrprolific2027]

Jerry west was spot on seeing Kobe potential and he predicted the time frame 5-6 years. Wow

[@tamirch1]

Greatness recognises greatness

[@madnezz1961]

the Logo saw what we all witnessed for 20 years

[@KM-bb1jy]

I’m so glad Jerry believed in him. WV baby. We know people ❤

[@gotellyourmomkid6033]

that prophecy by the logo man is insane

[@deezloopy9811]

BIG LOGO💪🏾 RIP KOBE💜💛

[@berrhearn3087]

That reporter asked the logo about Bryant like he didnt believe em about the Mamba creating his own shot...Believe in the logo

[@eibblood8349]

I guess it takes talent to recognize talent. Jerry west always had that game IQ and was great at sizing up players.

[@evanlantz8222]

Hard work and determination and everything else will sort itself out

[@llcooltoys4447]

Kobe’s mentality is insane, doesn’t celebrate, he just works harder. That’s why they call it the Mamba Mentality. 🔥👑🐍