This Decision Would Have Changed Kobe Bryant's Career and NBA History | Crazy NBA What If

Tim Thomas' decision to not declare for the 1996 Draft may have changed the course of NBA history. And before you comment that this is BS - why would Thomas lie? It's well known that Kobe and Thomas were the consensus top two players in the Class of 1996. They were also very close up until Kobe's tragic passing.
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[@AridGems]

2006 Playoffs, Kobe and the Lakers are surprisingly up 3-2 against the second best team in the west record wise Phoenix Suns. Lakers are about to pull off a monumental upset. I forgot how many seconds are left in that game 6 but the Lakers are up by 3. Time running down and Tim Thomas hits a dagger 3 to send the game into ot. Lakers go on to loose that game and lost game 7 in Phoenix. That was when Kob was playing with Smush Parker and Kwame. I'll never forget that shot by Tim Thomas. He ruined the upset.

[@feynmanschwingere_mc2270]

Wowwwww GREAT POINT!!!! Tim Thomas must've felt so good hitting that shot!!!!!

[@noneyabeeysnass8283]

Tim Thomas definitely ruined the upset. TT had far too much game to not become a problem in that series

[@sickkicksalwaysglobal1433]

That Hurt So BAD

[@rapgodreloaded9259]

Tim Thomas could've been a all star.

[@Kingtut111]

He said it his intentions were led by 💰 Kobe wanted the be the best. No comparison, when he got paid he let up

[@YouCanChangeYourWorldToday]

That’s what separates the Superstars from the rest! The drive to win and be the best and stay consistent each game, season, and every time the spotlight is on you ! Some fold under pressure and some thrive and become LEGENDS !

[@MrEliasdl]

Kobe forced his way to the Lakers. Nothing was going to change that outcome.

[@90sBullsFan]

Lol no he didn't

[@dbradandthem2727]

Tim was a MONSTER outta high-school.

[@robertcammon5969]

Tim Thomas skillset would have been way more valuable in today's NBA and Guys like Big Dog, Mashburn, Billy Owen's would have all been Max players.

[@dbradandthem2727]

Yo I forgot all about Billy Owen's, Mash would definitely been a max player

[@robertcammon5969]

@dbradandthem2727 People forget about all the guys who were 3s or 4 who weren't allowed to play their games in the NBA at the time.

[@deltadefconii4459]

TIM WAS A PROBLEM ☝🏾💯

[@DontaySmith6]

Jerry West wanted Kobe. Tim Thomas wasn’t changing that

[@kisswriters]

“The greatest pro workout I’ve ever seen .” - Jerry West on Kobe Bryant

[@90sBullsFan]

Had Tim came out that don't mean Jerry get kobe for vlade

[@chrisrobinson8339]

Philly should have kept stack and Tim.

[@poloregal]

Dumb moves by a terribly ran franchise

[@atlien1988]

Stack & Iverson really didn't mesh well on the court together. I was there & they traded him for defensive minded players to build around Iverson. Ratliff was eventually traded for Mutumbo who helped lead them to Finals as the DPOY & Aaron Mckie won 6th MOY in 2001. How was that a dumb trade? They weren't going anywhere with Stackhouse & Iverson flourished as a lead superstar. Stackhouse didn't do anything meaningful for Detroit or Washington years later.

[@marqueswilliams345]

@@atlien1988 exactly NBA guys have to be able to play together in order for it to work Jerry Stackhouse averaged a bunch of points but it led to 0 wins

[@DontaySmith6]

To much inefficiency on one team

[@leebutz4727]

I remember watching those games AI and Stackhouse game were similar both were slash to the rim players. Stackhouse didn't have a consistent jumper.

[@baltimoremike9161]

I really just value players skill level..accolades & accomplishments aside, it’s a certain number of guys who skill level..especially at that size is crazy to me..always hold these guys in high regard..

[@forgottenseasonsnba]

4,500 total players in nba history and tens of millions of people on the internet who love to hate on them..

[@aidanwm7498]

Idk bro jerry west was determined

[@BLACKICONOCLAST]

TIM THOMAS SENT KOBE FISHING WHEN HE WAS WITH THE SUNS..NOW TALK SHIT ABOUT THAT .TIM PUMP FAKES AND HITS THE 3 PT SHOT KOBE WAS MAD AS HELL

[@sickkicksalwaysglobal1433]

Kobe Has 5 Rings To Tim's How Many 😂😂😂😂😂

[@BLACKICONOCLAST]

@@sickkicksalwaysglobal1433 THAT IS COOL. BUT TIM THOMAS SENT THAT ASS HOME DURING THAT PLAYOFF SERIES.. TIM THOMAS PUMP FAKES HITS THE GAME TYING 3 PT SHOT.I ENJOYED THAT VERY MUCH TIM THOMAS DID WORK THAT SERIES

[@BLACKICONOCLAST]

@@sickkicksalwaysglobal1433 NONE OF THOSE RINGS COULD SAVE HIM FROM TIM THOMAS DURING THAT SERIES

[@PrimordialBeing360]

@@BLACKICONOCLASTwhat happened to Tim’s career after that series?

[@adamfriedman9749]

Dreyfuss…. Adam Friedman. Keep up the good work. Hope the channel continues to grow!

[@DUHPAWZ2579]

This guy is saying Kobe would’ve went to another team because of him this guy never made an all star team 😂😂😂

[@titohustles]

Bra I was thinking the same thing lol respectfully Tim Thomas thinking he was better than he actually was

[@brianregan7319]

At that time Tim Thomas was rated ahead of Kobe. He would have been drafted ahead of him. Of course, things changed throughout their careers.

[@C.T-fl9sd]

@@brianregan7319Kobe was the #1 player after spanking Tim lol wym

[@DUHPAWZ2579]

@@brianregan7319 it doesn’t matter

[@DUHPAWZ2579]

@@brianregan7319 I know where he was ranked I’m 45 years old I’m from Pennsylvania I played basketball and Tim Thomas played at Villanova and he was overrated 💯

[@js1241]

Sorry Tim you were good but didn’t reach that top 10 pick caliber with your time in the league. Otherwise you would of been a perennial allstar

[@BrutusJrThe3rd]

True. This is why I don’t pay any mind to high school/college rankings. The league is a whole different story

[@nicklionel9152]

He was saying top 10 draft pick...no one said anything about top 10 player. Idiots

[@d.felixphoto2260]

Situations you get drafted to change everything

[@JoshuaMitchell-bey7]

He was specifically speaking on the draft not an overall player. Stop being ignorant.

[@DetroitBaby313]

You act like he not speaking facts all he said was he would’ve played 20 years for someone what all the disrespect for.

[@alvbusano]

I mean Kobe may have just dropped to the Lakers, they draft Kobe and keep Vidac who forms a twin towers with Shaq, but they don’t get Derek Fisher.

[@Factualcontrarian]

Thumbnail looking like Idris

[@forgottenseasonsnba]

☠️

[@stonathanjokes2142]

Tim, Jerry West woulda got no matter what you did

[@DonteJones-rb2oh]

Coulda woulda shoulda…. Bye Tim

[@yunjussie]

Kenyon Martin on here?😭

[@oneyedthing]

Tim just full of himself on this one. He will always be a role player among stars. Not because he was drafted a year earl,y, all of a sudden he should have been a superstar Kobe was highly sought even before the draft. There will be no change in history. Stern was adamant to put kobe in that purple and gold jersey while Kobe was still playing in HS. The draft and the Charlotte trade was formality.

[@90sBullsFan]

After your done with all that emotion lol. All he's saying is had he came out, he's going to Charlotte instead of kobe. If kobe goes to another team, that team probably won't trade kobe for vlade divac. That would mean kobe career don't begin in a Laker uniform. On the flip side, had Tim went to Charlotte he may have been able to develop his game into superstar status. He had the skill set. But didn't get an opportunity because of the coach and playing with other stars on his teams.

[@oneyedthing]

@@90sBullsFan Not really. Kobe was a sought after prospect even in high school. He was getting ESPN coverages more than anyone in that draft class. The trade wasnt about Charlotte 's"decision". The trade was about David Stern wanting Kobe to be in the Lakers. So nothing a team could do if Stern wanted something After you are done will all that emotion. You'll realize the NBA is a business first entertainment second, competition third Tim much like JJ wont be able to change no matter what team they were in. It's called marketing themselves. And yes. Tim is a superstar in NBA x's and o's that's what my original comment was about

[@90sBullsFan]

@oneyedthing Davis Stern didn't care about kobe being on the Lakers back then. Both kobe and Tim were sought after. Tim was ranked higher than kobe. Kobe was a bench warmer his 1st season. He rarely played. 2nd year he got more playing time but still came off the bench. The nba didn't function they it does now with commissioners orchestrating trades. If that was the case kobe would have started immediately. Or they would have made kobe stay in Charlotte. The fact is AT THAT TIME.. Tim Thomas would have got picked over kobe had he came out in 96 because he was ranked higher.

[@oneyedthing]

@@90sBullsFan You are all over the place. Kobe was drafted a year before Duncan. Duncan was of course getting coverages like most top collegiate prospects. Garnett was in the 1996 too, but they was heavily marketing Kobe. And yes, Stern has everything to do with what he wants. Legally, Chris Paul was about to join the Lakers in 2011 when Stern intercepted that trade because he was already invested with Lebron. During that time Lebron was carrying the network views.. The league needed him to win a chip. Again that was a legal trade that Stern had to use his trump card. The Kobe + Cp3 tandem could have spoiled Lebron's rings Since you are a Bulls fan. Stern blatantly made the 96 bulls unbeatable by taking out Rodman out of the Spurs. MJ and Pip couldnt handle the tandems that has developed in the mid 90s. Stern made sure the Bulls won multiple championships. There you go the first big 3 since the 80s. Like I said, you will learn that the league is about money making Read this as fast as you can. Most of the time these kind of comments gets deleted on main channels for obvious reasons