Last year, Kobe Bryant‘s Hollywood legacy was cemented further. He was honored with a permanent display featuring his hand and footprints outside the TCL Chinese Theatre. And after his retirement from the NBA, the Lakers legend took up storytelling as his next career step. He even won a couple of awards and rejected a movie alongside Adam Sandler. But another Hollywood celebrity recently narrated one of the fortunate/unfortunate moments of meeting.
Ethan Suplee made an appearance on the former Lakers star Byron Scott’s podcast and shared his favorite story about Kobe Bryant. “My favorite story about Kobe Bryant was just being at a Lakers game and him going for some impossible shot. Flying backwards and landing literally on my lap. That’s my favorite Kobe Bryant story.”
Co-host Kid J probed further and asked a dreaded question, “Was he sweaty all over you?” Suplee quickly answered about the encounter via the Byron Scott’s Fast Break, “Oh my God. He was a mess. It was a disaster, and it also hurt a little bit, but you know, that’s what you put up with as a fan.” At least the 48-year-old did not heckle Kobe Bryant.
On another former Lakers legend, podcast, comedian, and actor, Marlon Wayans shared his story about Kobe Bryant, stating that once he was at a Lakers game, and he started heckling Pau Gasol. But the 5x NBA champion intervened and defended his teammate and said, “Yo chill” to Wayans.
Speaking about intervention, did you know Kobe Bryant lost a role to Kevin Garnett? As per reports, the Lakers legend was the original choice when the script was being written. But what caused the change of scenario?
Kobe Bryant refused Uncut Gems
The 2019 thriller/crime movie provided Kevin Garnett with a crucial role. But the Adam Sandler starred movie, had approached Kobe Bryant first. Directors Benny Safdie and Josh Safdie’s offer were rejected as the 2x Finals MVP was more interested in directing, at the time. So the Safdie Brothers offered the role to the Celtics legend despite knowing Kobe and Sandler’s friendship.
But the 20-year-veteran had always maintained his stance of working behind the camera and helping push out more stories. “I wanted to create stories that I could read to them,” Kobe Bryant once detailed his plan about his goals and how he wanted to tell stories for his children. He also launched a production company in 2013, which produced the 2017 animated short Dear Basketball. It was based on a poem Bryant wrote about his retirement and won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film.
Plus, Kobe Bryant knew about his influence and wanted to be a positive role model for young African American children. So he also collaborated with Wesley King on The Wizenard Series: Training Camp book, which became the New York Times bestseller in 2019. Even though Kobe dedicated his life first to basketball, he already had serious plans once he retired. We are glad we could see some of them come to fruition.
Stay tuned for more such updates and join us for the exciting second episode of the “Dual Threat Show” as our host BG12 sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and Mountain West All-Freshman Team Selection, Asia Avinger.
The post “He Was a Mess”: Kobe Bryant’s Sweaty Lakers Game Misadventure Narrated by Hollywood Star appeared first on EssentiallySports.
