Tag: Kobe Bryant

The ones that got away: The biggest almost-trades in NBA history

In the NBA, there are trades. Many, many trades. And to a lot of us, they are one of the best parts of NBA fandom. For every trade that does happen, however, there are countless that do not. Every day in an NBA front office is an exercise in …

In the NBA, there are trades. Many, many trades. And to a lot of us, they are one of the best parts of NBA fandom.

For every trade that does happen, however,  there are countless that do not. Every day in an NBA front office is an exercise in information-gathering, establishing value, evaluating every possible option and maximizing the potential of every asset on the books. And of all the scenarios discussed, only a fraction ever come to fruition.

Of the deals that did not happen, only some make it into the public realm. Some reported deals came very close to completion, and some were in fact announced before force majeure events led to their cancellation. Be it the bigger deals that could change the outcome of NBA Finals, or the more fun smaller-scale ones (such as the MarShon Brooks/Dillon Brooks confusion), there have been many times where events could have played out very differently, and almost did,

There follows a look at some of the biggest almost-trades in NBA history.

Kobe Bryant was convinced he would play for the Knicks and always talked about it

Imagine…Melo and Mamba at The Garden?!

While he played the entirety of his NBA career for the Los Angeles Lakers, apparently Kobe Bryant often dreamed about the New York Knicks.

During a recent podcast appearance by Adrian Wojnarowski, the former ESPN senior insider spoke about the hypothetical. According to Woj, the late Bryant was “convinced” that he would eventually sign with the Knicks and play in Madison Square Garden.

Speaking on the 7PM in Brooklyn podcast with longtime NBA star Carmelo Anthony, the legendary reporter said Bryant thought the Lakers would use the amnesty clause on him (likely around 2013). He apparently believed no team would claim him on waivers and he would sign a deal with the Knicks.

Woj added that Bryant would “fantasize” about Madison Square Garden.

Anthony revealed “that’s all he talked about” while discussing this unique scenario. According to Woj, meanwhile, the late Bryant “loved” Anthony and had many storied about guarding him on the court.

It is hard to imagine Bryant wearing anything but Purple and Golden, but it nearly happened and it would have assuredly changed basketball history (especially in Los Angeles and New York) forever.

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Ranking: The players with the most buzzer beaters in NBA history

HoopsHype put together a list of players with the most game-winning buzzer beaters shots in NBA history, including Jordan, Kobe and LeBron.

5… 4… 3… 2… 1… BUZZZZZZ.

If you grew up a basketball fan, chances are that at some point, you have been in your driveway, local park or in the gym shooting around, dreaming about having the ball late in a close game and hitting a game-winning buzzer-beater.

Today, we put together a list ranking the players with the most buzzer-beaters in NBA history, a list featuring the likes of Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Larry Bird, Dwyane Wade and more all-time, memorable players.

Some players surprisingly not on the list include Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant and James Harden.

Check out the full list below. (For the record, the average stats are for games where the player hit buzzer-beater game-winning shots).

7 Kendrick Lamar GNX lyrics about sports, including a Kobe reference

One of the songs is called Dodger Blue and it is amazing.

Kendrick Lamar released a surprise album, GNX, and in the process was able to delight his fans around the world.

The project, which includes 12 new songs and did not have any promotional material leading up to its release, is his his sixth studio album. It includes a lot of what music fans can expect from the rapper, including some incredible beats and compelling lyrics as well.

Some of those songs include references to the likes of Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, John Madden, local high schools in Los Angeles, and his upcoming Super Bowl Bowl performance.

It also has a song called “Dodger Blue” that is, obviously, a shout out to the World Series champions.

With the help of Genius, we looked at a few of the best athlete mentions on this surprise drop.

Track 1: wacced out

“Won the Super Bowl and Nas the only one congratulated me”

Track 5: hey now

“If they talkin’ ’bout playin’ ball, they can take it up with Jordan

It’s bald heads and the heckling for all endorsements”

Track 8: dodger blue

“What school you went to? God didn’t have Compton

Westchester, King Drew, do we function’?”

Track 9: peekaboo

“Peekaboo, eighty pointers like a Kobe game”

Track 10: heart pt. 6

“Punch played Phil Jackson in my early practices”

Track 11: gnx

“I’m in the field for real, UCLA Bruins”

Track 12: gloria

“Preoccupied playin’ John Madden and bull [expletive]”

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NBA ranking: The top scoring duos ever (relative to team performance)

HoopsHype ranks highest-scoring duos in league history, including LeBron and Wade, Shaq and Kobe, Durant and Westbrook, Jordan and Pippen.

Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo are combining to put up 44.75 percent of the total points scored by the Milwaukee Bucks thus far in 2024-25, which surely sounds like a lot to you.

Well, according to our research, that mark doesn’t put Lillard and Antetokounmpo even close to the Top 30 scoring duos ever, at least if we’re judging on the percentage of a team’s total points scored by a duo for a single season.

That means, for this exercise, we’re not just adding up Player A and Player B’s points per game to figure out the NBA’s top scoring duos of all time. Instead, we are adding each player’s total points scored in a season and dividing each duo’s mark by their team’s total points scored that year to find the highest percentages of a team’s total points scored by duos.

Below, check out the NBA’s top scoring duos ever.

NBA stars who had a winning record against Michael Jordan

There aren’t many stars who can boast about besting Michael Jordan, widely regarded as the greatest of all time by most basketball fans. Though MJ gave everybody the business, a bunch of NBA luminaries managed to beat him more often than not during …

There aren’t many stars who can boast about besting Michael Jordan, widely regarded as the greatest of all time by most basketball fans. Though MJ gave everybody the business, a bunch of NBA luminaries managed to beat him more often than not during his early days with the weak Chicago Bulls roster in the mid-80s or when he donned the Washington Wizards jersey.

Few accomplished that when MJ and his team were at the peak of their powers – most notably a towering center from the Western Conference.

Here’s a list of stars who retired with a winning record against the GOAT:

The most expensive NBA trading card sales ever

There have been at least 26 sales of NBA cards worth seven figures and most of them involve Jordan, LeBron, Kobe and Curry.

We’re in the golden era of sports cards, with some being sold for millions of dollars. Though not as hot a property as some baseball cards, there’s a big market for the basketball stuff too. Per our research, there have been at least 26 sales of NBA cards worth seven figures.

Most of them involve Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant and Stephen Curry. One featuring the Warriors superstar actually tops the list of the most expensive sales ever.

The 2003-04 Upper Deck LeBron James Exquisite Collection Rookie Patch Autograph is the card sold most times in our list with 12. Other players that collectors are investing in are Giannis Antetokounmpo and Luka Doncic. The trading card industry is booming and still growing, and we’re sure there will be new record sales soon.

For now, this is the all-time ranking:

Statues of NBA players around the world: Dwyane Wade, Kobe Bryant, and more

NBA legends live on around the world through statues. Icons like Kobe Bryant will get three at the Lakers arena, and Bulls fans can always check out Michael Jordan’s famous statue at the United Center. American universities and places in Europe and …

NBA legends live on around the world through statues. Icons like Kobe Bryant will get three at the Lakers arena, and Bulls fans can always check out Michael Jordan’s famous statue at the United Center. American universities and places in Europe and China also honor champs like Magic Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal and Dirk Nowitzki with their own statues.

Check out the best of them below:

Chiefs WR DeAndre Hopkins reveals NBA legend as inspiration for his jersey number

Kansas City #Chiefs wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins reveals NBA legend Kobe Bryant as inspiration for his jersey number | @EdEastonJr

The Kansas City Chiefs made a significant addition to their wide receivers room with the recent trade for DeAndre Hopkins. He opened up to reporters on Thursday for the first time since the deal was finalized, giving Chiefs fans insight into his personality.

Hopkins, who wore jersey number ten throughout his career, will be sitting up with the number eight in Kansas City. Ten is occupied by injured starting running back Isiah Pacheco, while eight, previously worn by Justyn Ross, according to Hopkins, also holds much meaning in his life.

“Kobe Bryant, one of my favorite athletes of all time,” said Hopkins. “So I knew if I ever got the chance to wear number eight, you know, just like when I picked number 10, (Lionel) Messi was my favorite soccer player; underdog felt like me at the time coming out of college and, you know, Kobe, number eight, special, number.”

Many athletes in and outside the NFL relate to Hopkins’ admiration for the late NBA legend and five-time champion. The multiple-time All-Pro receiver hopes for championship credentials as he begins his tenure with the Chiefs.

Ranking: The players with the most missed shots in NBA history

LeBron James made history in the Lakers’ season opener. He not only became the first NBA player to compete alongside his son but also surpassed Kobe Bryant for the most missed shots in NBA history, a record Bryant had held since 2014. Make no …

LeBron James made history in the Lakers’ season opener. He not only became the first NBA player to compete alongside his son but also surpassed Kobe Bryant for the most missed shots in NBA history, a record Bryant had held since 2014.

Make no mistake, though… Despite this record, LeBron has been a highly efficient scorer in the NBA, shooting better than 50 percent in 13 different seasons. Meanwhile, Bryant never exceeded 47 percent – though Kobe played during an era of tougher defense.

For the ranking of most missed shots ever, check below.