SUMMARY
- George Karl once benched Kobe Bryant during the 1998 All-Star Game.
- Bryant held a grudge to never let the Denver Nuggets win in the playoffs ever since.
Kobe Bryant hated losing, especially if it meant his legacy was on the line. He found success very early in his career and by his second year in the NBA, Bryant was selected as an All-Star. During the 1998 All-Star Game, George Karl coached the Western Conference team. Bryant was also a starter which gave him a good ego boost.
Through the first three quarters, Bryant had already scored 18 points, the most amongst players from the West. However, Karl ended up benching Kobe through the entire fourth quarter. Years later, Kobe narrated the story saying, “George Karl, he benches me the whole 4th. Which later in years became my motivation when we played against Denver, to never let them win a playoff series because he didn’t play me the whole fourth quarter of that game.”
Kobe Bryant was motivated to never lose a playoff series to the Denver Nuggets, after George Karl benched him in the 1998 NBA All-Star Game. 👀 pic.twitter.com/y6K0f46wdq
— Kobe Bryant Stories & Motivation (@kobehighlight) April 25, 2024
He continued, “It was like, ‘Okay… It’s on sight.’ So we played the Denver Nuggets in the playoffs, it was like hold on, ‘Hold on, you’re never, you will never beat me in a playoff series.'” It was apparent that Bryant was gunning for the 1998 All-Star Game MVP Trophy. He was paired against Michael Jordan, who scored 23 points and took home the MVP title. Bryant, however, left with a deep grudge.
The Nuggets nearly beat the Kobe Bryant and the Lakers during the 2012 NBA Playoffs
George Karl, who was the Milwaukee Bucks’ coach at the time, revealed why he chose to bench the first-time All-Star. According to The Denver Post, Karl said, “Kobe thought I kept him on the bench because I wanted Michael to win the MVP. And that was the game where I think Kobe, he was telling guys to get out of the way, he wanted to go 1-on-1 and isolate.”
“And a couple players came to me and said, ‘I don’t want to play.’ David Robinson was older at that time, Karl Malone was older at that time,” Karl concluded. While Karl’s excuse was reasonable, Kobe Bryant still stood firm in getting his revenge. Eventually, Karl and Bryant would meet in the playoffs years later.
Their first series against each other was in 2008. The Lakers swept the Nuggets while Bryant averaged 34 points per game. The following year, Bryant met Karl once again but in the Western Conference Finals. Denver took a 2-4 loss in the series and LA wound up winning the title.
However, they played another first-round series in 2012 which went until Game 7. LA had a 3-1 series lead which the Nuggets managed to tie. Bryant averaged 29.1 points per game during the series. However, Game 7 was his worst performance in the playoffs as he finished with 17 points.
The Nuggets have taken full advantage of the Lakers years later
Ultimately, Kobe Bryant got his revenge against George Karl, who coached the Nuggets until 2013. Bryant retired in 2016 after winning five NBA titles and various other accolades. LeBron James has since become the veteran and considering his GOAT status, fans expected him to keep Kobe’s legacy alive. He managed to beat the Nuggets in the playoffs in 2020.
However, the Nuggets have since beaten the Lakers 11 times consecutively since the 2023 NBA Playoffs. Right now, the Lakers are on a 0-3 deficit in the first round. Fans haven’t been satisfied with the Lakers’ run so far as one said, “There is nothing satisfying about this Lakers team right now. Denver is better and it’s not even close.” Another fan said, “That’s what made Kobe different.”
There is nothing satisfying about this Lakers team right now. Denver is better and it’s not even close.
— Kobe Bryant Stories & Motivation (@kobehighlight) April 26, 2024
That’s what made Kobe different.
— Zack W. (@ZiggyThaKid23) April 25, 2024
LeBron and the Lakers are on the verge of another clean sweep. Last season, the Nuggets eventually won the championship as well. Knowing how passionate Lakers fans are, this may not end on a good note for James. Unlike Bryant, who was determined about his greatness and winning, the current Lakers team hasn’t shown the same grit.