Kobe Bryant hopes to one day meet Larry Bird
Kobe Bryant has met one NBA legend. Now he wants to meet another.
After the Lakers defeated the Philadelphia 76ers Wednesday night, Bryant met NBA Hall of Famer Earl Monroe for the very first time.
Bryant talked after practice Thursday about how it was such an honor to meet Monroe.
Bryant then smiled.
"You know, I've never met Larry Bird,'' Bryant said. "I'd like to.''
That probably can be arranged. But then again, Bird did play for the Boston Celtics, and there is that intense rivalry between Boston and the Lakers.
Bird currently is the president of basketball operations for the Indiana Pacers.
-- Broderick Turner
Photo: Indiana Pacers' president of basketball operations, Larry Bird, in a May 11, 2005, photo. Credit: D. Lippitt / Einstein / NBAE via Getty Images
Kobe would have no problem meeting Bird. I'm sure Bird would also be honored to meet Bryant.
Bird is quoted as saying Bryant is the best player in all of basketball.
Posted by: Marcus | December 05, 2008 at 07:10 AM
are you telling me kobe didnt meet bird in 2000 nba finals???
Posted by: Matthew | December 05, 2008 at 08:58 AM
Kobe would be meeting a giant among basketball greats, if he were to meet Larry Bird. And I don't have to give it a thought of hesitation about Bird's assessment of Kobe's rank; he is the best basketball player in the game today.
One more thing: Stats are fine and dandy, but they can sometimes be skewed when we throw out the risk factor. A lot of players have great stats, but they are low risk, low reward and totally predictable. I like high risk, high reward basketball players; they usually end up on top.
Posted by: Jerome Colson | December 05, 2008 at 01:36 PM
If I had a chance to advise the Laker team, I would tell them this: Team, you must learn how to play the game with total intensity from start to finish. I have noticed that you gain a big lead then start to coast. In the NBA, that is a big mistake. You have the offense, but you must sell yourselves on the fact that defense hatches the golden egg.
Posted by: Jerome Colson | December 07, 2008 at 05:10 PM
thats what i said kobe didnt meet him n the 2000 finles when bird was coaching strange
Posted by: mike | December 07, 2008 at 05:52 PM