{"id":1240437,"date":"2020-10-04T16:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-10-04T20:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports7.us\/?p=1240437"},"modified":"2020-10-04T16:00:03","modified_gmt":"2020-10-04T20:00:03","slug":"kobe-bryants-initial-introduction-to-shaq-and-the-rest-of-his-lakers-teammates-in-1996-got-super-awkward-in-a-hurry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports7.us\/news\/kobe-bryants-initial-introduction-to-shaq-and-the-rest-of-his-lakers-teammates-in-1996-got-super-awkward-in-a-hurry\/","title":{"rendered":"Kobe Bryant's Initial Introduction To Shaq and the Rest of His Lakers Teammates in 1996 Got Super Awkward in a Hurry"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The late, great Kobe Bryant<\/a> is widely considered to be one of the greatest players in NBA history. But before the titles and the All-Star selections and the seemingly endless amount of accolades he earned over the course of a 20-year career, Bryant was once just an 18-year-old rookie with the Los Angeles Lakers<\/a> with a lot to learn. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But even at such a young age, the phenom out of Lower Merion High School showed no fear when he entered the league in 1996. Knowing he possessed the ability to become one of the all-time greats, Bryant exuded confidence, although his Lakers teammates, including Shaquille O'Neal<\/a>, saw it as arrogance in the beginning. When most rookies come into the NBA, especially rookies that young, they're usually a bit humble and stay mostly quiet. That was certainly not the case with Kobe Bryant, who made things very awkward when he first introduced himself to his teammates. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kobe Bryant was taken with the 13th pick in the 1996 NBA draft by the Hornets and traded to the Lakers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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