NBA All-Star eight times Vince Carter and Kobe Bryant, the two-time NBA Finals MVP, faced off in 31 games. Bryant was an intense rival, and Kobe’s skill further increased his ferocity. Bryant mistreated the Raptors great on the court for the most of his career and even hurled depressing remarks at him. Vince was pleasantly surprised by a never-before-seen friendly side of the LA Lakers star in 2016, as he had become accustomed to Bryant’s vicious trash-talking after facing him off for so many years.
Vince Carter recounted Kobe Bryant’s shift in mindset during his final season on the Run It Back podcast. Carter, who was still playing well in the league, was a member of the Memphis Grizzlies team that season. He was given the chance to take on the “Black Mamba” one final time.
Carter jumped as high as he could to challenge Bryant’s shot during the game. Bryant was able to make the shot even though Carter was able to get close to the ball thanks to his amazing hang time. The Lakers veteran criticized his opponent for biting into his pump fake and doing jumping jacks during a game after he made the difficult jumper.
Vince Carter talks about Kobe Bryant’s trash talk
Even though it was Kobe’s typical gaze, Carter saw that this time there was a certain kindness to his remark rather than a hostile one. The far more subdued Mamba was a nice surprise to the then-Grizzlies security. During Run It Back, Carter remembered:
“That game, he hit me with a pump fake, I remember on the left side of the baseline. Hit me with a pump fake and I’m skying, I’m trying to send this ball in the stands and I miss and I swipe over and he still hits the man. He’s like, ‘Man, say, I got you out there doing jumping jacks, trying to touch the ceiling, aren’t you?’ “That’s like typical Kobe, but it was just in a friendly mode… Obviously, I had some battles with him but that’s kinda one of the times I remember where I was like, ‘Man, you don’t get to see the side of Kobe just because he wanted to kill you for 48 minutes,”
Vince Carter shares the friendly side of the Mamba 🙂 pic.twitter.com/Dm8IUkGoqE
— Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) October 21, 2024
Bryant’s act of kindness toward Carter that evening wasn’t the last. The previously cruel and aloof superstar became the friendliest and most gregarious person when he departed the NBA floor. Although many were moved by his post-career kindness, Carter, who suffered after his own retirement, was particularly touched.
