Ex-Lakers star Jim Jackson spilled the beans on why Kobe Bryant didn’t shoot in the second half of that legendary Game 7 against the Phoenix Suns in 2006. The Black Mamba holding back? Well, according to Jackson, there was actually a pretty good reason behind it.
In a recent podcast,Jackson with Paul George,he made sure to let the cat out of the bag!
In a recent appearance on Podcast P with Paul George, ex-Laker Jim Jackson opened up about what led to Kobe’s puzzling decision to essentially remove himself from the offense after halftime.
“Smush Parker had done a phenomenal job in the first four games on Steve Nash. Then some things changed where Smush started to get outside of his game, feeling him, letting him kind of get away with it, and Kobe was pissed,” Jackson said.
According to Jackson, the Lakers’ early series success was built on players staying in their roles. Once that began to unravel, it triggered Bryant’s frustration.
“Guys got outside of their parameters of who they were and why we were up 3-1. So I think Kobe at that time—and I don’t want to talk for him—was proving a point. Aaron McKie and I were sitting there on the bench… we didn’t realize it at first. Then we were like, hold up, he ain’t shooting. He ain’t even looking,” Jackson added.
So, there you have it. Even a basketball legend like Kobe Bryant has his off days. But hey, it just goes to show that sometimes players get pissed by teammates too on the court.
Flip to the next page to watch Jim Jackson speak…
