Kobe Bryant 1995-1998

[OJMayoMVP32]

How big was Kobe's hype back in his early years in the NBA ? Was the mass media sold he would the next great one , the same way they were with LeBron James ? I know he was voted in as an All-Star in the 1998 games, so did he already have a big fan base?

[Ckay]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8KznRFUKd0[/youtube]

[TheBargnaniRule]

Not even close in terms of hype coming out of high school.

Lebron James was probably one of the most hyped high school basketball players of all time. The guys HIGH SCHOOL GAMES were being shown on national TV. Didn't Lebron even try to come out a year before he finished high school? (I might be remembering that wrong).

Not to mention that Kobe came in at time when the whole prep-to-pro movement was still in it's infancy.

[Effigy]

If only Charlotte hadn't traded him...

[lorak]

Kobe's hype was big, but not as much as LeBron's. Bryant wasn't as good and more important - media, especially Internet, weren't as developed yet.

[lorak]

If only Charlotte hadn't traded him...

They had no choice. Kobe said he wouldn't play for them. He always wanted to play for the Lakers.

[DavidSterned]

Kobe's hype was big, but not as much as LeBron's. Bryant wasn't as good and more important - media, especially Internet, weren't as developed yet.

Kobe was also only the 2nd high school player drafted in the 90s after Kevin Garnett, so people were still skeptical that a guy coming out of HS could really make it. That's a big reason why he was only the 13th pick in that draft, people knew the potential was there but they didn't imagine him being able to develop so fast without a college game.

Kobe's 2nd season, where he was an all star starter despite not starting on his own team, was where the MJ comparisons really began. Both of his matchups with Jordan that year were heavily analyzed.

[SoulJah]

You know what was amazing about Kobe's draft night interview and comments, Jerry West was point on about this guy destined for greatness... even better than that, Kobe's interview shines his competitiveness, professionalism and guy who will leave it all on the floor. Not many high school kids do you see with that sort of mentality.

[USA]

Kobe's hype wasn't Lebron level but it was huge. He was anointed the second coming of Jordan by the media very early on in his career. The Lakers handled Kobe with white gloves because Jerry West and Jerry Buss seen the potential of the kid. There was a report in the LA Times about the Lakers going into a game in Portland and there was a giant billboard of Kobe on the side of the building either his rookie or second season.

[tms386]

Kobe's hype was big, but not as much as LeBron's. Bryant wasn't as good and more important - media, especially Internet, weren't as developed yet.

Kobe was also only the 2nd high school player drafted in the 90s after Kevin Garnett, so people were still skeptical that a guy coming out of HS could really make it. That's a big reason why he was only the 13th pick in that draft, people knew the potential was there but they didn't imagine him being able to develop so fast without a college game.

Kobe's 2nd season, where he was an all star starter despite not starting on his own team, was where the MJ comparisons really began. Both of his matchups with Jordan that year were heavily analyzed.

This. Without him and KG, no one gives LeBron a second look. It was unheard of to draft High Schools kids at their time.

[microfib4thewin]

Kobe dropped to 13th because Tellem threatened the Nets that Kobe would not play for them. Otherwise they would have picked him at 8th instead of Kittles.

With all that said, he was never close to Lebron in terms of hype, and lol @ Kobe being the second coming of Jordan when there were a bunch of Jordan wannabes just like Kobe. If Kobe was indeed labeled the second MJ then the same would apply to Vince, T-Mac, and AI.

[ILOVEIT]

Lakers..ugh...again step in and make the big move. Nets...grow some will ya!

[DavidSterned]

Kobe dropped to 13th because Tellem threatened the Nets that Kobe would not play for them. Otherwise they would have picked him at 8th instead of Kittles.

With all that said, he was never close to Lebron in terms of hype, and lol @ Kobe being the second coming of Jordan when there were a bunch of Jordan wannabes just like Kobe. If Kobe was indeed labeled the second MJ then the same would apply to Vince, T-Mac, and AI.

Vince yes, Iverson and McGrady no way.

The amount of Kobe-MJ hype in 1998 was huge, way more than any other Jordan wannabe got

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6awORJ2RbPE[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOo9EcbraW0[/youtube]

[YFZblu]

Kobe's hype was big, but not as much as LeBron's. Bryant wasn't as good and more important - media, especially Internet, weren't as developed yet.

Kobe was also only the 2nd high school player drafted in the 90s after Kevin Garnett, so people were still skeptical that a guy coming out of HS could really make it. That's a big reason why he was only the 13th pick in that draft, people knew the potential was there but they didn't imagine him being able to develop so fast without a college game.

Kobe's 2nd season, where he was an all star starter despite not starting on his own team, was where the MJ comparisons really began. Both of his matchups with Jordan that year were heavily analyzed.

This. Without him and KG, no one gives LeBron a second look. It was unheard of to draft High Schools kids at their time.

Using this logic, no NBA player would ever be drafted right out of HS because no team would have the balls to be the first to do it.

A talent like LeBron doesn't go undetected, he would have been drafted anyway.

[still]

lebron media dominance doubled when he broke high school amateurism rules by accepting that 50k suv and those throwback jerseys.

moral transgression (albeit relatively minor) = popularity surge. sounds about right

[USA]

Vince yes, Iverson and McGrady no way.

The amount of Kobe-MJ hype in 1998 was huge, way more than any other Jordan wannabe got

Not even Vince. None of them had the work ethic or win at all cost mentality that Jordan had and Kobe was showing. That combined with Kobe mimicking Jordan's moves had him as the 'air apparent'. There are many articles about Kobe being the 'air apparent' back in 98. Just google it. Hell, there was a book written about Kobe in 98 with 'air apparent' on the cover.

[Maluco Beleza]

lbj's hype was huge becuz they saw what happened with kobe

[ceremony816]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kobe_Bryant#First_three_seasons_.281996.E2.80.9399.29

[NOODLESTYLE]

The hype got bigger once he got to LA , endorsements and commercials gained. Remember pre-Phil Jackson, there was already Nick Van Exel and Eddie Jones on the team. Now bring in Superstar Shaq. That Lakers team had a lot of hype.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMGhMVG_51Q[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xr0RHqPYiIE[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LE7iCJHscu4[/youtube]

I remember staying up until midnight to watch this pre-season game.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JsUjQbuF4LA[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xs0GMQGHACA[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6eFRp1kSfA[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEcyhWJkQXI[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eg1O49X5k0U[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfUvqm6J1Nc[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ly1annyoRAM[/youtube]

If any of you remember playing this, they replaced Kobe Bryant as the starting PG over Nick Van Exel!

[Andre3822]

Wow thanks for the links and articles, I didn't know Kobe was so hyped.