Kobe was ultra skilled back in High School (video)

[Point-Forward]

Here's a compilation I made showing Kobe's game during his high school years. I explored all the available footage that we have of him (at least that which has been made public). Also, usually with these type of mixes people just show dunks and his flashy plays, but when watching the actual entire games (there's aproximately 9-10 available of the Lower Merion years), I realized he was already amazingly skilled and polished at 15-16-17 years old. Not that it should suprise anyone, of course (we're talking about Kobe here), but it's pretty impressive to watch.

For instance, during his games at Lower Merion you can clearly see why he idolized Magic growing up: his transition and general passing technique stands out a lot. I get that there's a huge difference in terms of competition level, but still, we haven't seen too many HS players with such polished skill sets: from pull-ups to fadeaways to great passes. And the athleticism, of course. No wonder why the guy was already a phenom before he set a single foot in the NBA.

Anyway, hope you guys enjoy the video and it adds a little more to honor his legacy. As always, looking forward to read your takes.

Watch on YouTube

[MagicFan12345]

And? Everybody knew that

[dhsilv2]

Forget it's kobe. he went pro from high school and was a lottery pick and this was before that was normal.

[Lockdown504090]

And? Everybody knew that

its his birthday today. Its just amazing to me that he did all this without all the access to gyms and trainers that kids have now. The resilience of guys back then to get so good always astounds me.

[dhsilv2]

And? Everybody knew that

its his birthday today. Its just amazing to me that he did all this without all the access to gyms and trainers that kids have now. The resilience of guys back then to get so good always astounds me.

I mean his dad was a pro, he went to a private high school, and he was playing against the 76ers NBA players at the time, right? I think he had some pretty good advantages vs most players.

[GSWFan1994]

Kobe's footwork was really advanced for his age... and also, from my point of view, what really set him apart from his peers along, obviously, that deadly combination of skill & determination.

Thanks for posting the video, much appreciated.

[SelfishPlayer]

And? Everybody knew that

its his birthday today. Its just amazing to me that he did all this without all the access to gyms and trainers that kids have now. The resilience of guys back then to get so good always astounds me.

I mean his dad was a pro, he went to the most elite high school of the era, and he was playing against the 76ers NBA players at the time, right? I think he had some pretty good advantages vs most players.

Lower Merion is not an elite high school for athletics. It never has been. They are just your typical great academic public high school in a municipality with high property value for the area.

[MotownMadness]

Yeah i remember Rip Hamilton talking about him in those days growing up around the same time frame.

[76ciology]

He’s the most skilled and possibly close to the biggest player compared to his peers.

Him playing PG was a smart choice for it further showcased these traits

[BoatsNZones]

Cool video.

The premise of the thread is funny though. Yes, lottery-pick in the NBA draft out of high school was indeed ultra talented.

Still, underrated at that point.

[links135]

Yeah i remember Rip Hamilton talking about him in those days growing up around the same time frame.

Rip had one of my favourite stories about Kobe.

"So me and some of the guy's found this bar that would let us drink there without an ID when we were all 16. I asked Kobe if he wanted to go and if was all 'Nah, I gotta put ice on my knee's and watch some film' and I was like..... man we're 16. Ice on the knee's? We didn't even stretch!"

If that doesn't sum up Kobe I don't know what does

[lambchop]

Cool video.

The premise of the thread is funny though. Yes, lottery-pick in the NBA draft out of high school was indeed ultra talented.

Still, underrated at that point.

Yep, not everyone knew he was good.

Watch on YouTube

[BoatsNZones]

Cool video.

The premise of the thread is funny though. Yes, lottery-pick in the NBA draft out of high school was indeed ultra talented.

Still, underrated at that point.

Yep, not everyone knew he was good.

Watch on YouTube

Again, cool video, thanks. Hadn't seen that.

But, what?

Did you watch?

[Goomba3666]

I REALLY wanna see some those practices where he was being called out by Laker veterans for 1v1 and ended up humbling them.

Need that footage. Also want to see the workout that Jerry West called, "the Greatest workout he's seen" from a 18 year old Kobe.

[Point-Forward]

its his birthday today. Its just amazing to me that he did all this without all the access to gyms and trainers that kids have now. The resilience of guys back then to get so good always astounds me.

I mean his dad was a pro, he went to the most elite high school of the era, and he was playing against the 76ers NBA players at the time, right? I think he had some pretty good advantages vs most players.

Lower Merion is not an elite high school for athletics. It never has been. They are just your typical great academic public high school in a municipality with high property value for the area.

If I remember correctly, prior to the championship runs lead by Kobe in '95 and '96, they hadn't won a state title since 1943.

[Point-Forward]

Kobe's footwork was really advanced for his age... and also, from my point of view, what really set him apart from his peers along, obviously, that deadly combination of skill & determination.

Thanks for posting the video, much appreciated.

Thanks for your comment.

Yeah, that's exactly it. I don't remember too much 16-17 year olds displaying that level of footwork and polished fundamentals. And the determination part can be summed up by what his own coach in HS, Gregg Downer, said in that now famous story published by the Philadelphia Inquirer in March of '95:

“He’s the first guy at the gym and the last guy out of the gym. He has the God-given ability, but the thing that makes him special is his work ethic.”

[Lockdown504090]

I mean his dad was a pro, he went to the most elite high school of the era, and he was playing against the 76ers NBA players at the time, right? I think he had some pretty good advantages vs most players.

Lower Merion is not an elite high school for athletics. It never has been. They are just your typical great academic public high school in a municipality with high property value for the area.

If I remember correctly, prior to the championship runs lead by Kobe in '95 and '96, they hadn't won a state title since 1943.

I was comparing him with kids now. He’s not that far off from the hs mixtapes now. That’s nuts considering how much professional training these kids get at an extremely young age. Tatum had drew Hanley when he was 12 . Kobe didn’t get phill handy till he was I. His 30s. It’s truly remarkable

[dhsilv2]

Cool video.

The premise of the thread is funny though. Yes, lottery-pick in the NBA draft out of high school was indeed ultra talented.

Still, underrated at that point.

Yep, not everyone knew he was good.

Watch on YouTube

So someone took an old clip shot in 16:9, converted it to tik tok, then someone else took it back to youtube, didn't use the "short" feature to post it in tik tok form....so they posted the cropped tik tok video BACK to 16:9.

[dhsilv2]

Yeah i remember Rip Hamilton talking about him in those days growing up around the same time frame.

Rip had one of my favourite stories about Kobe.

"So me and some of the guy's found this bar that would let us drink there without an ID when we were all 16. I asked Kobe if he wanted to go and if was all 'Nah, I gotta put ice on my knee's and watch some film' and I was like..... man we're 16. Ice on the knee's? We didn't even stretch!"

If that doesn't sum up Kobe I don't know what does

Copying MJ? You never saw MJ's pre game stretching, but you saw the iced knees lol.

[jasonxxx102]

All time great player was super skilled??? NO WAY