Kobe Bryant, in his 20-year NBA career, has left an unmatched legacy while playing for a lone franchise. Bryant not only decorated his glittering career with the holy grail of the NBA but also has set numerous records that will stand the test of time.
In his 18 All-Star appearances, Kobe made sure to stand out among the conference bests which only elongated his legend. But there is one specific record that is still left unscathed which he made during his All-Star era.
Kobe Bryant’s NBA All-Star record that nobody has beaten yet
Kobe Bryant still holds an NBA All-Star record that even after 26 years, is left intact. In the 1998 All-Star Game, Kobe Bryant made his debut at the age of 19 years and 169 days. With 17.9 points per game, 3.3 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 26.7 minutes he played that season, Kobe earned his first All-Star selection.
Crazily enough, he became a starter in the All-Star game before he was a regular starter for the Lakers.
Years before being compared to Michael Jordan, a young Kobe representing the West faced off against Jordan’s East team. Despite not being 100%, MJ led the team to a 135-114 win, picking up the MVP award in the process.
Jordan became impressed with Kobe’s aggression in the game and bestowed the name “little Laker boy.”
“I was trying to fend him off as much as I could. He came at me pretty early. If I see someone that’s maybe sick or whatever you’ve got to attack him. I like his attitude,” said his Airness about the Mamba once.
Bryant finished the game with 18 points and 6 rebounds. In the 22 minutes, he electrified the crowd and left an impression about what’s to come. Years later when MJ met with Kobe for dinner, the two looked back at their time facing each other which gave birth to one of the most epic pieces of dialogue between the two.
Kobe Bryant stated LeBron James was the NBA’s greatest besides him
Just like Michael Jordan saw the greater things about to come in Kobe, the 5-time NBA Champion saw the star in LeBron James. After meeting in the 2012 NBA All-Star game in which Kobe got a broken nose thanks to Dwyane Wade, the Black Mamba, in a radio interview with Max and Marcellus, opened up about his tussle with LeBron.
Kobe revealed he considers LeBron James the best in the league, excluding himself. Bryant told how the duo locked into some smack-talk during the All-Star game. Black Mamba said that if he had to draft a pick no.1 for his team, “I’d pick LeBron, no questions.”
Years later Kobe reiterated his pick while talking in the “Holding Court with Geno Auriemma” podcast.
“He’s a passer first, I’m a scorer, I’m a finisher. ‘Bron is a facilitator by nature and I’m a finisher by nature. Those two styles, I think complement each other extremely well,” said the 2-time NBA Finals MVP.
While fans did not see the two cornerstones of this century’s NBA in the Lakers color together, Kobe’s words only solidify the words “game recognize game.”
