The J.R. Rider story lol
These are the stories that define Kobe Bryant to those who know him best.
www.theplayerstribune.com
Devean George
Oh. Em. Gee. J.R. Rider. He was an interesting guy. He was so talented, so gifted. He was the first NBA player I ever met in person. I’m from Minnesota, where he started his career with the Timberwolves, and my dad managed a bar in North Minneapolis. So one day when I was in high school, my dad called me up and said, “Hey, J.R. Rider is down here at the bar.”
I was like, “Why in the hell would J.R. Rider be at a bar in North Minneapolis?”
My dad’s like, “He’s hanging out. Come on down and get a picture.”
So I did. I got a Polaroid with him. My neighborhood was not exactly a prime hangout spot for NBA players. But that was just J.R. He was a real dude. A very real dude.
Horace Grant
J.R. was brash. He was an Oakland guy. Oakland guys are a different breed. He had this swagger about him. Kobe was just coming off winning the championship in 2000. We traded for J.R., and he wasn’t a threat to Kobe’s position or anything, but it didn’t matter.
J.R. would ****-talk Kobe. Every practice, it was MF this, MF that. He would say to Kobe, “Get your *** back in the kitchen.”
You don’t say that to Kobe. You’re asking for it.
We knew Kobe was going to wear him down. Once Kobe found his weakness, he was going to let him have it. Then one day, I guess he found it …
Brian Shaw
J.R. had been a star in Minnesota and Portland. He was the go-to scorer. He also had played some really good games against the Lakers. So he came in with a lot of confidence.
So one day in practice, J.R. says to Kobe, “Don’t get it twisted. I’m a star too, and I used to give you
buckets.”
So Kobe says, “Man, you really think you could take me? Alright, after practice, me and you. One-on-one.”
J.R. says, “O.K., I ain’t no punk. Let’s go.”
Ron Harper
Phil Jackson loved this stuff. He didn’t even wait for practice to end. He says, “Alright, you want to go? Everybody off the court.”
I’m a vet at this point. You don’t have to tell me twice. Get me a Gatorade and an ice pack and some popcorn. I pulled up a chair and waited for the show to start.
Devean George
The older players were always woofin’. If somebody scored on somebody in our practices, it was like we were at Rucker Park. “Ooooohhhhhhh! He got you! He
got you, boy!”
You got Shaq out there instigating stuff, “Oh! Don’t let him get you like
that! Don’t let him cross you!”
It was a show every day. Now you got Kobe vs. J.R. in front of everybody? Oh, my gosh. Nobody went to the showers. Everybody pulled up chairs on the sideline. It was like a heavyweight fight.
Brian Shaw
They played to 10 by ones. Kobe just absolutely demolished him.
Ron Harper
Kobe destroyed him.
Brian Shaw
This is 22-year-old Kobe. Crazy athletic. Unlimited stamina. I mean, he kicked his ***. He pulled out everything in his bag — dunk, up-and-under, pull-up, crossover.
Devean George
Fadeaway. Left hand. Right hand. Blowing by him.
Brian Shaw
We were on the sidelines gassing it up. People are laughing, yelling, “Hey J.R., be careful what you wish for.”
Ron Harper
Guys were waving white towels, yelling, “Stop the beatdown, please! Please stop!”
Horace Grant
J.R. wanted to fight everybody in the gym.
Devean George
When Kobe finished him off, it was almost like,
Man, why did you have to do him like that?
The sideline was in disbelief. You have to understand, this was a guy who put up numbers in the league. This wasn’t a benchwarmer. J.R. was a super-talented player. But Kobe got into some kind of zone and just went crazy. No, he went
berserk on J.R.
Horace Grant
It got to a point where J.R. basically said,
No más. No más.
J.R. had his tail between his legs for the first time in his life.
Ron Harper
I remember thinking,
Oh, my God. This kid is on another level.
Brian Shaw:
The thing is, we won the championship again that year, and J.R. was a contributor to that team. That’s just how those guys worked. It was a very competitive environment.
www.latimes.com
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