Kobe Bryant Was ‘Waiting On My Revenge’ Against Jalen Rose After Ankle Injury

During the 2000 NBA Finals, Kobe Bryant injured his ankle as a result of Jalen Rose getting underneath following a jumpshot. Bryant wasn’t happy about Rose’s actions back then and Rose admitted not caring about injuring the Los Angeles Lakers superstar.

Five titles and 15 years later, Bryant and Rose talked about the incident in the Finals in an interview along with Grantland’s Bill Simmons:

Honestly, I remember that and I hadn’t forgot about it. I was waiting on my revenge.

“I don’t know if it was on purpose or if it was accidental, but it did happen and I want revenge. I was able to.”

Kobe famously got his revenge on Rose in the worst way possible. Bryant scored a career-high 81 points on Rose’s Toronto Raptors back in 2006 in one of the greatest individual performances in sports history.

Only a few years after Kobe’s 81-point game, the superstar asked the Lakers to make some moves to get this franchise back on top. Bryant became relentless in his pursuit of a fourth championship after seeing former teammate Shaquille O’Neal win a title with the Miami Heat.

Kobe’s influence on the Lakers front office resulted in Los Angeles acquiring Pau Gasol from the Memphis Grizzlies. Gasol and Bryant turned out to be a lethal combination with the two stars leading the Lakers to three straight NBA Finals appearances. Kobe won two more rings as a result and has been itching for a sixth ring ever since.

With Bryant heading into his 20th season with the Lakers, it’s highly unlikely he’ll have a shot to win that elusive sixth championship considering the state of the franchise. Despite the odds being against him and the Lakers moving forward, Bryant continues to battle through injuries and constant criticism with the end of his career drawing near.

[divide]

Kobe Bryant Q&A At Nike’s Blackout Experience: On His Return, ‘I’m Going To Die Tryin’


Please enable Javascript to watch this video

You May Also Like

Brandon Ingram On Durant Comparison: ‘I Have The Potential To Make My Own Brand’

Ever since Brandon Ingram came into the national scene as a freshman at Duke, his thin frame and shooting ability led everyone to compare him to superstar Kevin Durant…

Lakers News: L.A. Finalizing Two-Year Deal With David Nwaba

The Los Angeles Lakers had a decision to make regarding David Nwaba. After his second 10-day contract expired on Monday…

Lakers Rumors: D’Antoni Wants 4th Year Option Picked Up; Lakers Reluctant

[new_royalslider id=”138″] As we draw closer to a conclusion regarding the fate…

Lakers News: Staples Center Ranked Second-Best Arena in the NBA

The Los Angeles Lakers have had a tremendous amount of success since…