Clippers to Bryant: We’re impressed, but don’t want to draft a 17-year old
By Jacob Rude
Feb.14, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers small forward Caron Butler (5) and center DeAndre Jordan (6) guard Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant (24) during the game at the Staples Center. Clippers won 125-101. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
The Clippers have a made so many ill-advised moves throughout their recent history that they’ve gained a reputation for doing as such. At Kobe Bryant’s special event “Kobe Up Close” on Thursday night, we learned of one of their biggest ones yet. Prior to the 1996 NBA Draft, the Clippers worked out the 17-year old Bryant and were importantly very impressed with the young star. However, they weren’t totally sold….
Kobe said he had a good workout with the Clippers but they said they wouldn't draft him.
— Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) August 16, 2013
Clippers told Kobe they wanted to turn things around and wouldn't be taken seriously if they drafted a 17 year old kid.
— Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) August 16, 2013
In the ’96 Draft, the Clippers held the 7th pick in the draft, ahead of the 13th pick the Lakers traded the Hornets for. The Clippers, wanting to be taken seriously, instead drafted Lorenzen Wright, not only passing on Bryant, but also Steve Nash, Jermaine O’Neal, and just about anyone else who could have made a bigger impact than Wright.
Oh Clippers.