Gerald Henderson was a big Kobe Bryant fan growing up and his recollection of his first time facing Kobe and the Lakers is phenomenal
This year especially, with the help of Kobe Bryant’s retirement letter to put it on the map, The Players’ Tribune has taken off. From players detailing their first ever NBA games to others arguing why such-and-such player is an All-Star, the site has truly revolutionized how fans view their favorite players.
Professional athletes are often placed on a pedestal and it’s easy to forget that at the end of the day they’re human just like you and me, but that’s what makes this movement so great.
Per The Players Tribune website,
"Welcome to The Players’ Tribune, a new media company that provides athletes with a platform to connect directly with their fans, in their own words. Founded by Derek Jeter, The Players’ Tribune publishes first-person stories from athletes, providing unique insight into the daily sports conversation. Through impactful and powerful long and short form stories, video series and podcasts, The Players’ Tribune brings fans closer than ever to the games they love."
Thursday morning, now Portland Trailblazer, Gerald Henderson, was the latest player to post to the online journal with a piece entitled, “The First Time I Guarded Kobe.”
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Henderson begins by referencing how Kobe had been his “basketball idol” growing up, since they both hailed from Philadelphia but it’s the little things in his entry that made it so great.
For example, Henderson revealed that his first time playing against Kobe he watched him miss a multitude of shots during warm-ups. Then, in perfectionist Kobe fashion, he revealed that the reason he was missing was that the rim was half an inch too low, a fact that the maintenance guy who fixed it verified to Henderson later on.
However, the most impactful part of his post was how he describes Kobe Bryant’s game. You always hear stories of Kobe’s greatness but there’s something about this almost poetic retelling that makes it that much more genuine.
"Kobe’s perfected the art of scoring, if that can be done. He has counters to your counters. He has a toolbox full of scoring moves. Every night, he has new tools in there, for new scenarios. Good defense rarely slows Kobe down. In a crazy way, good defense makes Kobe better. It just reveals new moves that he’s been waiting to try out."
It’s truly telling the amount of respect that players still have for the Black Mamba, even despite his play of late and the beating he’s taken in the media.
"This season, his final of 20, Kobe has not been his regular self. Injuries have clearly caught up to him and he has not performed like he has in the past. Many have thrown shade on him, almost as if they’ve forgotten what the guy has meant to the game. Forgotten what he’s done for the NBA. Forgotten what he’s done for young kids like me growing up who looked up to him. I don’t have to break down the reasons why Kobe is one of the greatest to ever play basketball. Commentators will be doing that all year long on Kobe’s farewell tour – and for years to come."
Without The Players Tribune platform, Henderson never gets to reveal these amazing subtleties that make us love Kobe that much more and that’s amazing to think about.
The Blazers next game just so happens to be against the Lakers up in Portland so be sure to watch out for the interaction between Henderson and Kobe before, during and especially after the game.
Next: 3 Things Learned After Another Blowout Loss to the Kings
You can read the whole piece here and be sure to check back into Lake Show Life for everything Lakers.