“Inside Kobe Bryant’s Reign of Dominance: The Untold Stories of Lakers Newcomers!”
In the heart of every champion beats the relentless drive for dominance, and for the late NBA icon Kobe Bryant, this drive was more than a mantra—it was a way of life. In a revelation that offers a glimpse into Bryant’s fierce competitive spirit, his former teammate Brian Shaw unveiled the legendary Lakers star’s unyielding mindset, both on and off the court.
Shaw, speaking on “Podcast P with Paul George,” delved into the depths of Bryant’s competitiveness, recounting how the Black Mamba would assert his authority over new teammates with unwavering determination. With each new season, Bryant sought to reaffirm his place at the top of the Lakers hierarchy, leaving no room for doubt.
“The first thing that Kobe would tell Phil [Jackson] is, ‘When we start scrimmaging, put me on the other team,’ ’cause he needed to establish the pecking order. ‘This is my st and I’mma let you know that this is my st,’” Shaw revealed, painting a vivid picture of Bryant’s relentless pursuit of supremacy.
One memorable instance during the 2000-01 season saw Bryant clash with the newly acquired Isaiah “J.R.” Rider, whose trash-talk ignited a fire in Bryant’s soul. With the eyes of his teammates upon them, Bryant and Rider engaged in a one-on-one showdown, a battle of wills that epitomized Bryant’s indomitable spirit.
“So, Phil stopped practice and then we all went and sat on the side and watched them two play one-on-one … and Kobe ate his a** up. He chewed him up,” Shaw recalled, his words dripping with the intensity of the moment.
Yet, Rider was not alone in facing Bryant’s wrath. Shaw recounted how a slew of Lakers acquisitions, including the likes of Ron Artest, Mitch Richmond, Lindsey Hunter, Jim Jackson, and Aaron McKie, fell victim to Bryant’s killer mindset, each tasting defeat at the hands of the basketball maestro.
As the dust settled on these intense battles, the repercussions reverberated throughout the Lakers camp. Rider, unable to withstand Bryant’s relentless assault, found himself ostracized from the team, his brief stint with the Lakers coming to an abrupt end.
In the wake of his departure, Rider’s career spiraled into obscurity, his once-promising trajectory derailed by the unwavering force of Bryant’s will. Despite securing a championship ring with the Lakers in 2001, Rider’s journey in the NBA came to an ignominious close, leaving behind a legacy overshadowed by the indelible mark of Bryant’s dominance.
“The first thing that Kobe would tell Phil [Jackson] is, ‘When we start scrimmaging, put me on the other team,’ ’cause he needed to establish the pecking order. ‘This is my s**t and I’mma let you know that this is my s**t,’” Shaw said.
“So, I remember J.R. Rider scored on Kobe and was talking s**t one day in practice early in that season. So, Kobe said, ‘Me and you after practice, one-on-one,’” Shaw said. “So, Phil stopped practice and then we all went and sat on the side and watched them two play one-on-one … and Kobe ate his a** up. He chewed him up.”
According to Shaw, after Bryant dominated Rider, then-Lakers veteran Horace Grant mocked him, leading Rider to reach his boiling point.
“So, we were sitting on the sideline, and Horace Grant I remember going, ‘Be careful what you ask for,’” Shaw said. “He got so mad that he came over to the sideline, fists balled up, all swoled up, he was like, ‘I’ll beat all y’all a**es,’ ’cause he was so embarrassed.”
