Remembering Kobe's 4 infamous airballs versus the Jazz

[beermonsteroo]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ws2yhBzJjis

This gets never old :lol :lol :lol :oldlol: :oldlol: :oldlol:

[New York Knicks]

Kobe fans rage below this post.

[Yung D-Will]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxT46ROgI50
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i--mrQzEl14
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJZA3OPaAIc

[New York Knicks]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxT46ROgI50
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i--mrQzEl14
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJZA3OPaAIc
Conflicted Kobe + Jazz fan?

[Mr Clutch Melo]

World War 3

[gyu]

"he has shot blanks this entire overtime" :lol :lol

"Bryant for the tie... ANOTHER AIR BALL!" :roll: :roll:

[vert48]

What made it worse is that the Jazz went on to win it all. Oh wait, never mind.

[beermonsteroo]

"he has shot blanks this entire overtime" :lol :lol

"Bryant for the tie... ANOTHER AIR BALL!" :roll: :roll:

Easily the worst piece of choking in NBA history :bowdown: :bowdown: :lol :lol

[gyu]

Him missing the shots isn't that funny, but those comments are :D

[deeznut]

Easily the worst piece of choking in NBA history :bowdown: :bowdown: :lol :lol he was a rookies ain't he?

[knickscity]

What made it worse is that the Jazz went on to win it all. Oh wait, never mind.
This is even funnier than the thread's purpose.

[The_Yearning]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxT46ROgI50
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i--mrQzEl14
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJZA3OPaAIc

Lol embarassing. And which rookie do you know was trusted to take those shots? Nevermind that, but had the balls to take those shots as a rookie?

[beermonsteroo]

he was a rookies ain't he?

It doesn't matter how old he was! If he takes those shots over and over he has to deal with the consequences.

[deeznut]

It doesn't matter how old he was! If he takes those shots over and over he has to deal with the consequences. Yes it does, it was so much pressure for a rookies to play in the playoffs and take the last shots. tell me a rookies that would take that shot or even let to take that shot.

[KingLeBronJames]

After those airballs, it drove him to be a great player.

[Yung D-Will]

Conflicted Kobe + Jazz fan?
What?

The Op posted a retarded old video.

So I posted retarded old videos.

[Fatal9]

That would have been some career ending shit for a weak minded player. From that moment to then going on and hitting most game winners in NBA history...crazy work ethic.

[bballer]

Remember when he was only 18

[necya]

what i hate from this player, okay he missed on the first try, the second...but for the last, he has a specialist alone in the corner and doesn't have the intelligence to pass the ball. horrible play

[RoseCity07]

Not really sure why he air balled that first one, he's been making shots like that his whole career. I think it was maybe because he was rail thin.


Anyway, even if you hate Kobe's guts. You have to admit, having the balls to take the big shots and fail is something you have to do to be a great player. Kobe takes more bad shots than anyone, but he also makes more than anyone, and when the game is on the line, he has tons of practice to make those hard shots.

[branslowski]

Remember when he was only 18

Remember when haters didn't care?...

Remember when they use past history to help them sleep at night because the Present of Kobe winning hunts them?..



:lol ..But yeah, those airballs was funny as hell...Drove him to become a 5 time champ, 2-time Finals MVP, Multiple All-NBA 1st teams and Defensive, and the second most Game-Winners of All-Time blowing the likes of Bird and Miller out of the water..:applause:

[Andrei89]

He was a rookie back then

and he pretty much sucked

then he started working harder and look at him now knocking down 35 footer clucth shots

[necya]

Remember when haters didn't care?...

Remember when they use past history to help them sleep at night because the Present of Kobe winning hunts them?..



:lol ..But yeah, those airballs was funny as hell...Drove him to become a 5 time champ, 2-time Finals MVP, Multiple All-NBA 1st teams and Defensive, and the second most Game-Winners of All-Time blowing the likes of Bird and Miller out of the water..:applause:

what a moron you are making of you...
look at van exel's reaction after the last try : he showed eddie jones in the corner who was alone.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cskmfz2ap7M&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTX81NwDB20&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3zub7JDHi8&feature=related

and this one is for the ages, whereas he could score 2pts, no mister bryant wanted to be the clown
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wxl00yxvq6I

[branslowski]

what a moron you are making of you...
look at van exel's reaction after the last try : he showed eddie jones in the corner who was alone.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cskmfz2ap7M&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTX81NwDB20&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3zub7JDHi8&feature=related

and this one is for the ages, whereas he could score 2pts, no mister bryant wanted to be the clown
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wxl00yxvq6I

f*ck this have to do with what I said?....:wtf:

You can cherry pick any vids of players missing oop dunks and missing game-winners...:oldlol:

[Yung D-Will]

If you look at how much Karl Malone and Kobe Bryant improved their games just by being gym rats it's amazing

[ZenMaster]

sad sad people.

[jbot]

:oldlol: yeah, my oldest son sees the current Kobe and i had to tell him a while back about the rookie version. he didn't believe me.

[gts]

clearly those misses as a rookie had a devastating effect on his career,
never again would he have the confidence to take that last shot,
never again would his teammates follow him,
never again would a head coach trust in kobe

he'll just have to work harder, 5 rings scoring champ mvp's etc etc... it's just so sad look at all he's done and with no support and broken confidence...
heck! he might have scored 85 points against the raptors if only he hadn't been so afraid to pull the trigger

[opps]

what a moron you are making of you...
look at van exel's reaction after the last try : he showed eddie jones in the corner who was alone.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cskmfz2ap7M&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTX81NwDB20&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3zub7JDHi8&feature=related

and this one is for the ages, whereas he could score 2pts, no mister bryant wanted to be the clown
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wxl00yxvq6I


You are a ****ing hater pullin up shit no one remembers & Kobe is laughing at himself in two of the videos

& he also did this against the Rockets in the playoffs http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIDF7GFFpG4

[Doranku]

OP is mad at Kobe, LOL

[Bring-Your-Js]

That would have been some career ending shit for a weak minded player. From that moment to then going on and hitting most game winners in NBA history...crazy work ethic.

I know huh? and to think he'll probably challenge the all-time scoring record and finish with 7-8 titles, hold the playoff scoring record by the thousands....

[branslowski]

clearly those misses as a rookie had a devastating effect on his career,
never again would he have the confidence to take that last shot,
never again would his teammates follow him,
never again would a head coach trust in kobe

he'll just have to work harder, 5 rings scoring champ mvp's etc etc... it's just so sad look at all he's done and with no support and broken confidence...
heck! he might have scored 85 points against the raptors if only he hadn't been so afraid to pull the trigger

:roll: :roll: :roll: :roll:

[oh the horror]

what i hate from this player, okay he missed on the first try, the second...but for the last, he has a specialist alone in the corner and doesn't have the intelligence to pass the ball. horrible play



That's kind of what makes Kobe, Kobe....Dude WILL take the shot, again and again until he's sinking them.....which is why he is so great at times, and other times, he can be a weight on his team.

[necya]

You are a ****ing hater pullin up shit no one remembers & Kobe is laughing at himself in two of the videos

& he also did this against the Rockets in the playoffs http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIDF7GFFpG4

look at you, one thread on one of the bad side of your god and you look like a dog.
i'm not a hater, i hate the selfish side of kobe, and so...

[Fuhqueue]

It's funny to see Shaq with his arm around Kobe's shoulders as they leave the court, giving him reassurance and encouragement. How things change :oldlol:

[opps]

look at you, one thread on one of the bad side of your god and look like a dog.
i'm not a hater, i hate the selfish side of kobe, and so...

http://sweasel.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/drseuss.jpg

BUT ..........

































































































































http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs200.snc4/38351_958333934051_10053624_54058798_6368173_n.jpg

[necya]

are you 14? 15?
poor kid i didn't want to hurt you baby, just learn to laugh about everything even if it's daddy

[opps]

are you 14? 15?
poor kid i didn't want to hurt you baby, just learn to laugh about everything even if it's daddy

are you 35? 40?

No one is mad why are sitting at home hating on someone who has accomplished more than you ever will?

& since when has it been a bad thing to be young? & Im not 14 or 15 by the waY

[opps]

are you 14? 15?
poor kid i didn't want to hurt you baby, just learn to laugh about everything even if it's daddy

This sounds mad HOMO

[tpols]

the english-challenged op had to go back to 1997 to find a clip of kobe ****ing up LOL:oldlol:

[DixieNourmous]

http://slamonline.com/online/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/114kobe.jpg


The season needs to start. :facepalm

[sosolid4u09]

what a moron you are making of you...
look at van exel's reaction after the last try : he showed eddie jones in the corner who was alone.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cskmfz2ap7M&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTX81NwDB20&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3zub7JDHi8&feature=related

and this one is for the ages, whereas he could score 2pts, no mister bryant wanted to be the clown
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wxl00yxvq6I

your so stupid it hurts. At the last one, the commentators are going mad over how sick the attempt was.
If your gonna hate on Bryant chose your videos more carefully chump

[Jacks3]

Yeah, those shots totally crushed his spirit and destroyed his career.

[Killer_Instinct]

It doesn't matter how old he was! If he takes those shots over and over he has to deal with the consequences.


He went on to win five rings, and become one of the greatest players to ever lace them up. I don't think he cried over the spilled milk, but maybe that's just me.

[Papaya Petee]

Wait, so you guys make mixes of LeBron losing in the playoffs and he shows one funny video of Kobe missing and you're all butthurt? Dammmm.

[Yuki Nagato]

I like how all the "lakers" fans get defensive :lol people cannot enjoy a laugh.

[KOLBCTEW]

Wait, so you guys make mixes of LeBron losing in the playoffs and he shows one funny video of Kobe missing and you're all butthurt? Dammmm.

I like how all the "lakers" fans get defensive :lol people cannot enjoy a laugh.
Agreed, don't really see what the big deal is :ohwell:

[No_Look604]

After those airballs, it drove him to be a great player.

Here we go. Lebron + Kobe fan peace treaty haha
http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l6f1x3vVZg1qcfba3o1_400.gif

[New York Knicks]

Wait, so you guys make mixes of LeBron losing in the playoffs and he shows one funny video of Kobe missing and you're all butthurt? Dammmm.
The only reason Kobe fans don't get ridiculed more is because there's so many of them. They outnumber the rest of us by a wide margin.

[ronnymac]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxT46ROgI50
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i--mrQzEl14
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJZA3OPaAIc
What are you a bandwagon jazz fan or a Kobe fan?

[alanLA92]

oh yeah kobe hit 4 airballs in a row and went on to win 5 titles
jzz went on to lose twice to jordan's bulls and yet to win one title

whos laughing now lol jk yeah its funny to watch thoese shots because I know it motivated kobe to become better and now the jokes been on the rest of the nba for the last 13 yrs

[jstern]

Poor Kobe. I'm sure we can all relate to being really nervous in certain situations.

Imagine if it was Lebron though. I wish there were alternate universe just to see all the people who are getting really really defensive and making excuses, completely bash Lebron.

[laronprofit9]

I can recall Kobe being grateful that happened. At the time when he was 18 years old he wasn't, but that lit a fire under his ass, and allowed him to be the most accomplished, most successful, and best perimeter player of the decade.

Everyone with great success also had many failures along the way. Kobe is one key example of this. He wasn't afraid to fail, and that's why Kobe is where he is at today.

[EnoughSaid]

It's just one game, does it make it any different? Drop the hate and enjoy a laugh.

[ukplayer4]

that last one was truly horrible, i cant think of a more selfish or dumber moment off the top of my head, not in this situation anyway, how after three other airballs do you still have the nerve to heave that when others are spotting up calling for the ball?

[AirTupac]

A lanky, charismatic, 6-6, 200-pound prodigy, Kobe led little-known Lower Merion High to the Pennsylvania state title just later year. Now he was being asked to win an NBA Playoff game. No Problem.

"Give me the ball, coach," Bryant says. "I'll drain it".

The clock ticks, and Bryant takes the ball down court, two players to his left, two on the right. With a few ticks left, he stops -- 14 feet out -- and takes what henceforth be referred to as The Other Shot. The ball sails through the air with a high arc and.. airball.

Utah fans go crazy. Overtime. In OT, Bryant throws up three more long bombs -- all airballs -- The Lakers lose 98-93. As the Lakers leave the court, Shaq, who has taken a liking to the rookie, talks to kid, who hates to lose -- Especially with the eyes of the world on him -- "I dont want to see you hanging your head -- You had a great season," he says. "Go home, work hard and we'll come back next year". But as Bryant walks off the court, the thoughts race through his mind, especially as he takes one more look at that elusive rim. "Am i really ready for all of this?"

Whats the most important lesson you learned last year?

KB: Patience

- Slam Magazine

[opps]

A lanky, charismatic, 6-6, 200-pound prodigy, Kobe led little-known Lower Merion High to the Pennsylvania state title just later year. Now he was being asked to win an NBA Playoff game. No Problem.

"Give me the ball, coach," Bryant says. "I'll drain it".

The clock ticks, and Bryant takes the ball down court, two players to his left, two on the right. With a few ticks left, he stops -- 14 feet out -- and takes what henceforth be referred to as The Other Shot. The ball sails through the air with a high arc and.. airball.

Utah fans go crazy. Overtime. In OT, Bryant throws up three more long bombs -- all airballs -- The Lakers lose 98-93. As the Lakers leave the court, Shaq, who has taken a liking to the rookie, talks to kid, who hates to lose -- Especially with the eyes of the world on him -- "I dont want to see you hanging your head -- You had a great season," he says. "Go home, work hard and we'll come back next year". But as Bryant walks off the court, the thoughts race through his mind, especially as he takes one more look at that elusive rim. "Am i really ready for all of this?"

Whats the most important lesson you learned last year?

KB: Patience

- Slam Magazine

Thank You. I dont see why this is even funny ...obviously it motivated him you guys are just laughing at yourselves. There is also this video on Youtube with Shaq saying no one else wanted to take that shot & that Kobe was the only one brave enough to take it.

It would be funny if he didnt go on to accomplish all that he did but thats not the case. Im guessing you guys on this board have never been through shit in life and made through?

[jstern]

I commented almost 3 hours ago, but I didn't bother looking at the video because embarrassing moment make me feel uncomfortable for the person. I just saw the video, and OMG, it was a lot worse than I remember. I would definitely work my ass off after such an embarrssing moment.

One more comment, the people using his age as an excuse. It's not an excuse, Kobe was obviously petrified. If you're going to praise him for being 18 and in the NBA then you can't use his age as an excuse in this situation. It makes you look like un objective Kobe stans who would defend the slightest mistake Kobe makes. (I've never used the word stan before.) He was nervous, get over it. I saw signs of nervousness from Kobe during last finals, rushing certain shot in the final seconds of the biggest stage. He's human, not a god.

[tpols]

I commented almost 3 hours ago, but I didn't bother looking at the video because embarrassing moment make me feel uncomfortable for the person. I just saw the video, and OMG, it was a lot worse than I remember. I would definitely work my ass off after such an embarrssing moment.

One more comment, the people using his age as an excuse. It's not an excuse, Kobe was obviously petrified. If you're going to praise him for being 18 and in the NBA then you can't use his age as an excuse in this situation. He was nervous, get over it. I saw signs of nervousness from Kobe during last finals, rushing certain shot in the final seconds of the biggest stage. He's human.
Who ever praised 18 year old kobe?

[jstern]

Who ever praised 18 year old kobe?
A lot of Kobe fans who love that he enter the league at 18, because he was in the NBA at such a young age. Just look around youtube, young Kobe videos. I'm sure you'll find plenty of comments.

[Stringer Bell]

Easily the worst piece of choking in NBA history :bowdown: :bowdown: :lol :lol

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tP1UQ9PbKk0#t=6m40s

[beermonsteroo]

Hey Kobe fanboy's why can't you just admit that this is funny as hell? Nobody was hating on Kobe or something. It was a funny incident, if you can not live with it, i feel sorry for you. All those he got 5 rings bla bla. That's not the topic here

[Glide2keva]

Wait, so you guys make mixes of LeBron losing in the playoffs and he shows one funny video of Kobe missing and you're all butthurt? Dammmm.
Welcome to the hypocrisy of Kobe fans. And **** lebron

[gyu]

Wow someone negative repped me for finding the commentator's comments funny? Kobe homers speak up, who did it and why did you? I even stated that I did not find the air balls funny but just the COMMENTS. :facepalm

Why so defensive Kobe homers?

[catch24]

These '4 infamous airballs' were the fuel to his fire. This game alone, IMO, is what molded him into the player he is today... Hell, he's been torching Utah ever since. :oldlol:

[jjayfive]

wasn't really that funny.. he just sucked really bad back then..

[Desperado]

Only 18 years old.

Even Shaq said Kobe was the only player on the team with enough heart to take those shots.

It's amazing how he went from that to two years later later he was taking over hitting 3 clutch shots in the 2000 Finals when Shaq fouled out, game winning shot against Phoenix in the 2000 playoffs, game saving block against Portland and the classic Game 7 performance against Portland.

[NbaFan432]

This gives me the chills really. Yea, I'm a fan of Kobe(an NBA fan first). But this to me just shows how hard this guy has worked to get to where he is. I dought thats why this thread was made though.

[jstern]

This gives me the chills really. Yea, I'm a fan of Kobe(an NBA fan first). But this to me just shows how hard this guy has worked to get to where he is. I doubt that's why this thread was made though.
It's not like he was a bad player just because he had 4 air balls. Just a really bad ending to a game. I'm sure he would have been just as good. No need to get all annoyed that someone made a thread about something negative in Kobe's past, especially when you consider how many negative threads Kobe fans make of many other players.

[GiveItToBurrito]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ws2yhBzJjis

This gets never old :lol :lol :lol :oldlol: :oldlol: :oldlol:

"I know that by any objective measure Lebron, Wade, Howard, and Chris Paul are better, but I mean come on, WHO DO YOU WANT TAKING THAT LAST SHOT!?"

[okayabc123]

Kobe was never put on the pedestal as an 18 year old. I remember all the criticisms that came at Kobe saying he will never make it as a guard coming out of high school. People have to remember at that point, there wasn't really a guard that went straight from high school and succeeded.

And Kobe was drafted as the 13th pick, not the 1st or 2nd pick. If anything, Kobe worked his way to be on the top and be regarded as one of the best in the league.

4 airballs is meh to me. We all have failed one time or another. Usually once people fail at something, they are so afraid to try it again. Let alone, 4 times in a span of 10-20 minutes. But that's why Kobe became the player he is. I think that's the competitiveness that you saw Kobe as a 18 yr old playing against men in the NBA.

We are all quick to judge and laugh at his 4 airballs. Yeah, it's pretty ridiculous to airball 4 shots in a row, let alone taking stupid shots. But then again, who else has the balls to do that? It's easy to pass the ball or just say I'm not going to be the reason why we lost. It's so much harder to say, "fuxk it, if I miss it, so what. I'll shoot it again" and Kobe probably kept saying that to himself over and over again.

[Doranku]

What's really funny about that game is that Elden Campbell shot 1-13. :oldlol:

[KenneBell]

"I know that by any objective measure Lebron, Wade, Howard, and Chris Paul are better, but I mean come on, WHO DO YOU WANT TAKING THAT LAST SHOT!?"
Kobe. About 9 times out of 10.

[Glide2keva]

It's not like he was a bad player just because he had 4 air balls. Just a really bad ending to a game. I'm sure he would have been just as good. No need to get all annoyed that someone made a thread about something negative in Kobe's past, especially when you consider how many negative threads Kobe fans make of many other players.
That's the thing with Kobe fanboys, they love to gloat and down other players people are fans of, yet they get their things up their asses whenever you say something about Kobe. They act like he is perfect, like a deity or something. It's pathetic.

[Rashard]

I remember that game and those airballs vividly. Utah use to own the Lakers during the late 90's but have had absolutely no success against them since. I echo those posters that stated those airballs led to the player he is today. Led to him becoming one of the most clutch players in the history of the game and providing Lakers fans with memories such as these.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZuReGlBNro

Personally the most memorable for me wasnt even a clutch shot. At the 1:22mark Kobe goes over BOTH Duncan and Robinson, full extension for a rebound and put back in a pivotal playoff game. My respect for him as a player and competitor were already strong. That one play took it to another level. NO ONE, with good sense and without bias can ever argue this man's will and desire to win. That play against the Spurs is a perfect example of it.

[KenneBell]

They act like he is perfect, like a deity or something. It's pathetic.
Oh the irony. :roll:

[kap]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tP1UQ9PbKk0#t=6m40s


Man.. brings back memories hahaha. I remember that that game turned everything around

btw, im a kobe fan, and i love watching those airballs

[ukplayer4]

Only 18 years old.

Even Shaq said Kobe was the only player on the team with enough heart to take those shots.

It's amazing how he went from that to two years later later he was taking over hitting 3 clutch shots in the 2000 Finals when Shaq fouled out, game winning shot against Phoenix in the 2000 playoffs, game saving block against Portland and the classic Game 7 performance against Portland.



pretty sure the 2000 playoffs werent two years after the 97 playoffs but maybe im wrong....

[Disaprine]

I like how all the "lakers" fans get defensive :lol people cannot enjoy a laugh.
This would be the case, but the op is a admitted bruce bitch fan so he deserves to be ridiculed.

[Glide2keva]

Oh the irony. :roll:
Tell me where I said a player was perfect.

[macpierce]

luckily this scrub was kicked out of the nba 10 years ago :oldlol:

[AI3Anthony]

What's the point of this thread?

[bl2k8]

the game that propelled Kobe to wreak havoc on the league for years to come.

[EarlTheGoat]

OP is having some serious insecurity problems.

The fact that he probably spent hours finding this video trying to scratch on something proves my point.

[whatever666]

Yes it does, it was so much pressure for a rookies to play in the playoffs and take the last shots. tell me a rookies that would take that shot or even let to take that shot.

And that right there is one of the reasons why his own teammates hated him, he was very ballhogish and at the wrong moments, after that game everybody was pissed of because he was NOT supposed to take the shots, nobody told him to take those shots..... they had different plays, but Kobe was in his own NBA 2K for PS3 world.

[jonathan]

Is Kobe the only player that can get praised for shooting four airballs? Sorry but it doesn't take a great player to jack up last second shots. Being a Knicks fan, I remember back in the Fire Isiah days, that Marbury would often be the guy taking those last second shots for the team and I'm sure he was almost up there with Kobe and some of the other chuckers. I've never seen him praised once for missing shots or any other player for that matter. Everyone learns from their mistakes. Kobe is no different. It was bad judgement on his part, it cost his team the game, and he learned from it. End of story. But he certainly does not deserve any praise. Some of the replies here are sort of ridiculous. Did anyone praise Ray Allen for his 0-13 in the finals? It took balls for him to keep shooting too. But in the end, it cost his team the game as well. It doesn't mean he's a bad player of course. But I'm not going to :applause: him for failing.

[Allstar24]

I thought the airballs were great. Yes there are others who can jack up last second shots. But none of them are the best closer in the game like Kobe is today. He's never been afraid of the moment, he has the guts to take and make big shots...unlike certain other players :oldlol: The OP's attempt at trolling backfired.

[Yung D-Will]

Is Kobe the only player that can get praised for shooting four airballs? Sorry but it doesn't take a great player to jack up last second shots. Being a Knicks fan, I remember back in the Fire Isiah days, that Marbury would often be the guy taking those last second shots for the team and I'm sure he was almost up there with Kobe and some of the other chuckers. I've never seen him praised once for missing shots or any other player for that matter. Everyone learns from their mistakes. Kobe is no different. It was bad judgement on his part, it cost his team the game, and he learned from it. End of story. But he certainly does not deserve any praise. Some of the replies here are sort of ridiculous. Did anyone praise Ray Allen for his 0-13 in the finals? It took balls for him to keep shooting too. But in the end, it cost his team the game as well. It doesn't mean he's a bad player of course. But I'm not going to :applause: him for failing.

Actually I disagree.
Here's a video of Dennis Scott & Clyde Frazier saying that the most important thing for basketball players that is lacking is confidence.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4Ywnbb2x7Q

Even if it was someone like Stephen Curry instead of Kobe, For a young player to be able to take big shots even after missing baskets in crunch time tells alot of his mental toughness. And that's a good sign of a great player to have confidence in the big moments. A player who's confident enough to take game deciding shots early in his career has the foundation to be a great player.

[step_back]

really bad shot selection, however you have to admit that his will to win is rediculous.

[jstern]

really bad shot selection, however you have to admit that his will to win is rediculous.
I have to disagree about the will to win in this situation. When someone has that will to win they get in the zone, complete concentration, can't miss, Larry Bird, Michael Jordan. At least that's my view of the will to win. Being able to completely get in the zone, and Kobe is far from it in this particular game.

[AirTupac]

And that right there is one of the reasons why his own teammates hated him, he was very ballhogish and at the wrong moments, after that game everybody was pissed of because he was NOT supposed to take the shots, nobody told him to take those shots..... they had different plays, but Kobe was in his own NBA 2K for PS3 world.


The Lakers lose 98-93. As the Lakers leave the court, Shaq, who has taken a liking to the rookie, talks to kid, who hates to lose -- Especially with the eyes of the world on him -- "I dont want to see you hanging your head -- You had a great season," he says. "Go home, work hard and we'll come back next year"

Did you talk to any of those teammates?

Robert Horry says "It's amazing how smart this kid is-- he's got a great personality and is very intelligent. He's got the whole world in his hands with this game, he can do everything-- and he's still learning -- which is bad news for his opponents. He's gonna be one of the greats, probably the [NBA's] all-time leading scorer."

Interviewer: Because of his age entering the league?

"Sheeeeeeeeeeet!" Horry says with a laugh. "Because of his talent".

[G-Funk]

Hard to believe that's the same kid who became the best closer in this decade and the person who bailed out USA team with a clutch performance to rememeber.

[Johnni Gade]

LOL! Havn't seen this. Epic

[All Net]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ws2yhBzJjis

This gets never old :lol :lol :lol :oldlol: :oldlol: :oldlol:

I guess losers like you have to keep looking at stuff like this as there has been nothing good for Kobe haters happen the past two years.

[Kobe 4 The Win]

That's all the hater have to cling to. Some old game when Kobe was essentially high school age. Pathetic. Let me bring you back to the here and now...........

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v78/IpreferKeaton/misc/Sports/confetti.jpg

[guy]

Is Kobe the only player that can get praised for shooting four airballs? Sorry but it doesn't take a great player to jack up last second shots. Being a Knicks fan, I remember back in the Fire Isiah days, that Marbury would often be the guy taking those last second shots for the team and I'm sure he was almost up there with Kobe and some of the other chuckers. I've never seen him praised once for missing shots or any other player for that matter. Everyone learns from their mistakes. Kobe is no different. It was bad judgement on his part, it cost his team the game, and he learned from it. End of story. But he certainly does not deserve any praise. Some of the replies here are sort of ridiculous. Did anyone praise Ray Allen for his 0-13 in the finals? It took balls for him to keep shooting too. But in the end, it cost his team the game as well. It doesn't mean he's a bad player of course. But I'm not going to :applause: him for failing.

I agree. I think he does deserve praise for getting over it and not letting it shake his confidence, but my god 4 airballs? I don't really care that he was 18, it still goes down as one of the biggest chokejobs I've ever seen. Probably right up there with Nick Anderson. Like I said, he clearly learned from it and bounced back, but that moment was still pretty damn bad.

[Desperado]

That's all the hater have to cling to. Some old game when Kobe was essentially high school age. Pathetic. Let me bring you back to the here and now...........

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v78/IpreferKeaton/misc/Sports/confetti.jpg


:cheers:

It's funny all they can do is cling to the past and bring up his short coming to make themselves feel better because when they look at the here an now they remember this....


http://i28.tinypic.com/6h0p78.jpg

[Desperado]

it still goes down as one of the biggest chokejobs I've ever seen. Probably right up there with Nick Anderson.

You mean this? :lol

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFs16GWXT_w

Of course the Jordan jockers excuse is always he wasn't in shape and
was rusty because he had just come out of retirement.

How about when he had the double nickle against the Knicks in Madison Square? How about the 48/9/8 game against the Hornets in the first round of the playoffs? He wasn't ''rusty'' then but as soon as he choked against Orlando in the playoffs it was because he was rusty.

[guy]

You mean this? :lol

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFs16GWXT_w

Of course the Jordan jockers excuse is always he wasn't in shape and
was rusty because he had just come out of retirement.

How about when he had the double nickle against the Knicks in Madison Square? How about the 48/9/8 game against the Hornets in the first round of the playoffs? He wasn't ''rusty'' then but as soon as he choked against Orlando in the playoffs it was because he was rusty.

Yea Jordan choked. Who says he didn't in that situation? Not nearly as bad as throwing up 4 airballs like Kobe did. It really doesn't get much worse then that.

[Cermet]

wow I havent seen that before, actually I didnt think that's possible. I mean I know kobe takes stupid shots all the time, but missing like that? 4 times in a row? wow...

[beermonsteroo]

I guess losers like you have to keep looking at stuff like this as there has been nothing good for Kobe haters happen the past two years.

If you would be convinced of Kobe you would just take a laugh and agree that this was funny and not his best moment. But obviusly you feel the need to defend Kobe cause deep in your heart you have doubts about hom too

[crisoner]

What made it worse is that the Jazz went on to win it all. Oh wait, never mind.


THIS

How many years later Kobe has 5 titles and the Jazz as a franchise still have none. Game over.

[All Net]

If you would be convinced of Kobe you would just take a laugh and agree that this was funny and not his best moment. But obviusly you feel the need to defend Kobe cause deep in your heart you have doubts about hom too

Whats funny and good about bringing up when Kobe stunk back when he was a kid? fact is this all Kobe haters can post these days about his past failures. Pretty damn sad really.

[beermonsteroo]

Whats funny and good about bringing up when Kobe stunk back when he was a kid? fact is this all Kobe haters can post these days about his past failures. Pretty damn sad really.

Again this has nothing to do with Kobe personally. We talk about the past in ISH all the time. So why not remeber this classic moment. As you see, there are some guys who didn't even know about this.
So in your opinion we are only alloed to talk about great moments of Kobe. The rest is banned? Maybe you should give us a list of topics we are allowed to talk about and a list of no go topics:rolleyes:
You would make a pretty good minister of propaganda in a dictatorship

[Horatio33]

A lanky, charismatic, 6-6, 200-pound prodigy, Kobe led little-known Lower Merion High to the Pennsylvania state title just later year. Now he was being asked to win an NBA Playoff game. No Problem.

"Give me the ball, coach," Bryant says. "I'll drain it".

The clock ticks, and Bryant takes the ball down court, two players to his left, two on the right. With a few ticks left, he stops -- 14 feet out -- and takes what henceforth be referred to as The Other Shot. The ball sails through the air with a high arc and.. airball.

Utah fans go crazy. Overtime. In OT, Bryant throws up three more long bombs -- all airballs -- The Lakers lose 98-93. As the Lakers leave the court, Shaq, who has taken a liking to the rookie, talks to kid, who hates to lose -- Especially with the eyes of the world on him -- "I dont want to see you hanging your head -- You had a great season," he says. "Go home, work hard and we'll come back next year". But as Bryant walks off the court, the thoughts race through his mind, especially as he takes one more look at that elusive rim. "Am i really ready for all of this?"

Whats the most important lesson you learned last year?

KB: Patience

- Slam Magazine

I agree he had massive balls to take those shots at such a young age and he has comeback and those airballs aren't a big thing, but Slam saying he is charismatic? He is a phony, a fake.

[KenneBell]

Tell me where I said a player was perfect.
I wasn't talking about you. You labeled Kobe fans as a whole, not just one person. There are fans of a certain player who do the exact same things.

[Trollsmasher]

bump

[riseagainst]

:roll:

[SexSymbol]

I really think that this terrible night led to Kobe being even more driven and hard-working.
Maybe this was the fall before that caused him to become a top 6-10 GOAT

[riseagainst]

I really think that this terrible night led to Kobe being even more driven and hard-working.
Maybe this was the fall before that caused him to become a top 6-10 GOAT

truth doe.
You gotta fail first in order to succeed.

:bowdown: :bowdown:

[ArbitraryWater]

The "*Kobe chucks one up*...ANOTHER AIRBALL" was hilarious :oldlol:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSe80qSgXVA

[Beastmode88]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSe80qSgXVA

At first I thought he was going to have an MJ moment vs Russell. Then the 4 back to 4 airballs. :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll:

[SpecialQue]

Yeah, it's hilarious seeing a cocky prick getting taken down a peg, but seriously, how massive were his balls to keep taking those shots as a rookie?

[DetroitPistonFan]

Yeah, it's hilarious seeing a cocky prick getting taken down a peg, but seriously, how massive were his balls to keep taking those shots as a rookie?
How come Shaq, Nick Van Exel and Eddie Jones didn't wanna take those shots when they were down?

[ArbitraryWater]

How come Shaq, Nick Van Exel and Eddie Jones didn't wanna take those shots when they were down?

Well Shaq was gone, I'm sure others would have taken them too, but Kobe, at 19, def showed that he had the balls to take 'em

[riseagainst]

Well Shaq was gone, I'm sure others would have taken them too, but Kobe, at 19, def showed that he had the balls to take 'em

he had so many balls to shoot up but none goes in.

[FlashDwyaneWade3]

Well Shaq was gone, I'm sure others would have taken them too, but Kobe, at 19, def showed that he had the balls to take 'em
Those p*ssies. After those air balls. It made Kobe more motivated and became a better player.

[SpecialQue]

he had so many balls to shoot up but none goes in.

He'd make them later. Unless you're Magic or Russell, you're not going to take your team to the promised land as a rookie.

[ArbitraryWater]

he had so many balls to shoot up but none goes in.

:oldlol: :applause:

[IGOTGAME]

one of the most impressive things in his career. Having the balls to take those shots at that age when other all stars didn't. Showed who Kobe was gonna be.

[SpecialQue]

one of the most impressive things in his career. Having the balls to take those shots at that age when other all stars didn't. Showed who Kobe was gonna be.

Yeah. I understand that it's one of those things where people want to point at Kobe and laugh because "ha ha he failed," but I WANT that kind of determination from a rookie.

Seriously, if Lebron fans want to excuse him getting swept by the Spurs because he had no chance with that team, then they have to excuse a ROOKIE Kobe for at least trying to win a game when his own teammates were passing up shots.

[Mr Feeny]

Yeah. I understand that it's one of those things where people want to point at Kobe and laugh because "ha ha he failed," but I WANT that kind of determination from a rookie.

Seriously, if Lebron fans want to excuse him getting swept by the Spurs because he had no chance with that team, then they have to excuse a ROOKIE Kobe for at least trying to win a game when his own teammates were passing up shots.

On what planet is one guy airballing four chucks equivalent to another guy nearly singlehandidly leading a bunch of scrubs to the NBA finals?:biggums:

[sportjames23]

truth doe.
You gotta fail first in order to succeed.

:bowdown: :bowdown:


And for some like Lebron, you gotta fail twice in order to succeed. :D

[JT123]

Probably Kobe's most notable playoff moment. :applause: :lol :lol :lol :lol

[NumberSix]

"Kobe 4 "Infamous" Airballs..." The YouTube account associated with this video has been terminated due to multiple third-party notifications of copyright infringement.

Lol. A bunch of angry Kobe'tards made fake copyright claims to get the video taken down. :roll:

[JT123]

Lol. A bunch of angry Kobe'tards made fake copyright claims to get the video taken down. :roll:
:roll: :roll: :roll:

[Stringer Bell]

It's been said that only Kobe was willing to take those shots.

Having watched Nick Van Exel in the mid 90s, it's hard to believe that he was not willing to take those shots. He seemed to love taking the big shots.

I wonder if his bad relationship with Del Harris played a role in Van Exel not getting the shot.

As for Kobe shooting airballs and it driving him to be great....maybe it added to it a little. I'm sure Kobe was plenty driven already and would've still had a great, great career whether he airballs it, bricks it, makes it and the Lakers lose the next game, etc....

[Meticode]

Lol. A bunch of angry Kobe'tards made fake copyright claims to get the video taken down. :roll:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSe80qSgXVA

[gts]

wow 17 years and 1888 made threes later and folks are talking about this?

You know you've reached the top when folks have to go that far back to find something to critique

[Lebronxrings]

if lebron had done this, people would have posted the video link here every single day.

[Beastmode88]

if lebron had done this, people would have posted the video link here every single day.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMolahppix0

[Droid101]

Having watched Nick Van Exel in the mid 90s, it's hard to believe that he was not willing to take those shots. He seemed to love taking the big shots.
..
I thought the same thing. But watch Meti's video below.

Nick has an open jumper and jump-passes it to Kobe. Nobody wanted to take the shot. So strange.

[stalkerforlife]

Those 4 airballs told one truth, Kobe didn't fear the moment. Like a true alpha, he kept shooting. He didn't worry about the last miss. He didn't run and hide.

Now look at him.

[mehyaM24]

wow 17 years and 1888 made threes later and folks are talking about this?

You know you've reached the top when folks have to go that far back to find something to critique

one of the most infamous displays of choking, ever, in the history of the sport, still being talked about? CRAZY.. :eek:

[Lebronxrings]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMolahppix0
one specific game retard

[JohnFreeman]

Lol. A bunch of angry Kobe'tards made fake copyright claims to get the video taken down. :roll:
:roll:

[BuffaloBill]

Video doesn't exist. It never happened