Kobe Bryant was possibly a Wolverine?
I know we talk about Kevin Garnett possibly having been a Wolverine, but never knew we were in serious running for Kobe.
This seems weirdly like revisionist history because I don't ever recall hearing that Kobe had any interest playing college bball... But, here you go
April 14th, 2024 at 10:13 AM ^
To save everyone the trouble, the article says he would have picked Duke or UNC.
Yeah, methinks Michigan was included for clicks.
Got me to click though.
I think I read somewhere a while back that Dean Smith even told Kobe that in his honest opinion, he should go pro when Kobe was interested in UNC
April 14th, 2024 at 10:21 AM ^
OP: How did you read that and conclude that "we were in serious running for Kobe?" Here's what I saw (emphasis mine):
With his standout performance in high school, it was hardly surprising that several colleges took an interest in Bean. That list included Duke, Michigan, North Carolina, and Villanova.
Where's the part where Kobe was interested in Michigan?
April 14th, 2024 at 10:28 AM ^
Exactly. That list also included “everyone.”
April 14th, 2024 at 10:28 AM ^
I assumed, given that everyone would have been interested, but the 4 they call out were possibilities for him
April 14th, 2024 at 12:41 PM ^
That's some NCAA investigation-worthy stretch you're making there. Equally possible (or more likely) that the writer was naming some high-profile schools so people would know it wasn't just middle-tier universities who were showing interest.
Who knew Tesla was actually Tony Petitti?!
April 14th, 2024 at 12:30 PM ^
With Kathy Ireland's standout good looks, it was hardly surprising that several million teens, including S.D. Jones, took an interest in her.
OP: Kathy Ireland almost dated S.D. Jones.
I heard said interest was indeed reciprocated.
Very true. She could possibly have asked me to prom.
April 15th, 2024 at 12:40 AM ^
Brilliant, Diego!
April 14th, 2024 at 10:29 AM ^
He got one of those double secret probation degrees?
April 14th, 2024 at 10:40 AM ^
So, Kobe could have possibly played for any college basketball team of his choice?
It’s a good thing we, and the campus, dodged a bullet.
April 14th, 2024 at 10:43 AM ^
Your post is bad and you should feel bad
April 14th, 2024 at 10:45 AM ^
Your... Mom?
April 14th, 2024 at 10:48 AM ^
Nice solid burn
April 14th, 2024 at 12:54 PM ^
You didn’t read an article very well and had a shitty post. Instead of just taking the L, this is your comeback. Wow
April 14th, 2024 at 10:47 AM ^
I heard from my imaginary friend, that Shaq, Jesus, and big foot, all almost went to Michigan to play, get this, cricket. Can you believe that. Imagine!!!
April 14th, 2024 at 11:49 AM ^
The SAT was culturally biased
Huge, Holy, and Hairy.
April 14th, 2024 at 11:01 AM ^
So Lew Alcindor (Kareem), Garnett, and now Bryant were possibly Wolverines?
I guess we needed our own version of Sam Gilbert. Ed Martin just wasn’t up to the job.
Yes, Kareem was.
Yeah, I read Kareem's autobiography as a kid and distinctly remember his really liking Michigan's seriousness about academics and the overall vibe there (though to be fair UCLA is also no slouch academically)
The part he charitably left out was him recoiling at how antiquated our hoops facilities were.
April 15th, 2024 at 12:45 AM ^
When I lived in Westwood briefly back in the 70s, I was walking down the street one Saturday morning. A very tall, thin young guy was walking toward me. We nodded to each other as we passed. It was Kareem, and he was wearing a blue tee with "Michigan" emblazoned across it in maize.
April 14th, 2024 at 11:02 AM ^
The big story locally (I grew up in the school district next to Lower Merion, but two years behind him in school) was that Kobe was going to play at La Salle, where his dad was an assistant coach. That... clearly didn't come to pass.
In the years since, the consensus became that college was never a real consideration for him. I suppose he'd have gone to Duke, but that's like saying I'd wear a blue shirt if I went on a date with Shakira.
April 14th, 2024 at 11:59 AM ^
I actually met Kobe at a High School all-star game before he declared for the draft. I asked him if he was going to Michigan and he said no.
If I remember, he officially declared he was NBA-bound around this time of year. For about 2-3 months leading up to the announcement, it was the worst-kept secret in the Philadelphia area.
April 14th, 2024 at 11:04 AM ^
Nice use of the word ‘possibly’, as in “Monkeys are possibly flying out my ass right now?”
Possibly. But most likely only corn and diarrhea.
April 14th, 2024 at 11:14 AM ^
I clicked the link and I am praying I don't have a virus now.
April 14th, 2024 at 11:32 AM ^
Had he only had wheels, he also could have been a wagon!
Q: For $500. In what month does a woman normally show she's pregnant?
A: September !
(Yes, that really happened) 🤦♂️
April 14th, 2024 at 11:46 AM ^
This also really happened...
April 14th, 2024 at 11:59 AM ^
I almost dunked on Kobe in one of my vivid dreams, in the past.
April 14th, 2024 at 12:03 PM ^
The best superstar to Michigan story was that guy who was a psychology major who partnered with Derek Jeter on a project his freshman year. At the end of the project, the guy said to Jeter, "So what's next for you?" And Jeter said, "I'm going to go play professional baseball," and the guy was like, "Oh, ok, Derek. Whatever you say." Whoever you are, Psychology man, your story is my favorite Michigan sports story of all time.
April 14th, 2024 at 12:10 PM ^
I believe it. Fact is no spotlight shines brighter when a star is at Michigan. Whatever it is, maybe the most alumni or all the presence we have in media. Part of the Fab Five phenomenon was due to our spotlight power.
April 14th, 2024 at 12:26 PM ^
Wrong portal.
April 14th, 2024 at 12:35 PM ^
Kobe was possibly a Wolverine in the same way that Brian Kelly was possibly our coach after Harbaugh
We don't know that. Garnett was almost as big a recruit as Bryant and Garnett was slated to come here.
There's at least some substance to that idea. One of many available references:
Yes, but the thing is that Kevin Garnett and Kobe Bryant were ... two different people.
Um.... where in my statement was I referring to Garnett's possible recruitment?
I mean...this is 7th paragraph in the article.
With several good universities he could have gone to, the big question was which KB would have chosen.The 2008 NBA MVP would reveal his preferences, although it seems they boiled down to two schools – Duke and UNC.
He was all but coming here until Peter Vignier took his spot
How about we just see what the man himself had to say about this.
As for any interest from Kobe in Michigan, that would not have been a crazy idea, Kobe was in High School during the Fab Five.
Kobe liked Michigan. That's legit. Our high schools played one another, and my older teammates were friendly with him to the point we'd see him socially at times. I know I saw him wearing Michigan t-shirts, etc.
But from what we knew, he was never seriously looking at colleges, let alone Michigan.
Kevin Garnett was headed to Michigan. Kobe would have gone to Duke. Not sure about LeBron, he’s a bit of an odd duck.
As someone a couple degrees separated from Kobe, i can assure u that the Bryant's were not struggling financially... and yes while it basically boiled down to Duke or UNC, it was pretty much known it was gonna be Duke.