Basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal told the story of the first time he ever met Kobe Bryant during a visit with Jimmy Fallon on Thursday.
It was long before Bryant was the legend he would later become — back when he was just a guy asking for an autograph from one of his heroes.
“Actually, Kobe reminded me of this story,” O’Neal told Fallon. “I was in Orlando, and him and his family came in the locker room and he asked Penny [Hardaway] for an autograph, and I guess Penny kind of blew him off… this is what Kobe was telling me. And then he said he came up to me, and I was real nice to him.”
Also Read: Vanessa Bryant Honors Late Husband Kobe With Release of Next Book in His 'Wizenard' Series
O’Neal said he had forgotten about the brief encounter until later when they met again when Bryant was a rookie player.
It was long before Bryant was the legend he would later become — back when he was just a guy asking for an autograph from one of his heroes.
“Actually, Kobe reminded me of this story,” O’Neal told Fallon. “I was in Orlando, and him and his family came in the locker room and he asked Penny [Hardaway] for an autograph, and I guess Penny kind of blew him off… this is what Kobe was telling me. And then he said he came up to me, and I was real nice to him.”
Also Read: Vanessa Bryant Honors Late Husband Kobe With Release of Next Book in His 'Wizenard' Series
O’Neal said he had forgotten about the brief encounter until later when they met again when Bryant was a rookie player.
- 6/26/2020
- by Margeaux Sippell
- The Wrap
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