Zach Murphy

Paul George talked about Kobe on the "All the smoke Podcast": Matt Barnes: Kobe was obviously an idol of yours...what was it about Kobe that drew you to him? Paul George: I remember it was my senior year...it was the first time I seen Kobe play [live], I went to Staples to see T-Mac and Kobe square off. T-Mac was on Kobe's @$$, gave Kobe everything. I think Houston won that game. But what really stood out to me was that Kobe was guarding T-Mac but T-Mac wouldn't guard Kobe...what stood out to me was man, that dude Kobe was taking that challenge, he trying to check him...From that day on I was like, yeah, that's my guy." This is what drew me the most to Kobe as well. People talk about Kobe being an overrated defender, and I push back on that idea. No one was 'stopping' the array of players I've watched Kobe guard, from T-Mac, Iverson, LeBron, Durant, Wade, or Jordan, to Harden, Westbrook, Giannis, or the plethora of other high scoring players that Kobe defended. Kobe was not only either the first or second option on offense but he was normally the first or second option on defense as well. I don't think there's been another player in NBA history that was that good on offense but prided himself that much on the defensive end, especially if factoring in the offensive firepower that Kobe defended. Paul George said that T-Mac was his second favorite player, he is mine as well, so this is no disrespect to him at all. Kobe was just on another level.