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“Flip let us talk for two hours” – A 17-year-old Kobe Bryant sought crucial advice from Kevin Garnett
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- “Flip let us talk for two hours” – A 17-year-old Kobe Bryant sought crucial advice from Kevin Garnett
When Kobe Bryant was seriously thinking about going from high school straight to the NBA, he sought the advice of Kevin Garnett, who was the first prep-to-pro player in two decades when the Minnesota Timberwolves picked him fifth overall in the 1995 NBA Draft.
KG did not say where it happened. But it was in April, or just days before April 29th, when Bryant officially declared for the 1996 NBA Draft. KG's rookie season was all but over because the T-Wolves were not making the playoffs. He said he had just come from the post-game presser when he saw a visitor inside the Wolves' locker room.
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"I come in and saw a kid sitting in my seat. I'm thinking maybe it's somebody's son in the locker room, he's just sitting down. I said, 'What's up, young fella? Let me get right here.' He was like, 'What's up, yo? What's up? I'm Kobe Bryant, man. You know I'm trying to come to the league.' I had just walked into the locker room 'Who the f—k son is this?'" Garnett started the story humorously.
"He says, 'No, no, no. I'm Kobe Bryant. Wassup, wassup?' I dapped him. I was like, 'Alright, yo.' Like basically 'Get you a— of my seat.' And so he said, 'My fault, my fault.' And then he sat on J.R.'s seat because J.R. and I were sitting right beside," recalled Garnett.
Garnett was the first player to successfully go from HS to the NBA in 20 years
Bryant was the high school phenom from Lower Merion High School, the son of former NBA player Joe "Jelly Bean" Bryant, who was the 14th overall pick by the Golden State Warriors in 1975 and played for the Philadelphia 76ers, San Diego Clippers and Houston Rockets before finishing his basketball career in Europe.
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Kobe was only six when Joe moved his family to Italy to play pro ball there. For seven years, not only did his son learn a new language, but he also developed his game-playing against grown-ups in pickup games and local leagues.
When he returned to the United States, he was a star in high school and he was so good that he was urged to turn pro after his graduation. Garnett did that in 1995 and Bryant wanted to get a good picture before deciding.
"So he was just like 'Yo, wassup?'" added KG. "'How is it out there?' His eyes… he was so intense, just wanting to know the next level, what it was like. We sat there. Flip let us talk for like two hours when the bus was supposed to be leaving. For me, it was like I had to do this and do that. And he was like, 'Yeah, yeah, I'm coming. I'm telling you right now ni—a, I'm coming.' 'Cool, yeah, I'll see you ni—a."
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KG beat Kobe in the 2008 NBA Finals
One year later, that kid became the 13th overall pick of the 1996 NBA Draft. He was picked by the Charlotte Hornets and traded to the Los Angeles Lakers. Bryant struggled to earn his minutes during his first couple of years. But once he got his footing, there was no stopping him.
Twelve years after their first meeting inside that Minnesota locker room, Garnett and Bryant faced off in the 2008 NBA Finals. And just as he was in early 1996, Bryant was cocky as hell.
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"You know, Kob was so arrogant and so much talking to me like they had already won it," Garnett said . "But he was like, 'Man, just first boy. You know you never forget your first, you know. You know what I'm saying?' He was talking to me on some big brother like, 'Get outta here.' You know, I gotta remember I'm older than (you) bro."
Bryant got Garnett back
Garnett won his only NBA title when his Boston Celtics beat Kobe's Lakers in the championship series, where Bryant was so cocky toward Garnett. But even in defeat, Bryant wasn't humbled. He told KG to enjoy it because they're gonna win it next year. They did, but not against the Celtics (it was the Orlando Magic).
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Two years later, the two had their rematch in the 2010 NBA Finals.
That time, Kobe won.
KG and Kobe would go on to play in 76 total games, including 25 in the playoffs. Bryant had the edge 31-20 in the regular season and 14-11 in the playoffs. In a full-circle moment, both entered the Hall of Fame as members of the Class of 2020, but only one was there to take his orange jacket, as Kobe tragically passed away in a helicopter accident in January 2020.
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This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Nov 2, 2026, where it first appeared in the Old School section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
