Kobe Bryant Suffered Bruised Ribs, Mocked by Scottie Pippen, But Showed Brave Performance

Today’s news drop reveals how Scottie Pippen mocked Black Mamba, one of the Los Angeles Lakers players, due to his injured bruised rib, causing him to be slightly disappointed. The incident happened during Game 1 of the 2001 playoff series between the Los Angeles Lakers and Portland Trail Blazers. 

Despite his injury, Kobe Bryant kept his pace and performed so well that his fans and followers praised him. He remarked about Scottie and appreciated him for being champion and having six rings. Kobe did not make his performance dull and made his team win despite disappointment.

Kobe Bryant’s Injury

Kobe Bryant is a Los Angeles Lakers player. He participated in Game 1 of the 2001 playoff series and became renowned for his extraordinary play. The match between the Los Angeles Lakers and Portland Trail Blazers flipped when Kobe suffered an injury. 

Though the accident was purely unintentional by one of the opponent team players, Rasheed Wallace, it caused Bryant’s rib to bruise. In response, Kobe Bryant made his way out of the basketball court to ensure first aid so he could return to the court again. It took only a few minutes, making the reason for his mockery. 

After re-entry and still feeling pain, Kobe Bryant finished the game impressively, scoring 28 points, seven assists, two steals, and six rebounds. Players made the team win in the Game 1 series. 

Scottie Pippen Made Fun of Kobe Bryant

There is no doubt that Kobe forgot about his bruised rib and played well. One of the Portland Trail Blazers players, Scottie Pippen, mocked him. He suggested that Kobe, whom he called Black Mamba, had pretended to be hurt to gain sympathy. 

Scottie also compared Kobe’s injury to Michael Jordan’s, mentioning how he initiated Flu Game in the 1997 NBA Finals. Pippen remarked: He’s got bruised ribs? Which Side? Aww, he’s trying to be like Mike. 

Kobe Bryant Response

What Kobe responded to Scottie’s heart-wrenching remarks mattered; Kobe was initially disappointed but did not lose hope and kept fighting to make his team win. Bryant shared that he admired Jordan’s offensive moves and praised Pippen’s basketball IQ and defensive capabilities. He also compared his performance to Scottie Pippen and concluded that Scottie is a winning champion, having six rings. 

Kobe's Quick Recovery

Kobe did not take much time to recover. Soon, he transitioned from a large pad to a smaller one to care for his ribs. Not only this but after the incident, he prepared himself mentally for Poppie to attack him again with words in upcoming games. 

Los Angeles Victories to Count

After Game 1 of the series 2001 victory, Los Angeles remained dominant against the Portland Trail Blazers. It won in Games 2 and 3, appearing as a gentleman’s sweep (3-0). Kobe's performance brought him into the limelight, scoring 25 points in Game 2 and 22 points in Game 3. On the other hand, Scottie Pippen's performance was just average.