The Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant has been known to be the pride of the purple and gold, although he was originally drafted by the Charlotte Hornets, whom he said did not really want him when he got selected in the 1996 draft.
Bryant was the 13th overall pick during that year coming out of Lower Merion High School in Philadelphia.
The Hornets selected him but he never had the chance to play for the team as he was traded to the Lakers for center Vlade Divac.
After nearly 20 years, Bryant played his last road game against the team that drafted him, the Hornets, last Monday and after the contest shared how the team did not really want him back then.
"Charlotte never wanted me. [Hornets coach Dave] Cowens told me he didn't want me," Bryant said, according to ESPN, after a 108–98 defeat to the Hornets Monday.
"It wasn't a question of me even playing here. They had a couple of guards already, a couple small forwards already. So it wasn't like I would be off the bench much," the 37-year-old franchise star added.
Bryant also shared how he grew up watching basketball and knew Cowens, also saying he was excited to play for the coach.
But as soon as Cowens said they did not want him, Bryant said, "Then I was like, 'Oh, all right.' I quickly transitioned from smiley kid to killer instinct."
However, in a report by the Boston Globe, Cowens explained through phone that he said nothing like that to Bryant and added that during that time, they were looking for a big man since they already have guards like Glen Rice, Dell Curry, and Muggsy Bogues.
"We knew [Bryant] was good and all, but we didn't know he was going to be the player he turned out to be," Cowens added.
