“The kid had magic!” Kobe Bryant was warned about Jeremy Lin before playing

Jeremy Lin's "Linsanity" era remains one of the most memorable eras in recent NBA history.

“The kid had magic!” Kobe Bryant was warned about Jeremy Lin before playing

Kobe Bryant and Jeremy Lin

Jeremy Lin’s “Linsanity” era in 2012 was a brief but memorable period where he dominated the NBA, leading the New York Knicks to several unlikely wins. One of his most notable performances was against the Los Angeles Lakers, where he scored 38 points and outshone Kobe Bryant in a 92-85 win.

Before the game, Baron Davis warned Kobe Bryant about Lin’s incredible form, but the Black Mamba dismissed his concerns. Davis recalled the conversation on a recent appearance on The Draymond Green Show.

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Kobe came in town, [and I told him,] ‘Hey Kobe. don’t let this dude bust your a*s. He’s hot.. Don’t let him get you bro.’ Kob like, ‘Psst, come on, BD. Not worried about none of that.’ I’m like, ‘Yo, he’s going to kill you guys tomorrow and I’m telling you this now bro just so when I come in here after the game, you not mad at me… He served the Lakers… This kid had magic. It was just some s*** that you only see the greats have.
Baron Davis said on the Draymond Green show

Despite Davis’ warning, Bryant couldn’t contain Lin defensively, and the Lakers became one of the many teams to fall victim to “Linsanity.” However, Bryant, known for his competitive nature, never bought into the hype surrounding Lin and even chastised him when they became teammates.

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Lin’s performance against the Lakers was one of the highlights of his career, and it cemented his place in NBA history. Despite Bryant’s skepticism, Lin’s “Linsanity” era remains one of the most memorable moments in recent NBA history.

Kobe Bryant gave Jeremy Lin the silent treatment for a whole season, says Nick Young

Nick Young shared a story on ‘Vlad TV’ about an incident between Kobe Bryant and Jeremy Lin during their time together at the Los Angeles Lakers. According to Young, Lin tried to engage with Bryant during a practice, but it didn’t go well, and Kobe didn’t speak to him for the rest of the season.

Nobody really messed with Kobe like that, to the point of just messing with him… I forgot exactly what happened, but I know they didn't really click at all… then didn't talk to Jeremy for the rest of the season.
Nick Young said on Vlad TV
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Young recalled that Lin attempted to join the team huddle and offer some words of encouragement, but Kobe shut him down with a dismissive response. From that point on, Kobe refused to speak to Lin, making it a challenging experience for the young guard.

This incident highlights the intense and demanding environment that Lin faced playing alongside one of the greatest players in NBA history. Despite his breakout “Linsanity” period, Lin struggled to find respect and a stable role in the league, and his stint with the Lakers was just another chapter in that journey.

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