Horace Grant<\/strong>
\nJ.R. was brash. He was an Oakland guy. Oakland guys are a different breed. He had this swagger about him. Kobe was just coming off winning the championship in 2000. We traded for J.R., and he wasn\u2019t a threat to Kobe\u2019s position or anything, but it didn\u2019t matter.<\/p>\nJ.R. would shit-talk Kobe. Every practice, it was MF this, MF that. He would say to Kobe, \u201cGet your ass back in the kitchen.\u201d<\/p>\n
You don\u2019t say that to Kobe. You\u2019re asking for it.<\/p>\n
We knew Kobe was going to wear him down. Once Kobe found his weakness, he was going to let him have it. Then one day, I guess he found it \u2026<\/p>\n
Brian Shaw<\/strong>
\nSo one day in practice, J.R. says to Kobe, \u201cDon\u2019t get it twisted. I\u2019m a star too, and I used to give you buckets.\u201d<\/p>\nSo Kobe says, \u201cMan, you really think you could take me? Alright, after practice, me and you. One-on-one.\u201d<\/p>\n
J.R. says, \u201cO.K., I ain\u2019t no punk. Let\u2019s go.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ron Harper<\/strong>
\nPhil Jackson loved this stuff. He didn\u2019t even wait for practice to end. He says, \u201cAlright, you want to go? Everybody off the court.\u201d<\/p>\nI\u2019m a vet at this point. You don\u2019t have to tell me twice. Get me a Gatorade and an ice pack and some popcorn. I pulled up a chair and waited for the show to start.<\/p>\n
Brian Shaw<\/strong>
\nThey played to 10 by ones. Kobe just absolutely demolished him.<\/p>\nThis is 22-year-old Kobe. Crazy athletic. Unlimited stamina. I mean, he kicked his ass. He pulled out everything in his bag \u2014 dunk, up-and-under, pull-up, crossover.<\/p>\n
We were on the sidelines gassing it up. People are laughing, yelling, \u201cHey J.R., be careful what you wish for.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ron Harper<\/strong>
\nGuys were waving white towels, yelling, \u201cStop the beatdown, please! Please stop!\u201d<\/p>\nDevean George
\n<\/strong>When Kobe finished him off, it was almost like, Man, why did you have to do him like that?<\/p>\nHorace Grant<\/strong>
\nIt got to a point where J.R. basically said, No m\u00e1s. No m\u00e1s.<\/p>\nJ.R. had his tail between his legs for the first time in his life.<\/p>\n
J.R. wanted to fight everybody in the gym.<\/p>\n
So who has beaten Kobe 1-on-1?<\/p>\n