Alvin Gentry thanks Kobe Bryant after Game 4 win over Blazers

Alvin Gentry began his post game press conference after the New Orleans Pelicans swept the Portland Trail Blazers by thanking Kobe Bryant and his shoes.

With less than a minute remaining in regulation of Saturday’s game, Jrue Holiday was ruled to have stepped out of bounds with New Orleans up by four points. After the officials reviewed the play, it was determined Holiday’s heels did not touch the baseline and the Pelicans regained possession.

Jrue Holiday is a magician how did he not step out?!? #Pelicans pic.twitter.com/2yyuqE8F58

— 6'7-Eleven Inches (@LeBandz_James) April 21, 2018

Holiday hit a jumper a few seconds later to put the Pelicans up 129-123 with 40 seconds to go in the fourth quarter.

After the game, Gentry gave a shoutout to Kobe Bryant and credit to the Kobe 1 shoes Holiday was wearing for him not stepping out of bounds at a crucial juncture in Game 4.

"I would just like to thank Kobe Bryant and his Kobe 1s…" – Alvin Gentry out here cracking jokes after the @PelicansNBA complete the series sweep against the Trail Blazers pic.twitter.com/T1iOih4GBJ

— NBA TV (@NBATV) April 22, 2018

Kobe had a few laughs at Gentry’s comments.

Hahaha #congrats #round2 https://t.co/8aR028E0F4

— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) April 22, 2018

Next up for the Pelicans could be a meeting with the Warriors, who swept the Pelicans in the first round of the playoffs in 2015. Anthony Davis seems eager for another shot at the reigning champions.