Jalen Rose was part of the Fab Five at Michigan, a 16-year NBA veteran, and has embarked on a successful broadcasting career post-basketball. Yet despite all his accomplishments, the one thing that seems to precede him is a moment of infamy.
Rose was notoriously part of the Toronto Raptors team that allowed Kobe Bryant’s 81-point game in 2006. Some bring it up when they want to take a shot or troll Rose, as one NBA player did a few years ago. But since Kobe’s tragic death, having that association with the former Lakers legend is no longer a bad thing.
Rose said on ESPN’s pregame coverage of the Lakers-Blazers game on Friday night that he was happy to be the “footnote, footstool” to Kobe’s great game. He reiterated that thought on ESPN’s pregame coverage Saturday and said one of the best parts about the brilliant game is that Bryant never trash-talked despite putting together such an excellent performance.
“What I remember … is that he didn’t talk trash. He was so locked in. He was so disciplined, he was so focused, and that is always who he was — somebody who tried to find a way to do something that hadn’t been done. That was an amazing performance, and I’m actually very grateful I was able to see it up-close and personal,” Rose said on ESPN.
Rose added that had Bryant began talking trash, the Raptors would have been more incentivized to shut him down with double and triple teams. You figure Bryant’s rising point total would have attracted extra attention from the defense … but the lack of trash talk helped.
The two even made a joke about it on a TV show pilot Rose was part of.
Rose was the most high-profile player from that Raptors team, which means he is most strongly associated with allowing the 81-point game. But Kobe only scored 18 of his points on Rose. 17 came on Morris Peterson; 8 on Mike James; 7 on Joey Graham; 5 on Matt Bonner; 4 on Jose Calderon; 4 on Chris Bosh; and 3 on Pape Sow, according to an ESPN graphic. The remaining points came in transition. That explains why a few years ago, Kobe let Jalen off the hook for the big game.
More Larry Brown Sports coverage of Kobe Bryant’s death:
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Other victims of the helicopter crash:
– John Altobelli, junior college baseball coach, also died in helicopter crash
– Christina Mauser, girls’ basketball coach, among the helicopter crash victims
– Sarah Chester, daughter Payton were also killed in Kobe Bryant helicopter crash
– Ara Zobayan was the pilot in Kobe Bryant helicopter crash
Tributes to Kobe:
– Vanessa Bryant posts first Instagram message since death of Kobe, Gianna
– NBA players changing jersey numbers in honor of Kobe Bryant
– Clippers leave Kobe Bryant’s retired Lakers jerseys uncovered at Staples Center
– Bill Belichick shares touching anecdote in tribute to Kobe Bryant
– UConn honors Gianna Bryant with own jersey, spot on the bench
– Jeanie Buss shares emotional tribute to Kobe, Gianna Bryant on Instagram
– Kobe Bryant could have street named after him near Staples Center
– Video: Shaq gets emotional talking about Kobe Bryant on TNT
– LeBron James had inspirational message for Lakers during meeting about Kobe
– Video: See LeBron’s tribute speech to Kobe before Lakers game
– Dallas Mavericks retire Kobe Bryant’s No. 24 jersey
– Video: Raptors, Spurs start game with amazing tribute to Kobe Bryant
– Shaq posts heartfelt tribute to Kobe Bryant
– Michael Jordan releases statement on death of ‘little brother’ Kobe Bryant
– Video: Doc Rivers breaks down crying talking about Kobe Bryant
– Phil Jackson calls Kobe Bryant ‘a chosen one’ in statement on his death
– NBA commissioner Adam Silver issues statement on death of Kobe Bryant
– Video: Dwyane Wade posts emotional message reacting to Kobe Bryant’s death
– Kendrick Perkins extends olive branch to Kevin Durant after Kobe Bryant’s death
– Gilbert Arenas vows to begin coaching career like Kobe Bryant urged him to
– Video: Emotional Mike Breen sums up NBA world’s emotions about Kobe Bryant’s death
– Damian Lillard puts Kobe Bryant into context with great quote
– Trae Young’s huge game was full of Kobe Bryant-related statistical coincidences
More coverage:
– Video: Kobe Bryant helicopter audio released
– Investigators release chilling drone footage from Kobe Bryant helicopter crash site
– Media errors, rumors, poor judgment run rampant in reporting of Kobe Bryant news
– TMZ says they had permission from Kobe’s people to report Bryant had died
– NBA postpones Tuesday’s Lakers-Clippers game after Kobe Bryant’s death
– Shaq says he had not spoken to Kobe Bryant in nearly four years
– Kobe Bryant recently filed for ‘Mambacita’ trademark for daughter Gianna
– Kobe Bryant checked in on Shaq’s son Shareef morning of helicopter crash
– No, Rick Fox did not die in helicopter crash that killed Kobe, Gianna Bryant
– Lakers fans start memorial to Kobe Bryant outside Staples Center
– Kobe Bryant’s last tweet was congratulating LeBron James on passing him
– Sports world stunned over Kobe Bryant news
– Kobe Bryant dies in helicopter crash – dead at 41
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