Kobe Bryant was selected by the Charlotte Hornets with the 13th overall pick in the 1996 NBA Draft, and while the exact reason he was traded may never be 100 percent clear, he went on to win five championships with the Los Angeles Lakers, and became one of the greatest players the game has ever seen.
The rivalry between the Lakers and the Celtics is the most storied in league history, and the mere thought of Bryant wearing green and white instead of purple and gold is enough to make fans in L.A. physically sick. But according to a story from ESPN's Baxter Holmes, the brain trust in Boston had seriously considered drafting Bryant after a stellar workout and a recommendation from the founding father of the franchise.
"I think this kid is going to be a hell of a player," Red Auerbach told M.L. Carr. "But it can go either way. He seems to be solid, but he's a high school kid. You've got to make a choice based on what you need today. But I think he's a hell of a player."
It essentially came down to going with a sure thing in Walker, as opposed to taking a risk on Bryant. But the Celtics were sufficiently impressed with Bryant to the point where, at least as those involved tell it now, it was an extremely difficult decision.
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