"That man hit three 3-pointers right in front of me" - Bun B recalls his Spike Lee moment with Kobe Bryant
"That man hit three 3-pointers right in front of me" - Bun B recalls his Spike Lee moment with Kobe Bryant originally appeared on Basketball Network.
Few players in NBA history could embarrass their opponents on any given night. These are the rare breeds who not only had the physical abilities to dominate any game they were in but also had the mental edge and intimidation factor that made them even more lethal to face.
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Kobe Bryant was one of these players.
In a recent interview, rapper and Houston Rockets fan Bun B shared a story about his encounter with Kobe during the NBA Playoffs. Bun B, who is known for being an avid basketball fan and often sits courtside at Rockets games, was chirping and talking trash to the Los Angeles Lakers legend throughout the game. However, as he soon found out, this would be a mistake he and the home team paid for dearly.
Kobe loved playing in front of a hostile crowd
As much as the NBA greats relished playing in front of their adoring home fans, they also thrived on playing in front of the most hostile and antagonistic crowds. It was like fuel to their fire, making them even more determined to upend their opponents and silence the naysayers.
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Kobe was no different. And he thrived on it.
"I met him a couple times in the past, and I wouldn't say I knew him very well. But Kobe took a lot of delight in coming to the city and doing what Kobe does," Bun B shared.
As a passionate fan of the Rockets, the rapper and songwriter remembered getting so into a game that he exchanged a few words with the Lakers superstar. Bun B found out at that moment how big a mistake that was; like Spike Lee going back and forth with Indiana Pacers superstar Reggie Miller, he gave Kobe the fuel he needed to turn up his game.
"I was a recipient of the shrug before. It was a playoff game, and we were doing good that day. Like, we had it down to maybe 10 points or so, 12 points. He was having a really rough start," Bun B said.
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"And so obviously, I'm on the floor, and I'm like, 'This my Spike Lee moment,' right? This my Spike Lee moment. So I'm talking s**t, right? I'm talking s**t. And then, at one point, I say something, and he looks at me — he looks right at me. That man hit three 3-pointers right in front of me, like purposely coming to the spot in front of me and hitting it," he added.
The series was over not long after that
As the popular saying goes, "Let sleeping dogs lie." Bun B soon realized his team was better off with him cheering them on than him pissing Kobe off.
"I literally — I put the battery in that man's back. Like, if I'd have been quiet, we might have had that s**t. The three — I put — and that — the series was over from that point on. It was like, 'Okay, now not only am I here for y'all. I'm here for you too,'" Bun B remarked.
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Bryant was already dangerous enough on his own. However, he never let an opponent or even a fan off the hook if they crossed him.
Related: "I looked at it differently" - Lakers PR admits he has no regrets about the Kobe Bryant-Shaquille O'Neal breakup
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jun 16, 2025, where it first appeared.
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