Real Reason Lakers Legend Kobe Bryant Hated JJ Redick

The Los Angeles Lakers hired J.J. Redick to be the team’s next head coach this week.

While the move earned muted reactions from most, one person who would have had a strong one is team legend Kobe Bryant.

According to Carmelo Anthony, Bryant hated Redick.

During a recent episode of his podcast, Anthony revealed the beef that Bryant had with the ex-Duke star.

“I remember Kobe couldn’t stand JJ Redick,” Anthony said.

“I hope somebody vouches for me on this story, I swear to God, if anybody was on that, they know. The moral of the story is Kobe took it personal against J.J. Redick in practice, because he got tired (how) Coach K kept talking about J.J. Redick.

“Kobe took it very, very personal to the point where he was running through screens in practice, he was denying J.J. the ball, he was fouling the s— out of J.J. I’m like, ‘Damn, why are you treating the young boy like that?’”

Bryant’s response?

“F*** that mother***er.”

Apparently Bryant didn’t like that Redick was held in high such high esteem by the head coach he looked up to most. Maybe he like the praise was simply too early; perhaps he believed it was undeserved.

Either way, Redick felt his wrath because of it.

Would Bryant’s opinion of Redick have been any different if he knew the then-youngster was destined to one day become the next head coach of the Lakers? That is a question that will forever remain unanswered.

Carlos Garcia

A longtime Sports reporter, Carlos Garcia has written about some of the biggest and most notable athletic events of the last 5 years. He has been credentialed to cover MLS, NBA and MLB Games all over the United States. His work has been published on Fox Sports, Bleacher Report, AOL and the Washington Post.