Jeremy Lin has spoken about an unexpected fallout that followed a moment of honesty with Kobe Bryant during their time as Los Angeles Lakers teammates.
The former NBA guard recently reflected on his experience playing alongside Bryant in the 2014-15 season.
Lin said a confrontation over Bryant’s leadership approach ultimately led to months of silence between the two players.
Jeremy Lin says confronting Kobe Bryant led to months of silence
Jeremy Lin described the situation during a conversation on Dwight Howard’s Above the Rim podcast while recalling his lone season with the Lakers.
The incident stemmed from a late-game moment when Bryant wanted him to foul an opposing player while the coaching staff instructed him not to. The conflicting directions left Lin uncertain about what to do on the court.
“I texted him, and I was like, ‘Hey man, I really don’t appreciate the body language.’ He came back with a sharp response, and then I went back at him.”
“I’m not saying you can’t teach me. You’re obviously like a hundred times the player I am. I want to learn anything and everything I can from you.”
Lin said the exchange initially ended on a positive note, but the aftermath took him by surprise.
Lakers teammates eventually cleared the air after tense period
According to Lin, Bryant stopped speaking to him for roughly five months after the text exchange. The silent treatment came during what was already a difficult season for the Lakers.
Lin later said the situation was eventually resolved between the two players.
The former point guard explained that Bryant later acknowledged he was not used to being challenged in that way by teammates.
Despite the tension at the time, Lin said he respected Bryant’s accomplishments and leadership while reflecting on the episode years later.
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