James Posey’s first showdown with Kobe Bryant is the stuff of NBA legend. As a rookie, Posey was thrown into the fire, tasked with guarding the Black Mamba himself. Despite Coach Luc’s relentless encouragement, Kobe put on a clinic—turnarounds, lobs, and an and-1, all while laughing it up with Van Exel. That night, Kobe dropped 30 and the Lakers steamrolled the Nuggets, but Posey’s determination to study and slow down Bean became his career mission. Even Tony Allen credits Posey for his defensive mindset against Kobe! #Sports #Basketball #KobeBryant