Rondae Hollis-Jefferson Evoked Kobe Bryant at FIBA World Cup, and Fans Were Mesmerized

The FIBA World Cup allows some current and former NBA role players to become the focal point of their national teams. One former NBA player took that idea to the next level on Saturday by reminding fans of an NBA legend.

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, who has been out of the league for two years, is playing for Jordan at the World Cup, and he registered 24 points and nine rebounds in a 92-71 loss to Greece.

Although those numbers may not seem gaudy, Hollis-Jefferson’s highlights were so impressive that he reminded many fans of a lefty Kobe Bryant. It helped that the forward is wearing the No. 24, just like Bryant did late in his career.

Hollis-Jefferson played two years of college basketball at Arizona and was a key member of Wildcats teams that won 67 games and reached the Elite Eight of the NCAA tournament twice. He entered the NBA draft in 2015, going to the Nets in the first round, and spent four years in Brooklyn before bouncing from the Raptors to the Blazers in his last two NBA seasons.

The veteran last played in the NBA with Portland in 2021, and he’s played professionally in Puerto Rico and the Philippines since. In the United States, Hollis-Jefferson was never known for his scoring ability, but he’s showing it off at the international level.