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DeMar DeRozan talks about Kobe Bryant's iconic game-winner at the Drew League
The famed Drew League in Los Angeles has attracted its fair share of iconic players. From Kevin Durant to Paul George and James Harden, among many others, the Drew League is the place to be when it comes to high-quality basketball during the off-season. DeMar DeRozan is a regular participant in the competition, and he recently shared his favorite moment in the tournament involving the late great "Black Mamba" himself, Kobe Bryant.
Unexpected appearance
Speaking during his appearance on the podcast of former NBA player Iman Shumpert, the Chicago Bulls All-Star recalled how surprised everyone was when Kobe Bryant made an unexpected appearance at the Drew League in 2011. According to DeRozan, it was one of those moments that will live on in people's memories for a long time.
"It was so unexpected. Nobody knew. For him to come out there and play, to go out there and get 45, hit the game-winning shot," Deebo shared.
A hooper in every sense of the word, Kobe had just wrapped up a season where he played the entire 82-game schedule, averaging 25.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game. The Lakers, though, got swept by the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Playoffs to end the season.
Finished the game
With three minutes remaining, Kobe's team was down 131-123 to a team that featured James Harden. Given his status, the police wanted to get Kobe out of the venue before the game ended to prevent him from getting mobbed by the crowd. However, DeRozan shared that Kobe would have none of that and emphatically told the police that he would finish the game.
Not only did he finish the game, but he did so in typical Kobe fashion—with a game-winning pull-up jumper over Harden. Afterward, he reacted to the the ovations from the crowd, giving high-fives to everyone around him.
"There are three minutes left in the game and the police came to Kobe like, 'Let's get you out of here before the game is over'. He said, 'I'm going nowhere, I will finish the game.' He finished the game, hit the game-winner, and stood in the middle of the court," DeRozan shared.
