Lakers: Kobe Bryant's Slam Dunk Contest All-Star Debut Impressed A Young LeBron James

Playing in his record-tying 19th All-Star contest this past weekend in Salt Lake City, Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James was in a reflective mood.

During a presser over the weekend, James spoke with Brandon "Scoop B" Robinson of Bally Sports regarding his first recollection of an All-Star contest.

The Akron, Ohio native chatted about his experience watching the 1997 NBA All-Star Game, which happened to take place right next door in Cleveland that season. The 18-time Lakers All-Star that preceded James at Crypto.com Arena/Staples Center, one Kobe Bean Bryant, did make the trip to Cleveland to announce himself as one of the league's great rising stars, but was not yet an All-Star during his 1996-97 rookie season.

Instead, Bryant competed in (and won) that year's Slam Dunk Contest, beating out Minnesota Timberwolves shooting guard Chris Carr and Dallas Mavericks swingman Michael Finley.

I asked @KingJames if he remembered watching his first NBA All Star Game & he told me he remembered having no cable growing up in Akron, Ohio but watching the 1997 NBA All Star Game in Cleveland.

James tells @BallySports he remembers Kobe Bryant’s participation in ‘97 also. pic.twitter.com/IR2VO2q18V
— 👑 Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson (@ScoopB) February 19, 2023

"I believe the first All-Star Game that I actually sat down and watched was the '97 [game] in Cleveland," James said. "Because it actually came on local television so we could watch it in Akron... Kobe was a rookie, MJ [Michael Jordan] was in that game. It was pretty cool for me and my friends, I think we were 13 at the time."

"I definitely just remember just watching the National Anthem, and they [were] panning from left to right to all the All-Stars, and me kind of visualizing some day, through the grace of god, through hard work and dedication and my love for the game, maybe I could be one of those kids some day to stand across that free throw line and be a part of the National Anthem at an All-Star game. I just thought it was pretty cool."

James will next get a chance to add to his own legacy in Los Angeles this Thursday, when the Lakers host the league's reigning champs, the Golden State Warriors, who at 29-29 are now a direct competitor for a play-in tournament spot this season.

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