Stephen Curry got superstar Kobe Bryant's respect and attention after nailing a long three-point shot.
The Los Angeles Lakers were playing against the Golden State Warriors on October 13 at the Citizens Business Bank Arena. Going into the game, the Lakers were 1-1 while the Warriors were 2-0 in the preseason.
During the third quarter, the Golden State Warriors were leading by 31 points. Point guard Curry brought the ball past the backcourt heavily guarded by Bryant. The two stars were physically engaged a few feet away from the three-point arc when Curry suddenly found some room to shoot 30 feet away from the basket. After seeing the ball neatly enter the rim, he ran back for defense.
Kobe could not contain his appreciation for the 26-year-old's shooting prowess. He ran behind Curry with a smile and slapped the point guard's behind as a gesture of respect. In a report by CBS Sports, perhaps the act somewhat showed how jealous the 36-year-old veteran was of the rising star.
Watch:
Kobe knows a great player when he sees one. In a report by TheBigLead.com, the moment felt like a passing of the torch from one superstar to another.
The Golden State Warriors laid waste to the Lakers, winning the game 116-75. Curry shot a total of four from behind the arc. He led the team with 25 points, scoring 12 in the first two and a half minutes alone. Klay Thompson also drained four three-pointers and finished with 16 points. David Lee added 14 points while Andre Iguodala had four points and eight assists.
The Lakers, however, attempted three shots from long range, following new coach Byron Scott's rule to attack the basket instead of going for threes. According to ESPN.com, Kobe finished with only six points after playing 24 minutes, shooting 3-for-13 from the field. Robert Sacre and Wayne Ellington scored 12 points each. Rookie Julius Randle scored four points and grabbed six rebounds.
After the first quarter, Golden State led 39-13. The Lakers suffered from poor offense from the start. In the first quarter, Bryant and Steve Nash together shot 1 for 14. At the end of the second quarter, the Warriors led 63-36. The Lakers were also plagued with injuries. Three players had to skip the game namely Jeremy Lin due to a sprained left ankle, Xavier Henry due to back spasms and Jordan Clarkson due to a sprained calf.