Kobe Bryant was one of the most competitive players to grace the basketball court. His perfectionist nature made him one of the best players yet his teammates had to face the heat for not being better. The 5x NBA champion publically called out Smush Parker for being the worst teammate. And in another instance called other teammates “trash” in the locker room. The Los Angeles Lakers legend cared only for success and was ready to suffer in pain in that pursuit.

On the 7 PM in Brooklyn podcast, Julius Randle shared the story of his rookie season where Kobe got emotional. Randle looked up to Bryant and was happy playing alongside him. But he broke his right tibia in the first game of the season and was sidelined. The season started horrifically not only for Randle but for the Lakers too.

The Lakers started the season with 5 back-to-back losses. As per Randle after game 3 or 4, he heard a commotion in the locker room and went to check it out. The ice box and candy box were destroyed and when he probed further, he found Kobe Bryant in the bathroom. “And I walk in, in the bathroom bro. And this man is so jacked up and competitive, bro. He in damn near in tear, bro. Cuz they dont lost four games in a row,” Randle said, via the 7 PM in Brooklyn podcast.

He explained to the co-hosts Carmelo Anthony & The Kid Mero that although Kobe had undergone a few surgeries himself, he never wanted to quit. Although ‘Black Mamba’ had achieved everything he was still very much concerned by the losses. Randle realized, “This motherf***** is different on a competitive level.”

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It was not the only time when Kobe’s competitive side got out. The Lakers team had to suffer the wrath of Bryant and somehow Randle dogged the fiery response from Kobe.

Kobe Bryant said his teammate made him worse

Julius Randle missed his entire rookie season after the successful surgery on his shin. The Knicks player stated how during his rehab, he heard Kobe Bryant calling his teammates trash. It was after the practice season when Kobe uttered, “Soft as Charmin. Ya’ll motherf****** are trash.”

Kobe continued his attack on the players, “I’m supposed to practice with this s**t? These motherf****** are making me worse.” The Lakers #24 just stormed out of the locker room, said Randle. All these tough lessons made him realize how much Kobe wanted to be the best. He even said that he and Kobe would work out at 5 in the morning and train on the defensive side of things. But his dream of being a Laker for life was taken away from him due to LeBron James.

During the Roommates Show podcast with his Knicks teammates, Julius Randle revealed how LeBron’s $154 million signing ended his Kobe dream. After Randle played all 82 games in his 4th year and became a contender for Most Improved Player, he expected the Lakers to give him a massive contract extension. But when the LeBron James situation came to light, Randle knew his time was up with the Lakers.

Stay tuned for more such updates, and to follow what Shaq’s ex-agent, Leonard Armato, has to say about the infamous Shaq-Kobe feud, Caitlin Clark’s Olympic snub, and more, watch this video.