Lakers News: All-Star West Rival Reveals Kobe Bryant Tried To Recruit Him To LA

This would have been a fun pairing.

One of the best parts of this new digital era is the podcasts and stories that come out from them from former players. It gives an inside look into things that fans never knew were happening, and it has been awesome to see get stronger over the years.

It gives athletes a platform to speak their minds, and fans are then able to tune in. One of the more interesting stories that have come out lately comes from an old rival of your Los Angeles Lakers.

Former All-Star Phoenix Suns forward Shawn Marion revealed that former Lakers All-Star shooting guard Kobe Bryant tried to get him to join Los Angeles years ago. 

Years ago, the Suns, Celtics and Wolves nearly completed a three-team trade that would've sent Kevin Garnett to Phoenix, Shawn Marion to Boston and picks to Minnesota.@matrix31 told that story, and then revealed that Kobe Bryant recruited him to join the Lakers that summer too: pic.twitter.com/3WtfqCTdkF

— Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) October 8, 2023

Marion would have been a big get for LA, as he was the ultimate three-and-D player. His ability to knock down threes at a high rate, and play effective defense made him a very valuable player across the NBA.

Once he left the Suns after the 2007-2008 season, his three-point shot percentage did drop, but Marion was still very good defensively. His best years were with the Suns under Mike D'Antonio, and their seven-seconds or less offensive attack.

Marion and Bryant had plenty of battles over the years, so Bryant was a fan of his. Bryant loved to bring players to LA that weren't afraid to go up against him on the basketball court, and Marion was one of those guys.

He did the same thing with the former Ron Artest (now Metta Sandiford-Artest) years later, only this time he got Artest to come to the team. Marion would have been great alongside Bryant, and they could have won a title together.

While we will never know what would have happened with this pairing, it's fun to think about. Marion would have been loved by Lakers fans, but instead, he remains one of their bitter rivals from that time period.

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