“Everywhere in the city, I ain’t have to pay for nothing,” Kobe Bryant’s touching story of paying for Lakers teammate who was on verge of losing his home, revealed

Kobe Bryant and Tim Thomas

Tim Thomas was a guest on the “All The Smoke” podcast hosted by Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson, where he recalled some memorable moments from his basketball career. One among them was an untold story about the late Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant.

Thomas and Bryant’s history dates back to their high school days when the former was a highly-touted player before he entered the NBA. Furthermore, he was ranked as the No. 2 recruit in the country in high school, second only to the late Kobe Bryant.

Host Matt Barnes started the conversation rolling when he asked Thomas about his favorite Kobe Bryant story because he’d known him for a long time. TT has a history of playing and competing with the late legend, from their time together in high school to being rivals in the NBA, revealing how kind and generous Bryant was to him and his family to the point that the Lakers great was settling most of his bills.

Thomas shared:

So we pull up first night, we thinking about our house, the whole shebang. Pull up, go to a restaurant. You know, get some dinner. Kob knows the owner. He calls. 'Take care of my guy.'... Everywhere I went in the city, I ain't had to pay for nothing.

Tim Thomas said

TT being helped during that point is one of many good stories about the late Black Mamba. It pays to live a life full of kindness and love, just like Bryant.
Related: “Idk why his family would sell” – Kobe Bryant’s 2000 championship ring going for nearly $100,000 in auction has fans confused

Kobe Bryant turned a ’96 McDonald’s practice into a fight

Tim Thomas continued his untold stories; this time, it was about Bryant from the McDonald’s All-American Game in 1996. Co-host Jackson initiated the topic by recalling how the 1996 McDonald’s game hosted elite talents such as Thomas, Bryant, Jermaine O’Neal, and Rip Hamilton. Bryant went ahead and caused chaos by performing a dunk after ripping through almost everyone present.

Thomas stated that he took it seriously and personally when it happened. TT stated:

I was under the basket. I almost kind of took it personal. A walkthrough? I see him flying. Like, what are you doing?

Tim Thomas said

Jackson, Thomas, and Bryant played for the East team during the McDonald tournament, defeating the West, 120-105. Thomas’ career, which was not as stellar as expected, played in 824 regular season games. He averaged 11.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in 25.9 minutes of action.