Untold LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Lakers Story Revealed During Interview

In February 2003, the Ohio High School Athletic Association ruled that LeBron James would have to forfeit play of the St. Vincent’s-St. Mary’s High School’s remaining five regular-season and state playoff games after the young star received two Mitchell & Ness throwback jerseys as gifts from Next Urban Gear and Music. In exchange for the jerseys, the kid from Akron posed for photos that were later hung in the store. LeBron also received a Hummer sports utility vehicle from his mom as a gift. This leads us to an untold LeBron and Kobe Bryant story.

Back in his high school days, LeBron was wearing a black leather jacket signed by Jeff Hamilton. The superstar matched it with a black Kobe Bryant jersey and black Lakers hat.

“That was the black NBA jacket with all the NBA team logos,” Hamilton said in a recent interview on the Heavy Live With Scoop B Show.

“The interesting thing was and nobody knew this and even myself; I didn’t notice that he had a Lakers hat on but also had on a Kobe jersey. And I knew that he was a Kobe fan. His generation grew up more watching Kobe play more than Michael.”

Fans love the untold LeBron and Kobe story

LeBron plays with the Lakers now. He won a ring in his second year with the team, playing alongside Anthony Davis.

“I remember when he was in high school he gave me his shoes and they were Kobe’s,” said Hamilton.

“Those moon shoes [laughs]. I gave him the jacket way back when. It was kind of like a grey area at the time, but I met his stepdad and I knew it was big in memorabilia at the time and I owned a lot of the jerseys and everybody was buzzing about the name LeBron and he was going to be a great player; and you know every year we always hear about who’s going to be the ‘next’ Michael, who’s going to be the next Kobe, the next Magic; but we knew that LeBron was going to be amazing and we need to get to this kid you know? I knew when he used to come and play high school games I mean; he was selling out arenas. He almost sold out Pauley Pavilion when he came to play a high school game.”

Hamilton and LeBron made a good deal that benefitted both sides. “I made him the jacket,” Hamilton said.

LeBron knows how to make the right deal at the right time.