The LeBron James Phone Call That Nearly Changed Kobe Bryant’s Career

Metta World Peace made a shocking statement on LeBron James and the phone call that almost changed Kobe Bryant’s NBA career. I guess people will keep coming up with stories of this kind.

LeBron and Kobe were the two biggest stars in the league in the late 2000s. A decade later, LeBron joined the Lakers and helped them win the 17^th title in franchise history.

Here’s a big catch. Kobe’s former teammate, Metta World Peace, said King James almost sabotaged one of Kobe’s trophies. He went on Shannon Sharpe’s show Club Shay Shay to make the big revelation. The former Defensive Player of the Year said LeBron was in his proverbial DMs in 2009, right before he inked a deal with the Los Angeles Lakers.

“LeBron James hit me up one time when he was with the Cavs,” said the former Lakers star. “I remember I was excited because LeBron hit me up. I’m a big fan. Even though he’s younger, I was a big fan. But before that, I didn’t want to play with Kobe, I didn’t want to play with LeBron., I didn’t want to play with T-Mac [Tracy McGrady]. I wanted to play against these guys.

“So when LeBron hit me up to come play for the team, I was like, ‘Um, I can’t come play,’” he went on. “You know, because many reasons. But I said, ‘I can’t come.’ Then I was trying to go to Detroit or Indiana. That’s where I wanted to go. That’s just in me. But when no teams wanted me, after that, I didn’t call back LeBron. So then the [Los Angeles] Lakers called, I said, ‘I gotta just go because I don’t know if I’m going to get a contract.’ But, it’s not in me to play with anyone.”

LeBron James’ phone call didn’t stop Kobe from hitting another trophy in his career

Timing changes everything. In the summer of 2009, the Lakers lost Trevor Ariza. Ron Artest decided to join Kobe in Los Angeles.

World Peace hit the three-pointer off a Black Mamba assist in Game 7 of the 2010 NBA Finals. This was the Lakers’ last field goal and it sealed their championship win.

LeBron was pretty close to changing this. Had he convinced Metta World Peace to come play with him, Kobe would have lost the chance to get his trophy.

King James could have used Metta’s skill set. Things would take a different turn for the Cleveland Cavaliers back then…