Before Kobe Bryant retired in 2015, playing against the Los Angeles Lakers was a major milestone for young players in the NBA because it gave them an opportunity to go head-to-head with Bryant, one of the most accomplished and skilled players in the league. J.R. Smith, the No. 18 pick in the 2004 draft, reached that milestone on the fourth game of his rookie season and he relished the experience — arguably a little too much.
“Byron Scott was telling me, ‘Hey rook, when you get into the game, Kobe’s going to take two dribbles baseline and pump fake.