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Q&A: Jerry West reflects on Kobe Bryant’s pre-draft workout, career and standing among Lakers greats

Below is an edited transcript of Golden State executive and former Jerry West speaking about Kobe Bryant before the Lakers’ 116-98 loss to the Golden State Warriors on Thursday at Oracle Arena.

On Jerry West securing the Charlotte Hornet’s draft rights that landed Kobe Bryant for the 13th pick in the 1996 NBA Draft.

West: “Something very unique happened to the Lakers organization that year that I think changed the course of a franchise that had been very good. But it put it on a track to have incredible success for so many years. We had a chance to work out a 17-year-old kid, and everyone talks about legendary workouts, that’s you people that create legendary because I’ve seen an awful lot of good workouts.