By Nick Gallo | Thunder Basketball Writer | mailbag@thunder-nba.com
In mid-December, the blinding, bright lights came on at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
When his vision cleared, Andre Roberson stood shoulder-to-shoulder with 17-time All-Star guard Kobe Bryant, preparing to guard him for 36 hard-fought minutes. For most second-year players who had started just a couple dozen games in their career, the moment might have been too big. Instead, the Thunder’s cool, collected shooting guard went about his business, stifling Bryant into a 3-for-15 shooting night, helping the Thunder seal a dramatic 104-103 victory at the buzzer as Roberson defended a Bryant shot bounced off the rim.