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First time: Phoenix Suns forward Jae Crowder recalls being the 'young fellas' in matchups against Kobe Bryant his rookie year

Jae Crowder remembers having some pregame words with Kobe Bryant his rookie year.

KB: "You ready young fella?"

JC: "You ready old head?"

Oh wow.

"And I should've never said that," Crowder said.

With this week being the one-year anniversary of Bryant's tragic death from a helicopter crash, the now Phoenix Suns forward relives facing his favorite player growing up his rookie season in 2012-13.

A second-round pick in the 2012 draft out of Marquette, Crowder was set to play in his first NBA regular-season game for the Dallas Mavericks – against Bryant and the Lakers at Staples Center in Los Angeles.