When Donald Trump was furious Kobe Bryant didn't play in MSG because of a suspension: 'I came here to see my man Kobe'

NBA games attract numerous celebrity stars to the front rows, where they can enjoy the show on the hardwood while also showcasing themselves to the world. One of the most famous arenas in the entire world is definitely Madison Square Garden, home of the New York Knicks.

Every time the Knicks play a home game against one of their long-standing rivals, numerous stars from various walks of life are in attendance, ready to soak in the action from the front rows.

Such was the case in 2007 when the mighty Los Angeles Lakers, led by one of the biggest superstars of that time, Kobe Bryant, came to visit the Big Apple. This attractive opponent even prompted Donald Trump, then a highly successful business mogul, to come and see "Black Mamba" in action. However, to his unpleasant surprise, Bryant was suspended from that game just a couple of hours before the matchup.

"Well I guess you could look at it both ways. But I'd like to see Kobe play; I came to see my man Kobe. Kobe is great. And I'm sitting here, and wondering where is Kobe?" the current President-Elect said at the time.

Kobe elbowed Manu Ginobili

Trump thought that his Knicks would have an easier task defeating the Purple and Gold without their nominally best player. However, on the other hand, the New York native was deprived of the chance to enjoy Bean's brilliance.

Bryant was slapped with a one-game suspension for elbowing Manu Ginobili while attempting a jump shot late in the Lakers' contest against the San Antonio Spurs just days before. However, this came as a complete surprise to the Los Angeles superstar, considering that he claimed the move was completely unintentional and did not provoke any negative reactions afterward.

"I've been waiting to play here, it's always been a fun place for me to play here, and I'm surprised. Shocked, by it, actually," Bryant said before his appeal was denied. "I unintentionally caught Manu Ginobili. What do you say, it's a basketball game. You unintentionally catch people with elbows every once in a while."

Fans wanted to see Mamba as well

MSG, or the Mecca of Basketball, has been the favorite venue of many basketball stars, including Bryant. What's interesting is that Trump's opinion was shared by many fans who booed when it was announced that Kobe wasn't with the team due to the suspension.

However, it seems Donald managed to enjoy the game at least a little, as his favorite team outplayed the shorthanded Lakers 99-94. Eddy Curry led the hosts with 27 points and nine rebounds, while the most efficient player for the team from the City of Angels was Lamar Odom with 25 of his own.