When Jamie Foxx learned Kobe Bryant's trash-talk is on another level: 'You're gonna choke on my fifth ring'

When Kobe Bryant was at the peak of his basketball career, he ran the city of Los Angeles as its premier sports figure. He rubbed elbows with Hollywood stars and possibly hung out with them every once in a while.

One A-lister with whom he had a special relationship was actor and singer Jamie Foxx. Oscar-winning actor was unique because he refused to patronize Bryant every chance he got. Instead, Jamie used his gift of gab to go toe-to-toe with the "Black Mamba" in terms of smack talk.

"Kobe and I had this cantankerous relationship," the "Django" actor revealed. "We would always go at each other. I remember he came to see my show. Obviously, I was from Texas, so I was a Mavericks fan. And Kobe heard, 'Mavericks? I thought you were a winner.' So, we started going at each other. We started going back and forth. He didn't stay for my show; he got so pissed, he says I ain't gonna stay for your show. He went across the street 'cause we was at Staples Center. He started working out."

"After that, we texted each other. You're not gonna be ready for the season, what's up with Ron Artest, and I said he aint gonna make it. He texts me back. He says, "Do you have some water?' And I says, 'Huh?' He says, 'You're gonna need it because you're gonna choke on my fifth ring.' And he did it!" added Foxx.

"We texted for a year"

Jamie told the exact same story on the Platform podcast and added more details. The "choke" trash talk did not actually happen when Kobe left his show to practice and work out. Foxx said it was the culmination of a year of talking smack to each other!

"So for a year, we text back and forth. 'Y'all not gonna do it. Ron Artest is a headache, ain't no way you're gonna make it'. He texted me back 'do you have some water?'. I said 'yeah'. He said, 'Good because you're going to choke on my fifth ring," Foxx said.

And as the actor noted, Kobe did it with Artest, but not without resistance. The Los Angeles Lakers limped through the regular season finish line. They faced a young and hungry Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round that year.

The "Purple and Gold" were lucky to survive the series, thanks to a late Pau Gasol putback that finished Kevin Durant and Co. in six games. Then, after going through the Utah Jazz and the Phoenix Suns in the next two rounds, it took everything for the Lakers to beat the Boston Celtics in seven games in the 2010 NBA Finals!

The 18-time All-Star famously took a shot at former teammate Shaquille O'Neal after securing his fifth title. He may have also thought about Jamie's face when he quipped, "You can take that to the bank!"

Kobe went at everybody

Bryant's trash talk to Foxx was a bit graphic, which fits because Jamie is an actor. However, the 2008 NBA MVP was known to be cerebral in his approach.

Gilbert Arenas described Kobe as an "intelligent trash-talker" when he heard "Bean" making Caron Butler second-guess himself after committing a foul. He did the same to Iman Shumpert, Draymond Green, and even LeBron James.

Well, Bryant never fails to surprise with these stories. One thing about him was that he always walked the walk and talked the talk. Whether he was verbally sparring with Jamie Foxx or outsmarting opponents on the court, Kobe's wit and competitiveness were in a league of their own.