Doc Rivers Reveals Wild Kobe Bryant Memory From 2008 Finals

In a story from Jovan Buha, Rivers spoke about the late Lakers legend and the battles the two had when the Boston Celtics squared off versus the Lakers in the 2008 NBA Finals. Recent New York Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau was the defensive coordinator on those excellent Boston teams. As Rivers describes, even Thibodeau was flummoxed by the unabated show of respect by the Celtics in a game where it was easily in hand.

“Game 6 was terrific,” Rivers said. “That’s a moment that I remember in 2008. The funniest moment, Kobe knows this, but we were up 1,000 [points] in Game 6 and the guy who you would least expect walks over to me during the game -- Tom Thibodeau -- and he asks me, ‘Are you going to sub out? There’s six minutes and we’re up 42 points.’

“Of all the guys to say that, it’s Tom Thibodeau. And I looked over there at the Lakers and Kobe was still on the floor, and I actually said, ‘When Phil [Jackson] takes that guy out, I take my guys out.’ And Thibs said, ‘You’re safe.’ And I said, ‘Not with that guy on the floor.’

“I was dead serious. I had obviously lost my mind because it was a 42-point lead. But he put that fear in you, man. He could run off threes. I was obviously not good at math, so I was worried about him. Then finally Phil took him out so I could sub. It was good.”

Being a former player himself, it's not surprising to see Rivers have this sort of adoration for Bryant. Rivers was a guy who competed versus some of the best wings in NBA history (including Michael Jordan).

Game often recognizes game, and as Rivers had seen up close and personal, Bryant's jaw-dropping ability to manufacture points made no lead seem safe...even if it was realistically insurmountable for Bryant his teams to overcome.

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