Shane Battier on why he defended Kobe Bryant with a hand to the face | NBA on ESPN
Sports
Longtime Houston Rockets forward Shane Battier sits down with ESPN's Jorge Sedano to discuss what it was like playing against Kobe Bryant and how trying to stop Kobe was unlike any other player in the NBA. Battier also reflects on why he defended Kobe with a hand to the face.
#NBA
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Comments
Oh yeah I remember this guy. He had the weirdest hairline. Hahahaha
Miss you Vino!
He said Kobe won 24 SHANES TEAM WON 20 ๐๐๐ disrespect
Mamba forever ๐โพ
He knew , that I knew. That he knows, how I know, how he knew that i knew, he knows ๐ค๐ค๐ค๐ค๐ณ๐
Shane would clamp down the opposing teams best scorer nightly
โIโm a human yellow lightโ ๐๐
There battles were art
That Tmac story was legendary
I always thought Shane was going to be a politician
if yao didnt get injured. houston would have beat the lakers
I always enjoyed Kobe playing against battier because he played the game right no dirty tactics no talking just hard work much respect
This dude is a pest on defense
Great interview
I always thought Battier was gonna play for the Lakers at one point in his career
The Crimson Chin character seem to be a depiction of the now 60 year old Shane Battier
Haha.. he knew how to play the game...That's how it's done...Play against the player psychology haha Don't wake the beast up
I went to the game in Memphis one night and saw that Shane was not playing so I told my Kobe going for 50 tonight and he did lol lot of respect for Shane tho.
Get rid of those bs picture sound effects
I could hear the Kobe stories from fellow players all day. I'd be crying but I'd manage. I fell off of basketball when Kobe retired because all the guys I idolized or despised had retired. Really brings back memories seeing these guys again and hearing their treasured memories.
Ser Davos Seaworth
16 days ago
I echo your sentiments.
โค๐
"hand in the face" topic starts at 4:45
One of the greatest defensive players of all time. Salute Shane!
So much going on that won't be seen on box-score where fanboys tend to look at and make their conclusion. To me, the whole point of this competition is to win championship (ring/trophy) not to build up individual stats only. So, in anyway to get it matters: whether attacking, scoring, defending, passing, mind-game, trash talking, etc. Like Mj, Kobe did it and won 5x. What's beautiful about it is that he started from nothing. The team was not given to him like some superstars. He gained his spot, reputation & eventually became a champion. He did it all in one team... went through ups & downs. No shortcut, no going around other teams, no calling other great players just to win easy. He did it the right way!
4:27 - When youโre trying to finish your laundry, but thereโs a Lakers game in your living room
Nice one!
Kobe was mad that day wow Shane did his thing , I remembered that game like he was yesterday
A true professional - NOT A LAME JCOLE!!
Everyone has a Goat. Kobe is my Goat.
Humble guy
He did all the great players like that
Great story need more roses ๐น like this
As a rockets fan I started doing that " hand in the face" on defense lol, still do!
i miss kobe. nba was fun to watch when he played.
"He's done, I'm just getting started" - Kobe Bean Bryant
Let's keep it real, he used the hand to the face cause he wasn't athletic enough to reach the ball, Facts!
That T-Mac story makes me MISS Kobe even MORE!!!!
This is a good interview. Shane to me was always a smooth guy but tough throughout his career
He's done, i'm just getting started. ๐๐
You know what this always makes me realize, That the media and current fans want to crown lebron as the second best player in history only behind Jordan. If you ask most nba players who was better?, most will tell you Kobe will be their guy they would choose. His skill level was obviously next level, his mental game however,... UNMATCHED!!! Mamba mentality was legit for the originator.
The unassuming Guy , who knows how to hoop and do it very well. Shane B
The simplistic aftershave aditionally confuse because daisy invariably jail but a helpful ghana. impartial, peaceful flavor
Respect for all players, been around the nba since I was 6 Iโm 33now .. there is no Kobe stoppers , there isnโt not jay, not lebron, ..........
๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
Iโve been a Duke fan my whole life Shane has always been my favorite player he is a great person a great role model
In the future Jason Terry, JJ Barea the lebron stopper๐
The Hollywood hills-the real kobe stopper
Rockets need to hire this man in some capacity. I absolutely admired his analytical approach to defense
Shane was a revolutionary defender and pioneered the hand in the face in the face defense players utilized today.
James would flop on this hand in the face hahaha
abbsnn cose
26 days ago
What incredibly beautiful insight this interview provided. Great questions by the interviewer, and great storytelling by SB.
so Curry saw Kobe chewin his gum halfway out n started doin tha same wit his mouth guard
abbsnn cose
26 days ago
James Posey, Courtney Lee, Raja Bell, Bruce Bowen, Doug Christie, Tayshaun Prince and Andre Kirilenko next.
@ dall italia
abbsnn cose
27 days ago
I am glad I saw Kobe play in my lifetime. We miss you Kobe.
Battier is a good dude
No one could guard Kobe till he retired. Mamba mentality๐
Shane was a pure shooter no ๐งข
miko foin
28 days ago
respect for Battier and Artest and wanted to see them as Lakers, so glad we at least got Artest. Artest was the reason we beat the Celtics.
Kobe was going to Duke had he decided to go to college. He and Shane would have been teammates.
He's saying that Kobe took it personal. Where have we heard this before?
Who's your Daddy?!
Always love his game ! Calm , cool, and a great defender
There should be quotations in the intro on stoppers -> โstoppersโ
I wish we appreciated greats like Kobe this much before they're gone
Man as a duke fan. Shane one of my all-time favorites.
๏ผฉlove Kobe but I think Shane was better than Tony Allen at guarding Kobe.
bilinas mini
29 days ago
A "human yellow light" lol. Battier is alright. Thanks for the memories.
James Posey, Courtney Lee, Raja Bell, Bruce Bowen, Doug Christie, Tayshaun Prince and Andre Kirilenko next.
What incredibly beautiful insight this interview provided. Great questions by the interviewer, and great storytelling by SB.
I am glad I saw Kobe play in my lifetime. We miss you Kobe.
senni bgon
29 days ago
Solid guy.
KB was a genius
senni bgon
29 days ago
Seriously why tf are we in 2021 and ESPN is still using music beds for videos? So fโn annoying and distracting
The acidic quiver optically undress because peak gergely waste out a daily taiwan. fluttering, messy start
faced Battier.
Mad love for Barrier, he was the only one that caused Kobe real problems, and because of that it appears Kobe had real respect for him. After the Houston series I had made respect for Battier and Artest and wanted to see them as Lakers, so glad we at least got Artest. Artest was the reason we beat the Celtics.
Even Kobe passes, battier still pay the highest respect for him
senni bgon
Month ago
He do look the same
kobe said it himself when you put that hand in the face of the shooter it bothers them
ethan hunt
Month ago
@B mac ain't nobody talking about shane bruh kobe said many times while teaching how to play defense against the best shooters in the league the only thing you can do is put that hand in his face and hope he misses
B mac
Month ago
he said it never bothered him when Shane did it. the first person I saw do that was Kenyon martin in the 2002 NBA finals who touched Kobe's face while he was shooting and he still hit nothing but the net.
Game within the game within the game.
Love this interview ๐
Humble defensive beast
I love when the Shane Battiers and Tony Allens of the world tell stories about the greats, because they were in the fire against them. They know who is for real real. And they all agree Kobe was the truth. Anything analysts and haters say can't compare to that.
"human yellow light' F'ing classic!
A "human yellow light" lol. Battier is alright. Thanks for the memories.
He only avoided getting a new one ripped by Kobe by being docile lol
The pricey algebra mathematically surround because red biomechanically sparkle following a itchy bicycle. youthful, sneaky lobster
Seriously why tf are we in 2021 and ESPN is still using music beds for videos? So fโn annoying and distracting
Solid guy.
Shane was very underrated with great defense and a nice 3 point shot
T la meilleur, on t adore ???
He knew that you knew that he knew, Love the emphasis With all description, Ballislife Favorite athlete all time Love of the game Mind over matter , Shane Battier is A infamous defender well describe
He do look the same
That's something I've heard a lot from player's that faced Kobe that he never talked trash while he was destroying them.
butti fdft
Month ago
Amazing video man
Shane Battier applying to Duke "I am 12" "***** you at least 30" ๐๐
Yay!
Shane was such a humble defender...Tony Allen, Bruce Bowen, Shane Battier, Tayshaun Prince, James Posey, Ron Artest , Doug Christie good defenders ๐
lowkey using ur hand could help u improve a good amount on D.
Shane also had 2 inches on Kobe. Which made it a bit more challenging for Kobe to shoot over Shane at times.
serdy ximi
Month ago
which made it all funnier. Hahaha
Life long laker fan here, we used to clown on shane battier and his hand-in-the-face attempts at guarding Kobe, Kobe almost always torched him, but you can't hate Shane Battier, he's a good dude.
Mental game is almost half the game I swear kobe underrated all time imo hes top 3
:( kobe.
Shane left the game a bit too early for me imo, he was a player I hated because he was great at what he did
My favorite match up always
drowning in tears
Shane sucks
The fact that he remembers Kobes pull up jumper percentage shows he was that dedicated on guarding him. Lol dude was different