Kobe Bryant was renowned for never taking challenges lightly. Even when faced with the self-proclaimed “Kobe Stopper,” Ruben Patterson, the Black Mamba remained undeterred. Former Portland Trail Blazers teammates Rasheed Wallace and Bonzi Wells shared a story about how Patterson’s attempts to stop Kobe were unsuccessful.During an episode of the Sheed and Tyler Podcast, Bonzi Wells recounted how they built up Patterson before a game against the Lakers. Patterson had called himself the “Kobe Stopper” due to his previous experience playing alongside Kobe in Los Angeles. Wallace and his teammates were optimistic, believing they had the key to stopping Kobe. However, their hopes were dashed when Kobe scored 45 points in the next game, fueled by the comments made in the interview.Years later, Kobe revealed to Wallace that he had seen the interview and was motivated by Patterson’s claims. While Patterson never truly lived up to his “Kobe Stopper” nickname, Wells acknowledged his talent and described him as a formidable player. Standing at 6’7″ and weighing 230-240 lbs with exceptional athleticism, Patterson possessed the ability to guard multiple positions. However, when it came to facing Kobe, Patterson was no match.Wells admitted that they had unintentionally set Patterson up for failure, as Kobe knew his weaknesses from their time playing together on the Lakers. Over the course of their careers, Kobe faced Patterson 23 times and averaged impressive statistics of 29.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 4.8 assists in those matchups. Despite his claims, Patterson’s attempt to stop Kobe fell short.It is clear that Kobe Bryant’s talent and determination made him virtually unstoppable, even against players who believed they could shut him down.
“Kobe Stopper,” Rasheed Wallace was on the receiving end of a 45-point performance by Lakers legend Kobe Bryant. Wallace, however, reveals a significant reason behind his humbling experience.
