Flip Saunders Reveals a Rare Story About Timberwolves Almost Drafting Kobe Bryant

The one move that changed a decade of basketball for the nba

A few days ago, the Minnesota Timberwolves were host to Jeremy Lin and the Los Angeles Lakers. Before T-Wolves would route the purple and gold on Wednesday, Flip Saunders spoke briefly with media revealing something that’s been haunting him for nearly 20 years. Saunders said Minnesota initially planned to draft Kobe Bryant with the fifth overall pick in the 1996 draft but opted to go a different. Wit fear of hindering the growth of fellow high school sensation Kevin Garnett, the Wolves opted to draft Ray Allen – who they would trade for Stephon Marbury.

“We teetered on the idea of getting another one because we had success with KG. But we kind of thought it would be too much having two of those guys who were young at that time and still in the process of developing KG as a young player. Kobe was picking guys up at 94 feet. That’s his competitiveness and nature in wanting to win and play. KG is the same way. As long as they love playing the game, they’re going to keep on playing.”

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