When Kobe Called His Shot: ‘Set Me a Pick and We’re Taking This Win’ — The Night He Silenced the So-Called ‘Kobe Stopper’…Read More…
On a crisp December night in 2002, the NBA hardwood was set for one of the league’s most intense and personal showdowns. The Los Angeles Lakers, three-time defending champions, faced off against the Portland Trail Blazers — a team known not only for their rugged defense but also for boasting a player who carried an unusual title: “The Kobe Stopper.”
That man was Ruben Patterson, a defensive specialist whose claim to fame wasn’t high-flying dunks or silky jumpers, but a bold proclamation that he had “figured out” how to contain the most lethal scorer in the NBA — Kobe Bryant.
For months, whispers had swirled across NBA circles. Patterson’s confidence bordered on arrogance. Reporters loved the narrative. The Trail Blazers embraced it. And Kobe? Well, he never forgot it.
On December 6, 2002, inside the Staples Center, the rivalry reached its boiling point. The game between the Lakers and the Blazers was a slugfest — physical, scrappy, and high-stakes. Every possession felt like a playoff battle. Kobe was met with double-teams, traps, and the constant presence of Patterson shadowing his every move.
With seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, the Lakers trailed by two. The energy in Staples was electric, the kind of tension only Kobe Bryant thrived under.
During the timeout, Phil Jackson drew up a play. As teammates leaned in, Kobe uttered words that would become the stuff of NBA legend:
“Set me a pick… and we’re going home with a win.”
It wasn’t a plea. It wasn’t a motivational quip. It was a cold, calculated promise.
The play unfolded exactly as drawn. Kobe brushed off a screen, caught the ball at the right wing, with Patterson scrambling to recover. One hard dribble, a pull-up from beyond the arc — pure.
Buzzer. Lakers win. Kobe walks off with that familiar scowl.
The arena erupted. Teammates mobbed him. The so-called “Kobe Stopper” stood frozen, staring into space as the man he vowed to shut down once again owned the moment.
But for Kobe, this wasn’t just a regular-season win. It was personal.
The Birth of “The Kobe Stopper”
Ruben Patterson earned his defensive stripes early in his career, playing tough, physical basketball. When he landed in Portland, a team known for its gritty identity, he quickly found his role as a defensive anchor. But Patterson wanted more than respect — he wanted a title that carried weight.
Declaring himself “The Kobe Stopper” in the early 2000s was akin to waving a red flag at a bull. The media ran wild with it. Kobe, famously fueled by slights, both real and imagined, took note.
Kobe’s response wasn’t in words but in performances. Time after time, he torched the Trail Blazers — fadeaways, impossible shots, clutch moments. Yet, Patterson continued his claim, and every game became a battle within a battle.
That Night Sealed the Narrative
The December 2002 showdown became a defining chapter in their personal saga. Kobe dropped 25 points, including the game-winning three over Patterson’s outstretched arms. What set this night apart wasn’t the stat line — it was the moment, the call-your-shot bravado that only a handful of athletes in history have dared to make.
Kobe later reflected on that shot in interviews, always with a sly grin, saying, “If you’re going to call yourself the stopper, you better be ready when the game’s on the line.”
A Rivalry Etched in NBA Lore
The Kobe vs. Patterson narrative wasn’t about hatred — it was about competitive fire. Patterson respected Kobe’s greatness, even if he didn’t always admit it. And Kobe respected anyone who challenged him, because those battles fueled his drive.
Over the years, their matchups remained heated. Patterson played the role of the irritant, the defender in Kobe’s face, sometimes succeeding in making things difficult, but never able to stop the inevitable.
The Legacy of a Statement
When the story of Kobe Bryant is told, moments like this capture his essence — a relentless competitor who embraced pressure and thrived on doubters.
That night, with a single sentence in a timeout huddle, Kobe reaffirmed who he was: the ultimate closer, the man you wanted the ball with when everything was on the line.
And Ruben Patterson? He became a footnote in one of the NBA’s most memorable rivalries — remembered not for stopping Kobe, but for fueling one of his many iconic moments.
Because when Kobe said, “Set me a pick… and we’re going home with a win,” he wasn’t making a wish. He was delivering a prophecy.
And like so many times before, Kobe Bryant made sure it came true.
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