It doesn’t matter how much time has passed since we last saw him in the NBA; fans will forever remember at least one iconic Kobe Bryant clutch moment.
Recently, a clip of former NBA forward Rondae Hollis-Jefferson balling out in the FIBA World Cup went viral for his resemblance to Kobe, emulating some of his iconic moves en route to a big performance.
That’s why it wasn’t surprising to see fans in attendance at the Mall of Asia Arena erupting into “Kobe” chants when Hollis-Jefferson made a spectacular four-point play to tie the game vs. New Zealand with just 15 seconds left on the clock.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson felt Kobe was with him and allowed him to hit those CLUTCH shots down the stretch 🥹🙏#FIBAWC #WinForAll pic.twitter.com/BoVw5co4NE
— BasketNews (@BasketNews_com) August 28, 2023
Following the game, Hollis-Jefferson thanked the fans for all the love and claimed that he felt God and Kobe were with him during his 39-point explosion.
The mechanics, his jersey number, the context, and even the fans made it impossible not to see some similarities with Kobe.
Needless to say, Hollis-Jefferson never actually reached Bryant’s status, and he’s not even in the league anymore, but he’s balled his heart out for his national team thus far.
39 PTS | 9 REB | 4 AST | 2 STL 😳
Rondae Hollis Jefferson channeled his inner Kobe 🐍 against New Zealand! #FIBAWC pic.twitter.com/M5ZcAkFcoS
— FIBA (@FIBA) August 28, 2023
Hollis-Jefferson had 39 points, four assists, and nine boards, but he couldn’t keep his team from losing in overtime.
Even so, he’s currently the World Cup’s leading scorer, and he’s still looking forward to making an NBA comeback, even if he’s under contract to play in the Philippines.
If he keeps this up, it’ll be just a matter of time before an NBA team comes knocking on his door.
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