Kobe Bryant had different ways of getting into the minds of his opponents. However, he also had to bear the brunt of it, including being clotheslined by Raja Bell during the 2006 playoffs.
This happened during Game 5 of the first-round matchup between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Phoenix Suns. Bell received a one-game suspension for his act, but later clarified that his reaction resulted from Bryant throwing elbows in his face.
Showing no remorse, Bell stated that he did not respect Bryant. Fortunately for the Suns, the suspension did not cost them — they won the series despite the Lakers being up 3-1.
Looking back at the incident during a 2022 interview, Raja addressed calling Kobe arrogant and pompous.
“Yeah, I said that to the media. I really felt like that during the time… He had shot me a lot of bows, and it was a lot of reckless talk, and I had enough. So at that time, that’s what was coming out of my mouth to the media,” revealed Bell, who had zero regrets and admitted he would do it all over again.
Raja’s mother had a message for Kobe
Following the incident, Bell and Bryant constantly went at each other in the media. One statement that stood out was the Lakers guard telling the press that Bell had not been hugged enough during his childhood.
What made things further interesting was Bell’s mother bumping into Bryant after the Lakers were eliminated in Game 7.
“He was kind of walking with his head down through the arena, and my mom was outside the family room because they had to pass the family room, and she said, ‘Hey, Mr. Bryant, Kobe,’ and he turned around and he said something to her, and she said, ‘I’m Raja’s mom.’ I don’t know what he said to her because I wasn’t there — this came from the people working the room, and she said to him, ‘You could use a hug,’ and he just kind of dropped his head and walked away,” said Bell, who received a lot of heat for messing with No. 24.
Bryant’s fans were not happy with Bell’s actions, so much so that the Suns veteran even received death threats. There were several instances of gang members waiting for him at hotels in Los Angeles, leaving the Suns guard no option but to stay within the confines of his room.
Bryant tried recruiting Bell to the Lakers
As time passed, a mutual respect developed between the two, with Bryant even sending Bell a congratulatory message when his son was born and trying to convince the Suns guard to join the Lakers during free agency.
Raja remembered receiving a call from an unknown number that ended up being Kobe, who wanted him to bring his talents to Los Angeles.
“Anybody who could clothesline me in a playoff game, I want them on my team,” Bryant told Bell.
The former Suns guard reminisced about their conversation, sharing how Bryant talked about LeBron James and Dwyane Wade forming a superteam in Miami, and that he needed trusted personnel to deal with them. However, Bell ultimately rejected his offer and signed with the Utah Jazz.