Kobe gives kids autographed game shoes for guessing his dog’s name
During the closing stages of the Denver Nuggets’ 117-107 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday night, the cameras caught Lakers legend Kobe Bryant — who played just 11 minutes after aggravating his sore right shoulder during his final trip to Denver before retiring at the end of this season — autographing his game-worn shoes on the bench and giving them away to a pair of young fans near courtside:
[Follow Dunks Don’t Lie on Tumblr: The best slams from all of basketball]
As it turns out, the young fans got their rare and phenomenal swag by singing for their supper, so to speak, according to Cameron Wolfe of the Denver Post:
“No, they earned them,” Bryant said. “They wanted to know what the name of my pet dog was so I gave them a clue. I said ‘it’s in a (Harry) Potter film.’ So every time, they threw out like 15 names. The deal was if they got it, I’d give them my shoes. And they got it.”
Bryant revealed the name of his dog is Crucio, the name of one of three unforgivable curses that inflicts excruciating pain upon the receiver.
Cool dog name, Kobe! Nothing says “I love my puppy” quite like deciding to name it after an unforgivable act that puts people in extreme and unrelenting agony. I mean, who could argue that this original hound from hell — or, um, the rebooted (or perhaps third) version, I guess — merits so malevolent a moniker?
Lest you think Bryant’s some Hagrid-come-lately to Harry Potter fandom, though, it’s worth remembering that the Mamba casually dropped a Hogwarts analogy during last year’s mammoth and fascinating GQ interview with Chuck Klosterman:
Bryant views branding as a modern form of “storytelling.” I note that this comparison is only partially accurate, since branding is a form of storytelling with a conscious commercial purpose. “For some,” he concedes. “But that’s not a universal thing. That’s like saying every wizard within Slytherin House is a villain.”
And that’s just the tip of the iceberg; Kobe’s a certified Potter psycho, going ga-ga over the chance to meet cast members from the movies, having a special colorway of the Kobe VII named after Harry’s Cloak of Invisibility and, of course, making plans for the most appropriate Halloween costume of all time all the way back in 2007, according to then-Los Angeles Times columnist T.J. Simers:
“What are you going to be for Halloween?” the reporter wonders, and don’t we all?
“Lord Voldemort,” the Kobester says, stumping the reporter.
“Harry Potter,” the Kobester says.
Pretty perfect, branding- and tone-wse. And yet, unlike He Who Must Not Be Named, Kobe’s become warmhearted enough as he continues his all-encompassing farewell tour to share his time, as well as his kicks, with fans before he heads out the door. From Pat Graham of The Associated Press:
“To be able to converse with the fans was awesome,” Bryant said. “I had a great time.”
I think it’s fair to say the winners of his trivia contest did, too.
More NBA coverage:
– – – – – – –
Dan Devine is an editor for Ball Don’t Lie on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter!
Stay connected with Ball Don’t Lie on Twitter @YahooBDL, “Like” BDL on Facebook and follow Dunks Don’t Lie on Tumblr for year-round NBA talk, jokes and more.