VIDEO: Hassan Whiteside Said He Yelled 'Kobe' While Hitting Dagger vs Lakers on Friday
By Karl Rasmussen
The Portland Trail Blazers emerged victorious in what was an emotional and hard-fought battle against the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center on Friday night. The game, which was played just five days after the tragic loss of Kobe Bryant, featured a handful of tributes to the late Laker great. Well, Hassan Whiteside hit a late jumper in the fourth quarter which effectively sealed the Blazers' win, and after the game he revealed that he was channeling his inner-Mamba while hoisting up the shot.
"On that last fadeaway, I yelled 'Kobe,'" Whiteside said after the game.
Whiteside isn't exactly known for having a stellar mid-range game, but that fadeaway jumper was as clean as they come.
Hassan Whiteside said he yelled "Kobe" on his fadeaway dagger. pic.twitter.com/dsckTItKBD
— Bleacher Report NBA (@BR_NBA) February 1, 2020
The Blazers' big man dropped 30 points in the win, while grabbing 12 rebounds and blocking five shots in what was one of his best performances of the season.