- Bryant had nerves of steel when he was confronted with a gangster at a young age
- Record executive Steve Stoute recalled the incident to Shannon Sharpe
- DailyMail.com provides all the latest international sports news
Record executive Steve Stoute shared a story about how, at age 18, Kobe Bryant once stood up to a gangster outside a New York City restaurant.
Stoute spoke with Shannon Sharpe and shared stories about his time working with the late Laker legend during his early years in the league.
That included a time when a young Bryant got into a heated situation with a mobster after going out one night in the Big Apple.
“(We go) to this bar one night, and street kids were buying all the Cristal,” Stoute explained.
“But let me tell you something. They buy the Cristal… If someone comes in and you order Cristal, you have to check in.
Record boss Steve Stoute told a story about Kobe Bryant versus a New York gangster
Bryant, who was 18 at the time, did not shy away from the confrontation outside a restaurant
Stoute told this and many other Kobe Bryant stories to Shannon Sharpe
‘I didn’t get the Cristal. I didn’t want to do it. I’m like f**k this. I’m not doing this.
“We go out to dinner, like two, three o’clock in the morning, and the same guy, street kid, won’t say his name, is sitting there, and Kobe is making fun of his outfit, and he’s a little loud.
“I’m like, ‘He’s not chilling with that, bro.’ The man sends someone to him: “You (person) wants to talk to you.”
“I’m going out… he pulled out the gun. I’m like, “Yo, he’s a young man.” I try to tell him. He didn’t even know who he was, okay?
“So he didn’t even know who Kobe Bryant is. I’m like, “He’s my young man. He’s cool,” whatever.
“Kobe comes out, sees the gun and I say, ‘get back in.’ He says, “I’m not going anywhere.” He did this at 23rd (Street) and 9th Avenue. He did. At the age of 18. He said he’s not going anywhere.’
In the same episode, Stoute revealed that he signed Bryant to a recording contract and helped the future basketball star navigate his early years in the league.
“He actually had a rap group,” Stoute said. ‘When I signed him, he was in a group. (But) you know, Kobe, God bless, he went solo shortly after.”