Carmelo Anthony explains why Kobe Bryant 'couldn't stand' JJ Redick during 2008 Team USA tryouts

The five-time NBA champion apparently took issue with Mike Krzyzewski hyping up his former player

By Isabel Gonzalez Jun 21, 2024 at 9:22 am ET• 1 min read

JJ Redick is set to be the next Los Angeles Lakers head coach. And while he never played for the team, he does have a history with some of its legends. While on "7PM in Brooklyn" this week, Carmelo Anthony shared a story of how Kobe Bryant "couldn't stand" Redick during the Team USA tryouts.

Mike Krzyzewski was the Team USA head coach, and he had some history with Redick as he had coached him at Duke. Krzyzewski was raving about the former Blue Devil, who was a two-time ACC Player of the Year and the 2006 National Player of the Year. 

"I remember Kobe couldn't stand JJ Redick," Anthony, who retired with the Lakers in 2023, retold. 

Although he did not specify the date, it seems this story took place ahead of the 2008 Beijing Games. Redick was just about two seasons into the league after being drafted 11th overall by the Orlando Magic. Bryant, who at this point had already played in the NBA for 12 seasons and had earned three NBA championships with the Lakers, allegedly gave Redick a hard time during practice.