National Basketball Association

Kobe Bryant almost didn't become a Laker -- because of Vlade Divac

Published Jan. 5, 2016 4:28 p.m. ET

foxsports

Back in the summer of 1996, a 17-year-old out of Philadelphia caught the eye of Los Angeles Lakers general manager Jerry West, and he had to have him. West wanted Kobe so much that he gave up fan-favorite center Vlade Divac in a trade to acquire the teenager, who just happened to be Kobe Bryant.

But the trade that landed Kobe in Los Angeles and sent Divac to the Charlotte Hornets was nearly derailed by none other than Divac himself.

"My feelings were that I play basketball for fun. This is not fun," Divac told Yahoo Sports. "If somebody asked before, 'Vlade, are you going to play basketball over there [in Charlotte]?' It's not going to happen. I talked to my wife and told her, 'Look, I'm going to retire.'"

You read that correctly. Vlade Divac was so upset by the trade that he nearly retired simply so he wouldn't have to play in Charlotte.

Needless to say, such a move would have radically changed NBA history. Not only would Kobe Bryant not have joined the Lakers, but more likely than not the Lakers also would not have signed center Shaquille O'Neal, as trading Divac opened up enough cap space for the team to land O'Neal.

However, after an "emotional" meeting with West, Divac changed his mind and went through with the trade.

"Me and Jerry had a very good relationship," Divac added. "He was the guy who was waiting for me at the airport [after being drafted in 1989]. It was an emotional meeting for both of us. And I trust him so much. He is the best basketball mind in the world. When Jerry tells you something, you believe it."

Sorry, Hornets fans, but these types of things just seem to break the Lakers' way.