Kobe Bryant Responds To Larry Nance Jr. ‘Rapist’ Tweet


Kobe Bryant and Larry Nance Jr. have evidently patched things up.

The Los Angeles Lakers superstar has called a now-deleted controversial tweet by the team’s first-round draft choice “water under the bridge.”

On May 1, 2012, Nance, then 19, tweeted that “Gee I sure hope Kobe can keep his hands to himself in Denver this time. #rapist.”

Nance, the 27th pick in the NBA Draft on Thursday night, was evidently referencing the sexual assault charges brought against Kobe Bryant 12 years ago. “Bryant was involved in a 2003 sexual-assault case in Colorado. A woman accused him of raping her in his hotel room. All charges were dropped after she refused to testify. A civil suit was later settled, and Bryant publicly apologized, though he admitted no guilt in the matter,” ESPN explained.

The Lakers were apparently unaware of the controversial tweet before they drafted the forward from the University of Wyoming, who is a second-generation NBA player (Larry Nance Sr. played for the Phoenix Suns and Cleveland Cavaliers in a 13-year pro basketball career). General Manager Mitch Kupchak subsequently said that the team discussed the matter with Nance Jr. and that the two players would work things out among themselves, which apparently has taken place.

Bryant addressed the controversy swirling around Nance’s tweet at the BET Experience at the Staples Center in Los Angeles last night in a conversation with ESPN analyst Jemele Hill.

“[Nance Jr.] actually sent me a great message yesterday, which is really funny. I looked at it, and it was like, ‘This is when you know it’s about time to hang these things up, when your teammate writes you, ‘Hi, Mr. Bryant’ I was like, ‘What the f***?’ But it was really nice and apologetic about what had happened. I said, ‘Dude, listen. We’ve all said things and done things that we regret and wish we could take back. It’s water under the bridge, man. Welcome to the team.’ He writes back, ‘Thank you, sir.’ I was like, ‘What the f***?'”

“To be fair,” the Washington Post noted, “Nance also has tweeted positive things Bryant since his infamous tweet.”

During the exchange with Hill, Kobe Bryant separately conceded that he hasn’t always been the most supportive teammate.

https://twitter.com/BaxterHolmes/status/614270344287760384

Kobe Bryant is in the last year of his contract with the Lakers, and GM Kupchak has previously suggested that the five-time NBA champion, who has struggled with injuries over the past several seasons, will probably retire. After spending his entire pro career in Los Angeles directly from high school, Bryant could also test the free-agent waters after the Lakers deal expires.

Do you think that privately Kobe Bryant has actually forgiven Larry Nance Jr. for the “rapist” tweet?

[Photo by David Banks / Getty Images Sport]

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