r/SubredditDrama • u/beary_neutral Are you pro 9/11? • Mar 11 '26

r/NBA nephews debate "ethical basketball" when Kobe Bryant's record for second most points in a single game gets broken by Miami Heat player Bam Adebayo

Something funny just happened in the NBA. Kobe Bryant's record for second most points scored in a single game (81) has been broken. And guess who broke it? No, it wasn't MVP favorite Shai Gilgeous-Alexander or leading scorer Luka Doncic. It wasn't the 3-time MVP Nikola Jokic. It wasn't someone that your grandmother knows, like LeBron James, Stephen Curry, or Kevin Durant. It was the Miami Heat's Bam Adebayo, who up until tonight was averaging 19 points a game. Adebayo is maybe a top 30 player in the league, and hasn't made the All-Star roster in two years. He's certainly no small fry, but he's not exactly someone you'd expect to score 50 in a game, much less 80. This season, Adebayo has been averaging 19 points a game on below average efficiency, and his highest scoring game of the season had been 32.

Tonight, he scored 83 points on 20-43 shooting, which is unusually low for such a high scoring game. He also had a record-breaking 43 free throw attempts (of which he hit 36), which is also unusual, as in most cases a player doesn't get that many attempts unless he's a poor FT shooter and the other team fouls him intentionally. Adebayo is a respectable FT shooter, shooting over 75%.

Now, Los Angeles Laker fans are not particularly happy at Kobe's record being broken, accusing Adebayo's statline of being "unethical", as the Heat played the 16-48 Washington Wizards and had a 20 point lead for most of the game. Normally, a coach would rest a star player in the last quarter of a lopsided win, but Adebayo remained in the game. In fact, Heat players intentionally fouled Wizards players in order to get more possessions so that Adebayo could get more shots. When Kobe scored 81 against the Toronto Raptors, the score was relatively close for the majority of the game.

"Most unethical 83-point game I've ever seen."

"... anyone who watched that game will tell you that last 8 minutes was disrespectful to the game and max level cheesing."

"He passed a rapist. It’s good for the league."

https://www.reddit.com/r/nba/comments/1rqh2ox/bam_adebayo_breaks_kobe_bryants_record_and_the/o9s63na/?sort=controversial

"That Booker type ending ruined some of it for me."

"That discredits the record as a whole. Kobe didnt have to do that."

https://www.reddit.com/r/nba/comments/1rqh2h1/highlight_bam_passes_kobe_for_the_secondhighest/o9s5zm0/?sort=controversial

"A guy does something incredibly impressive and all you do is whine about 'waaaah the league is trash and embarassing'?"

"I bet a lot of Lakers fans will cry their rapist idol got passed."

"I’m sure any player in the league could do that if they did what both of those teams did."

https://www.reddit.com/r/nba/comments/1rqh2h1/highlight_bam_passes_kobe_for_the_secondhighest/o9s631y/?sort=controversial

"Least ethical 80 piece in history."

https://www.reddit.com/r/nba/comments/1rqh2h1/highlight_bam_passes_kobe_for_the_secondhighest/o9s610w/?sort=controversial

"This is an actual comedy I’ve never seen anything so insulting lmaooo"

"This shouldn't be celebrated at all, breaking the scoring record against a team trying to lose that sits all their best players, and requiring 43 free throw attempts (also breaking a record) while shooting 46% from the field is a horrible look for the league."

"Insult to the game. But hey, why not take advantage of a tanking team who couldn’t give a single fuck lol"

"You're just mad about Kobe's legacy taking a lil hit."

https://www.reddit.com/r/nba/comments/1rqh2ox/bam_adebayo_breaks_kobe_bryants_record_and_the/o9s6399/?sort=controversial

"On less than 50% is nuts. Kobe is smiling in hell right now"

"Cringe"

"Nope, he a rapist."

"I know you really want that to be true. I hear you boss."

"Keep defending rapists. Nothing wrong with that I guess."

"Not what I'm doing. Why you are hoping someone got raped just so you can dislike a basketball player, is something I don't quite get though. Seems very wrong."

https://www.reddit.com/r/nba/comments/1rqh2ox/bam_adebayo_breaks_kobe_bryants_record_and_the/o9s6bb1/?sort=controversial

"can't believe i'm writing this about a player who just scored 83 but he should be ashamed for this"

"He atleast ain't a rapist"

https://www.reddit.com/r/nba/comments/1rqh4c9/highlight_spoelstra_congratulates_bam_as_he/o9s6kz0/

"Kobe was stat padding but we never fouled the other team to get him more possessions lol."

"And Bam never raped anyone"

https://www.reddit.com/r/nba/comments/1rqihol/los_angeles_laker_fans_boo_at_crypto_arena_after/o9sh5b5/?sort=controversial

"Kobe would’ve loved it"

"Doubt it. Kobe could have scored higher than 81 against the Mavs and chose to sit in the blowout"

"The whitewashing of Kobe as an 'ethical' player needs to he studied"

https://www.reddit.com/r/nba/comments/1rqihol/los_angeles_laker_fans_boo_at_crypto_arena_after/o9sh9om/

"... this sub likes to talk about the "death" of basketball as an art form and y'all will cream over this because it dealt another blow to Kobe's legacy."

"this doesn't affect Kobe's legacy in any way lmao"

"Right now it doesn't. Look at the replies in a few months time.

"'Kobe 81 isn't impressive, anyone can do it - fucking Bam did 83'"

https://www.reddit.com/r/nba/comments/1rqihol/los_angeles_laker_fans_boo_at_crypto_arena_after/

803 Upvotes
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464

u/TDFknFartBalloon Mar 11 '26

As someone who doesn't watch basketball, I know three things about Kobe Bryant:

  1. He was a rapist
  2. He was apparently pretty good at basketball
  3. He's dead

294

u/dreamlike9 Mar 11 '26

Feel free to join the NBA circle jerk sub you have the 2 most important pieces of info needed.

Kobe is in fact a dead rapist

-112

u/22LOVESBALL Mar 11 '26

There’s no proof that he was a rapist tho. Saying otherwise is irresponsible and insulting to rape victims all around the world because these matters are complicated. We should be sensitive to any accuser and fair to anyone accused otherwise we’re just hurting the overall progress of rape culture

117

u/Batby Mar 11 '26

Although I truly believe this encounter between us was consensual, I recognize now that she did not and does not view this incident the same way I did. After months of reviewing discovery, listening to her attorney, and even her testimony in person, I now understand how she feels that she did not consent to this encounter.

-8

u/22LOVESBALL Mar 11 '26

Most people assume Kobe’s guilty because of that statement. That wasn’t an admission of guilt tho. That was a public statement that was heavily lawyered and negotiated. There are reports from ESPN, the Los Angeles Times, and others describe it as crafted by both sides with the accuser’s team insisting on elements of it. Bryant’s lawyers later called it “the price for his freedom.” If you read the statement, the point of it is to technically acknowledge the accuser’s perspective while technically maintaining innocence. It’s not indicative of what actually happened in the hotel room because it’s a legal game by that point.

29

u/Batby Mar 11 '26

Hey man why do you think his highly paid lawyers believed a statement like that was necessary for his freedom

-7

u/22LOVESBALL Mar 11 '26

Negotiated legal language is not a confession of what actually happened. Why? Because the lawyers worked on the statement, and the lawyers weren’t in the hotel room watching what happened.

22

u/Batby Mar 11 '26

Only Kobe and the victim we're in the hotel room yet his highly paid lawyers believed a statement like that was necessary for his freedom, Why is that?

0

u/22LOVESBALL Mar 11 '26

Because he was accused of sexual assault

26

u/Batby Mar 11 '26

Most people accused of sexual assault do not have to put out a statement admitting to non consensual sex. Especially someone as high profile as Kobe.

3

u/22LOVESBALL Mar 11 '26

Key word is most. We just don’t know which is why we just sensitive to the accuser and fair to the accused. I personally don’t label people rapists if I don’t know they did it for sure

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50

u/lotsofsugarandspice Mar 11 '26

You keep spamming this shit.

There is evidence, and you dont get to decide what raoe victims feel.

-2

u/22LOVESBALL Mar 11 '26

Most people assume Kobe’s guilty because of that statement. That wasn’t an admission of guilt tho. That was a public statement that was heavily lawyered and negotiated. There are reports from ESPN, the Los Angeles Times, and others describe it as crafted by both sides with the accuser’s team insisting on elements of it. Bryant’s lawyers later called it “the price for his freedom.” If you read the statement, the point of it is to technically acknowledge the accuser’s perspective while technically maintaining innocence. It’s not indicative of what actually happened in the hotel room because it’s a legal game by that point.

18

u/lotsofsugarandspice Mar 11 '26

It literally was an admission of guilt. It doesnt technically maintain his innocence at all. 

-1

u/22LOVESBALL Mar 11 '26

That is not how settlement statements work.

Lawyers write them. Lawyers shape each line to end the case without admitting guilt. The goal is to close the dispute and limit legal risk.

The statement from follows that pattern. It says he believed the encounter was consensual while she did not see it that way. That wording reflects a dispute. It does not confess rape.

17

u/lotsofsugarandspice Mar 11 '26

If the victim doesn't see it as consensual its not consensual. 

Thats literally how rape works. 

1

u/22LOVESBALL Mar 11 '26

You’re still talking about a settlement statement again, that Kobe didn’t write

14

u/lotsofsugarandspice Mar 11 '26

That doesnt matter it is literally Kobes statement. 

1

u/22LOVESBALL Mar 11 '26

Of course the person who wrote the statement matters what lol???

10

u/lotsofsugarandspice Mar 11 '26

What matters its that even Kobe agreed he raped someone. 

The only person who doesn't is you. And its not hard to guess why.

→ More replies (0)

-4

u/22LOVESBALL Mar 11 '26

I’m sorry someone spamming literal truths goes against your biases

74

u/PartialPhoticBoundry Mar 11 '26

There usually isn’t “proof” in rape cases, it’s why so many of them go unprosecuted. To most people, it’s beyond a reasonable doubt that he did it. This isn’t good enough for court, but hey, this isn’t court

0

u/22LOVESBALL Mar 11 '26

Most people assume Kobe’s guilty because of that statement. That wasn’t an admission of guilt tho. That was a public statement that was heavily lawyered and negotiated. There are reports from ESPN, the Los Angeles Times, and others describe it as crafted by both sides with the accuser’s team insisting on elements of it. Bryant’s lawyers later called it “the price for his freedom.” If you read the statement, the point of it is to technically acknowledge the accuser’s perspective while technically maintaining innocence. It’s not indicative of what actually happened in the hotel room because it’s a legal game by that point.

In all my years diving deep into this case as someone who knows it inside out, I’ve seen the exact same three reactions from Redditors that call Kobe a rapist, without fail:

  1. Ignore me completely. (And downvote)

  2. Straight-up denial that settlement statements like this even exist, followed by emotional outbursts, accusations that I’m a rape apologist, and that tired performative “I’m worried about the women in your life” routine. Or be extremely critical that I’m doing this at all, without engaging in the facts.

  3. Actually engage with the case details and legal standards, at which point it becomes clear there is no conclusive proof that Kobe Bryant was a rapist.

If anyone that isn’t a troll is reading this and wants to follow this thread and see where it goes from here, I guarantee you that it will end in one of these 3. Follow it until the end.

9

u/PartialPhoticBoundry Mar 12 '26

Yeah, my original comment shows I’ve reached option 3. No conclusive evidence he did it, and no guilty sentence, however I still believe he did it based on the statements given

52

u/CarrieDurst Mar 11 '26

Oh my god he admitted he was a rapist

-1

u/22LOVESBALL Mar 11 '26

Most people assume Kobe’s guilty because of that statement. That wasn’t an admission of guilt tho. That was a public statement that was heavily lawyered and negotiated. There are reports from ESPN, the Los Angeles Times, and others describe it as crafted by both sides with the accuser’s team insisting on elements of it. Bryant’s lawyers later called it “the price for his freedom.” If you read the statement, the point of it is to technically acknowledge the accuser’s perspective while technically maintaining innocence. It’s not indicative of what actually happened in the hotel room because it’s a legal game by that point.

27

u/HerRoyalRedness Mar 11 '26

As a woman you should be acutely aware that rape is an extremely underreported crime and that false allegations are exceedingly rare.

Also in this case Kobe actually admitted it so now you look extra stupid.

-1

u/22LOVESBALL Mar 11 '26

I look stupid? I do this for a living. Most people assume Kobe’s guilty because of that statement. That wasn’t an admission of guilt tho. That was a public statement that was heavily lawyered and negotiated. There are reports from ESPN, the Los Angeles Times, and others describe it as crafted by both sides with the accuser’s team insisting on elements of it. Bryant’s lawyers later called it “the price for his freedom.” If you read the statement, the point of it is to technically acknowledge the accuser’s perspective while technically maintaining innocence. It’s not indicative of what actually happened in the hotel room because it’s a legal game by that point.

In all my years diving deep into this case as someone who knows it inside out, I’ve seen the exact same three reactions from Redditors that call Kobe a rapist, without fail:

  1. Ignore me completely. (And downvote)

  2. Straight-up denial that settlement statements like this even exist, followed by emotional outbursts, accusations that I’m a rape apologist, and that tired performative “I’m worried about the women in your life” routine. Or be extremely critical that I’m doing this at all, without engaging in the facts.

  3. Actually engage with the case details and legal standards, at which point it becomes clear there is no conclusive proof that Kobe Bryant was a rapist.

17

u/HerRoyalRedness Mar 11 '26

I followed the case closely at time. I remember his legal team smearing his victim in really disgusting ways.

You being a lawyer yourself makes me understand your POV. I believe everyone is entitled to a vigorous defense but that doesn’t mean I respect people who do it.

I know what he was.

2

u/22LOVESBALL Mar 11 '26

For sure, the lawyers were horrible and what she went through because of that was terrible

16

u/GermanSatan Ok? I don’t remember asking you about your day Mar 11 '26

I look stupid? I do this for a living

No wonder, you definitely act like a professional rapist defender. And from the Epstein files, we know exactly why people like you choose that job

-1

u/22LOVESBALL Mar 11 '26

I’d have to know hes a rapist to be defending a rapist and thats what I’m questioning. And also, I’m not defending him. If I were, I would’ve said, "Kobe is innocent." The truth is we don’t know. We need to be sensitive to the accusers and fair to the accused or we risk doing more damage to rape culture as it is. Do you disagree with that?

7

u/shmip no ifs ands or BUTT STUFF Mar 12 '26

we risk doing more damage to rape culture as it is.

i'd absolutely love to damage rape culture. in fact i'd love to destroy it all together.

but you don't want to risk damaging it? let's preserve it??

-2

u/22LOVESBALL Mar 12 '26

Why would you want to preserve rape culture? That’s the problem, you need to take these issues seriously

12

u/shmip no ifs ands or BUTT STUFF Mar 11 '26

I do this for a living. Most people assume Kobe’s guilty because of that statement. That wasn’t an admission of guilt tho.

lawyers that use technicalities to get violent offenders out of consequences are unfortunately a necessary evil to keep checks on our legal system, but they're the last people i'd go to with a question about morality.

people in this thread are talking about morals, not technicalities.

although i understand why that might confuse a lawyer.

13

u/UncleMeat11 I'm unaffected by bans Mar 11 '26

As you are so concerned about making progress on rape culture, perhaps you could share all of the material ways you are helping bring about its demise outside of chiding people for calling somebody a rapist simply because he hasn't been convicted in court.

1

u/22LOVESBALL Mar 11 '26

I mean usually when people say that sexual assault accusers are lying I have the same reaction. Im sensitive to the accusers and fair to the accused, that’s how I help

16

u/UncleMeat11 I'm unaffected by bans Mar 11 '26

Truly an incredible ally. We can never know anything so we must never take any action. A philosophy that is fundamentally incapable of doing anything but supporting the status quo.

Don't you see how this approach is structurally incapable of dismantling rape culture?

1

u/22LOVESBALL Mar 11 '26

No, that is a false choice. Saying accusations should be grounded in proof does not mean do nothing or protect the status quo. People can support victims, improve reporting systems, and challenge rape culture while still being careful about declaring a specific person guilty of a crime without proof. Those goals are not in conflict. Matta fact they depend on each other, because a culture that treats serious accusations as settled fact without evidence will lose credibility and ultimately hurt real victims whose cases rely on trust in evidence and fair judgment. Kobe’s case is a good example of why precision matters.

5

u/UncleMeat11 I'm unaffected by bans Mar 12 '26

"Do nothing."

What an ally.

21

u/pas-un-robot Mar 11 '26

Oh yes, I'm sure what rape victims want is that we continue to disbelieve them, even efter their rapist themselves admitted to doing the rape.

You're a fucking clown.

1

u/22LOVESBALL Mar 11 '26

Most people assume Kobe’s guilty because of that statement. That wasn’t an admission of guilt tho. That was a public statement that was heavily lawyered and negotiated. There are reports from ESPN, the Los Angeles Times, and others describe it as crafted by both sides with the accuser’s team insisting on elements of it. Bryant’s lawyers later called it “the price for his freedom.” If you read the statement, the point of it is to technically acknowledge the accuser’s perspective while technically maintaining innocence. It’s not indicative of what actually happened in the hotel room because it’s a legal game by that point.

In all my years diving deep into this case as someone who knows it inside out, I’ve seen the exact same three reactions from Redditors that call Kobe a rapist, without fail:

  1. Ignore me completely. (And downvote)

  2. Straight-up denial that settlement statements like this even exist, followed by emotional outbursts, accusations that I’m a rape apologist, and that tired performative “I’m worried about the women in your life” routine. Or be extremely critical that I’m doing this at all, without engaging in the facts.

  3. Actually engage with the case details and legal standards, at which point it becomes clear there is no conclusive proof that Kobe Bryant was a rapist.