Long-Time Coach Reveals Why Kobe Didn't Go to College

According to long-time Phil Jackson confidant and assistant coach Tex Winter, Kobe Bryant had long dreamed of playing for Duke University, but chose to go straight to the pros because his parents were having money issues. 

Kobe Bryant was one of the most prominent basketball players to jump straight from high school to the NBA during the late 1990s. Kevin Garnett was selected fifth overall in 1995 and a year later, Bryant was selected 13th overall in 1996. 

During a discussion with Sportrush, author Roland Lazenby relayed a talk he had with  former Bulls and Lakers coach Tex Winter, where he was asked about how Bryant differed than Michael Jordan. The coach felt that Jordan had benefitted greatly from spending three years in college. Lazenby elaborated: 

"The real thing that made the difference in Tex's mind was that Michael Jordan went to college and played three years of college ball. He [Tex Winter] said that Kobe didn't go to college. Kobe had very mixed feelings about that. He wanted to go play for Mike Krzyzewski at Duke, but his parents, what people didn't realize, his parents were badly in need of money."

There is certainly an argument about whether Bryant really challenged the career of Michael Jordan. While he didn't go to college, it didn't take him long to become a star in the NBA. By the time Bryant was in his second year in the league, he was named to the All-Star game. That was one of 18 appearances he would make.