The story of how the Nets passed on Kobe Bryant in the 1996 Draft is well known, but a new book says it was Jerry West who engineered it all by sweet-talking John Calipari out of taking Bryant at #8 while pushing Bryant's parents to tell the Nets coach their 17-year-old son really wanted to play in LA. A former Nets official is quoted as saying Cal was wowed by West's phone call.
- Jerry West talked John Calipari out of drafting Kobe - Adam Flomenbaum - DIME
- How Jerry West changed John Calipari's career - Eamonn Brennan - ESPN