Without Hawkeye legend Ronnie Lester, 'Kobe and the Lakers' might never have happened

One could argue that Kobe Bryant never would have become a Los Angeles Laker had it not been for former Iowa Hawkeye basketball great Ronnie Lester.

When Bryant declared for the NBA draft in 1996 as a 17-year-old high school senior, Ronnie Lester was the only member of the Lakers staff who had seen Bryant play.

“I rarely saw high school players back then, but every year I would go to the McDonald’s High School All-Star Game showcasing the top 24 seniors. As a scout, it gave me a head start to see top prospects early.