Tony Allen on how Kobe Bryant fouled him out in eight minutes his rookie year: ‘That footwork alone had you drunk!’

Kobe Bryant considered Tony Allen the toughest defender he’s faced. The Black Mamba seldom gave out compliments, which says a lot about TA’s ability, but the 2008 NBA MVP was still in a league of his own as a bucket-getter. He was so good that, as the “Grindfather” recalls, the Los Angeles Lakers legend fouled him out in only eight minutes of playing time.

“His footwork is so amazing to where he’ll catch it on the block, jabbed to the right, act like he’s driving towards the basket, and spin around and fade away,” Allen said on the Out the Mud podcast. “Just that footwork alone had you drunk! He’s the only player in the NBA, I promise you that fouled me out. Six fouls in eight minutes, bro. That was my rookie year. He did it will all jab, like head fake, one-two pullup, head fake, pump fake, back you down, spin, and just skill.”

Bryant averaged 25.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.4 assists in 24 games against Allen over his career. To TA’s credit, he limited Kobe to 42 percent shooting on over 21 shots. Of course, the Boston Celtics and the Memphis Grizzlies, two of the teams Tony has played for, were incredible defensive squads. While Allen always did a good job individually against Kobe, his teammates could always provide help and cover the slack.

Done in eight minutes

Bubba Wells holds the record for the fastest foul out in league history. Wells spent all six of his personals in three minutes against the mighty Chicago Bulls in a 1997 regular season game. Allen was not far behind, though.

On February 22, 2005, a rookie TA had his first taste of Mamba action. As he recalled, it was an unforgettable night for the wrong reason: he fouled out in eight minutes and scored only two points on one-for-four shooting. On the other hand, the five-time champion recorded 21 points, six rebounds, three assists, and, more importantly, a 104-95 win over their archrivals.

Interestingly, Allen fouled out one more time, going up against the late Laker legend on December 30, 2007. However, it was all worth it as the Celtics got the best of the Purple and Gold in a 110-91 blowout.

Kobe was playing 4D chess

If there was somebody who figured out basketball, that’s Kobe. The 18-time All-Star had counters to everything, using his brilliant footwork and fundamentals. Every move was calculated, every step deliberate, as if he were playing chess while others played checkers. Whether it was spinning off a defender, pivoting through a crowd, or creating space with a simple jab step, Kobe’s mastery of angles and timing made even the best defenders, like TA, look a step slow.

“To be unstoppable, you first have to be predictable, because when you’re unpredictable, you don’t know what the heck you’re doing. So, how can you dictate the defense what you’re going to do?” KB24 once said in an interview. “See, you have to be very simple. I know if I have the chance, I’m gonna go right and shoot. You know, I’m gonna go right and shoot.”

“So, now I’m gonna go right two times, make it. You’re expecting me to go right, so now I control you. So, now, I’ll fake right, go left. Now, I go left, ‘Oh, he’s gonna make another one.’ Now, I pump fake, you jump, now I draw a foul. So you make the game very simple,” Kobe added.

If anything, there was nothing “simple” about what Bryant explained. He achieved a level of mastery of the game that only a few ever got to.