How big was Kobe Bryant’s final NBA game? So big, apparently, that it delayed the announcement of the biggest NFL transaction of the year.
The Tennessee Titans and Los Angeles Rams on Thursday announced a trade that sends the Titans’ No. 1 overall pick to the newly located Rams in exchange for a buschel of draft choices.
The announcement came Thursday morning, a few hours after Bryant put the finishing touches on a magnificent career by dropping 60 points in his final NBA game. According to reports, the Rams and Titans agreed to and finalized the deal Wednesday night, but L.A. wanted to hold off on announcing the trade until Thursday.
The reason? They didn’t want to steal Bryant’s spotlight.
Rams and Titans agreed to trade at 9:30 pm ET Wednesday and withheld announcement so nothing would detract from Kobe Bryant's last NBA game.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 14, 2016
Rams official on withholding trade until today: "Kobe deserved his night. There was no reason for this trade to be announced on his night.”
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 14, 2016
If you're wondering why this trade didn't get announced yesterday… Well, Jeff Fisher felt Wednesday belonged to Kobe. It's an LA thing.
— Michael Silver (@MikeSilver) April 14, 2016
That’s certainly one way to curry favor with the “new” city and its fans.
Thumbnail photo via Robert Hanashiro/USA TODAY Sports Images
