The NBA’s talking ball commercials have been all about greatness and light on comedy, except for Magic Johnson speaking to an anthropomorphic basketball as if it was an actual human being. So I want one about greatness and comedy: Give me the ball Kobe Bryant shot through the net in Game Two of the 2004 NBA Finals.
[Music fades in, clip of Kobe’s shot plays]
BASKETBALL: I really thought the Lakers were going to lose. Here they are, the best team in the NBA—the best roster we’d been handled by in decades, and they’re down 1-0 at home, and down late. But then they got me to Kobe.
AL MICHAELS: Here comes Kobe. Less than five. From WAY outside … GOT IT! OH, MAN.
BASKETBALL: And they won that game! And Kobe looked like Mike! And …
[Record scratch, clip of Pistons celebrating begins]
BASKETBALL: …and then the Pistons swept them in Detroit. But at least we had that shot, Kobe.
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More from “Talking To Talking Balls Week” at the Good Men Project:
Bethlehem Shoals: The Absurd Talking Balls
Peter Schrager: The Great Frank Brickowski
Tim Burke: A Cavs Fan’s Love for Laimbeer
Tom Ley: The Ballad of Adam Morrison
Eric Nusbaum: Lakers Flags
Patrick Hayes: Patrick and The Admiral
Graydon Gordian: Sprewellian Anxiety
Alan Siegel: The Hypocrisy of Jordan’s Ball
Andrew Bucholtz: Chuck, This Is Goodbye
Holly MacKenzie: Everything Is Possible
Kurt Helin: Lee’s Layup