You never know what's going to happen on NBA Twitter. On a random Tuesday in October, you just might see a debate over a famous video from nearly a decade ago.
For some reason, NBA Twitter decided it was time to have a serious conversation about Kobe Bryant's non-flinch against Matt Barnes. During a game between the Magic and Lakers on March 7, 2010, Barnes faked a pass directly at Bryant's head, but the "Black Mamba" didn't move an inch.
MORE: Why Kobe's legacy is more powerful than ever
A truly iconic Kobe moment ... or so we thought.
NBA TV's Trey Kerby sparked a viral conversation when he shared this little note.
Don’t watch the overhead angle of the Kobe-Barnes no flinch unless you want it to be totally ruined.
— Taco Trey Kerby (@treykerby) October 2, 2018
So, what happens when you watch the fake from the overhead angle? It tells a slightly different story.
Bryant is swaying from side to side, and at the moment Barnes extends his arms, it appears Bryant is leaning toward the basket. It's not exactly the direct line from basketball to face seen from the side angle.
NBA investigators broke down the footage frame-by-frame. Reddit comments started flying all over the place. The controversy eventually grew large enough to reach Bryant, who made an important point regarding his positioning.
Just talked to Kobe a couple minutes ago about this. He hadn't heard about it yet. He wasn't worried. At all. "You gotta remember I was swaying. He did it and I didn't balk." https://t.co/8nR2wHNIX4
— Chris Martin Palmer (@ChrisPalmerNBA) October 2, 2018
Regardless of how much Bryant leaned to his left, there was still a basketball coming at his head. You wouldn't have flinched at least a little bit here?
Never a dull moment with NBA Twitter. Let's just make sure we all avoid meeting for a fight in Temecula.
