“Kobe Bryant Calls It Out”: Vlade Divac’s 2-Week-Long Lucy Liu Prank on Lakers Rookie Revealed

In the world of professional sports, locker room antics and pranks are a staple of team camaraderie. One of the most memorable and hilarious pranks in NBA history was orchestrated by Vlade Divac on his rookie teammate, Tony Bobbitt, during their time with the Los Angeles Lakers. This elaborate ruse, which involved actress Lucy Liu, not only embarrassed Bobbitt but also showcased the playful spirit of the Lakers team.

Background on Vlade Divac and Tony Bobbitt

Vlade Divac, a towering 7-foot center, was drafted by the Lakers in 1989 and played seven seasons with the team before returning for a final year in 2004. During this latter stint, he crossed paths with rookie Tony Bobbitt, who was eager to make his mark in the NBA. It was during this time that Divac decided to pull a prank that would become legendary among Lakers lore.

The Setup: A Misunderstanding with Lucy Liu

The prank began innocently enough during a game when Divac was seated in front of Bobbitt on the bench. Bobbitt, new to the league and starstruck, spotted Lucy Liu—famous for her role in **Charlie’s Angels**—sitting courtside. Unbeknownst to him, Divac had a plan in mind. As Bobbitt became increasingly fixated on Liu, he made the mistake of asking Divac to switch seats so he could get a better view.

“Vlade, switch seats with me. That Lucy Liu girl is over there; she’s looking at me, man. I can’t see behind you!” Bobbitt pleaded.

Divac, seeing an opportunity for mischief, agreed to the seat swap but had something more elaborate in mind.

The Prank Unfolds

After switching seats, Divac approached a female usher and devised a scheme. He instructed her to write a note to Bobbitt, pretending it was from Liu, expressing interest in meeting him. The note included a phone number that belonged to Divac himself. The usher delivered the note to Bobbitt after the game, and he was ecstatic, believing that Liu had a crush on him.

In a classic case of overconfidence, Bobbitt boasted to his teammates about his “date” with Liu, claiming, “Yeah, I went to dinner with Lucy Liu last night.” When Kobe Bryant caught wind of this, he playfully interrogated Bobbitt, asking, “Who paid?” To which Bobbitt confidently replied, “She paid. I’m a pimp.”

The Escalation

As the prank continued, Bobbitt became more entrenched in his lie. Lamar Odom, a veteran teammate, considered breaking the news to Bobbitt to spare him from potential heartbreak but ultimately decided against it, opting instead to let the prank play out. “Man, f*** that mother f*****,” Odom said, reveling in the absurdity of the situation.

Divac escalated the prank further by sending a limousine to pick up Bobbitt, which he believed was arranged by Liu. Bobbitt was thrilled, thinking he was on his way to meet the actress. However, when he arrived at the destination, he was met not by Liu but by the entire Lakers team, who were all in on the joke.

The Big Reveal

As the team gathered, it was Kobe Bryant who finally broke the news to Bobbitt. “Listen, man. You’ve been talking to Vlade the entire time. There is no Lucy Liu. She doesn’t even know who you are,” Kobe said, revealing the truth. Initially, Bobbitt was in disbelief, but as the reality sank in and Liu failed to show up, he reluctantly accepted the truth. “Okay, you guys got me,” he finally admitted.

Conclusion

This unforgettable prank serves as a humorous reminder of the dynamics within sports teams, where rookies often need to navigate both the game and the locker room culture. While Bobbitt’s experience may have been embarrassing, it also highlighted the camaraderie and playful spirit of the Lakers during that era. Although Bobbitt’s NBA career was short-lived, this story remains a cherished piece of Lakers history, showcasing the lengths teammates will go to for a good laugh.