When Karl Malone arrived ... Early in the 2004 season, Kobe had spoken highly of Malone, calling him a mentor and a big brother figure. But after hearing his wife's claims, that dynamic flipped ...

As reported by Sports Illustrated, during the 2003/04 season, drama unfolded between Bryant and Hall of Famer Karl Malone after he was accused of making inappropriate comments to Kobe’s wife ...