The infamous video of Matt Barnes attempting to make Kobe Bryant flinch on a fake inbounds pass isn't what it seems.
On Tuesday, footage began making the rounds on Twitter showing that Bryant wasn't standing directly in front of Barnes.
He wasnt standing in front of him when he did it my whole life is a lie pic.twitter.com/8pGF2IRAjQ
— Agent of NBA Chaos (@World_Wide_Wob) October 2, 2018
Oh no pic.twitter.com/PFcQGMQDF1
— Austen Leake (@TribStarAusten) October 2, 2018
The revelation has elicited strong reactions from the Twitterverse:
@netw3rk this is the craziest October surprise. If the Kobe flinch gif campaign survives and advances in the bracket I’ll be shocked..
— Austen Leake (@TribStarAusten) October 2, 2018
What's even worse is with the timing of Barnes fake out and Kobe stepping right to left, it could be argued that he did in fact FLINCH!
— Mike Drysdale (@DoubleLifeMike) October 2, 2018
There needs to be a 30 for 30 and a Seinfeld episode on this. "What if I were to tell you, OH HE FLINCHED JERRY"
— Laker (@NELaker) October 2, 2018
— chaz 🤷🏾♂️ (@chaz_thomas) October 2, 2018
Fact is if you stick 100 people guarding the inbound the odds will weigh in favor that they will flinch whether swaying or not...Kobe’s arms didn’t even react as they should being that close
— Sneakz N' Heat (@sneakznheat) October 2, 2018
Go to the park and make someone who you're fighting the entire game against make that to you with the ball, in that distance. Good luck not flinching.
— NBA Lakers Blog (@NBALAKERSBLOG) October 2, 2018
Even @Matt_Barnes22 said he was surprised how @kobebryant didn't flinch.
Never question the Mamba Mentality. pic.twitter.com/d2x3ZgYPGV
What's next? Jordan was actually peeking when he hit that "eyes closed" free throw?
— Unindicted Co-conspirator (@russbengtson) October 2, 2018
This is crushing. pic.twitter.com/EbZPzDbeWo
— Rachel Nichols (@Rachel__Nichols) October 2, 2018
