Ruben Patterson, also known as "The Kobe Stopper," was a professional basketball player who played in the NBA for nine seasons. He was born on July 31, 1975, in Cleveland, Ohio, and attended the University of Cincinnati, where he played college basketball.
Patterson was selected by the Los Angeles Lakers in the second round of the 1998 NBA draft, but he was immediately traded to the Seattle SuperSonics. He played for the SuperSonics for two seasons before being traded to the Portland Trail Blazers in 2000.
During his time with the Trail Blazers, Patterson became known for his defensive skills and his ability to guard some of the league's top players, including Kobe Bryant. He earned the nickname "The Kobe Stopper" for his success in limiting Bryant's scoring.
Patterson also had a reputation for being a physical player and was involved in several on-court altercations throughout his career. In 2001, he was suspended for five games for throwing a punch at Phoenix Suns player Steven Hunter. In 2006, he was suspended for one game for throwing an elbow at Memphis Grizzlies player Bonzi Wells.
Off the court, Patterson faced legal troubles. In 2001, he was charged with domestic abuse for allegedly assaulting his wife. He pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of attempted assault and was sentenced to a year of probation. In 2005, he was charged with misdemeanor assault for allegedly hitting a man in a nightclub. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to community service.
Patterson played for several other NBA teams throughout his career, including the Denver Nuggets, the Milwaukee Bucks, and the Los Angeles Clippers. He retired from professional basketball in 2008.
Overall, Ruben Patterson was a talented defensive player who earned a reputation as one of the league's toughest defenders. However, his career was also marred by his off-court legal troubles and his reputation for being a physical player.
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