Kimble Makes $100,000 Point About His All-Around Ability

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. —  Everyone knows Bo Kimble of Loyola Marymount can score. What hardly anyone realized was that Kimble can play defense, too.

“The big doubt about my game was defense, and I hope I showed that Bo knows defense,” Kimble said after winning the One-On-One Challenge Monday night. “I want people to know I like to compete and play defense.”

Kimble outshot and out-muscled Gary Payton of Oregon State, defeating him, 30-23, in the final of the single-elimination tournament.

Kimble earned $100,000, his first pro paycheck, and Payton got $50,000. The other six entrants each were guaranteed $10,000.

Both finalists played two previous eight-minute one-on-one games, but Payton had an advantage with an extra few minutes of rest while the 6-foot-5 Kimble battled 6-7 Lionel Simmons of La Salle, a boyhood friend of Kimble’s, in the semifinals.

But Kimble showed no signs of fatigue, making four three-pointers early in the game for a 14-5 lead, then muscling inside to draw fouls. He made 12 of 12 free throws in the final 4:31 and had only one field goal in that span.

“Stamina is my strongest point after playing for Loyola,” Kimble said. “You have to be mentally and physically tough to play there.”

Kimble, the nation’s leading collegiate scorer last season with a 35.3 average for the Lions, is expected to be a first-round pick in Wednesday night’s NBA draft.

“I don’t think I’m No. 1 in this draft,” Kimble said, “but I feel I deserve to be in the top 11.”