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How to play basketball like kobe bryant
How To Play Basketball Like Kobe Bryant
Kobe Bryant is one of the greatest, most successful players in the history of the NBA. In his 20-year career as guard for the LA Lakers Kobe enjoyed many personal and team highlights including:
Winning five NBA championships
18 time NBA All-Star
15-time member of the All-NBA Team
12-time member of the NBA All-Defensive team
2 time NBA leading scorer
Yes it’s true that Kobe had great natural athletic ability, but so do millions of other people. So what made him so great? In this article we’ll look at the 6 key characteristics that make Kobe such a great player and an iconic legend of the game of basketball?
1. Kobe Is Always Learning
Even after all his achievements and being touted as one of the game’s greatest players, Kobe never stopped being a student of the game, and life for that matter. Kobe was always looking for ways to improve his technical game to get even the slightest edge on his competition. By studying the game of basketball, watching past great players and researching his next opponent Kobe was always one step ahead of the game. What seemed to be natural instinct for where the ball was going or what his opponents were doing, really came down to his never-ending commitment to learning and studying the game of basketball.
Kids can do this to by:
Asking for advice from players and coaches you respect.
Studying how the great current and players play basketball.
Always looking for ways to improve your own game.
2. Develop An All-Round Offensive Game
One of Kobe major strengths was his versatility in offense. When on the attack, Kobe could knock down a long range three-pointer, land a jump shot from the post or drive hard to the basket for a power dunk or easy lay-up. No matter what the defence would throw at him he had the answer. When practicing your own game don’t just stick to shooting three’s or driving for the lay-up. Mix up your training sessions and aim to perfect all facets of your offensive game. This also applies to defence as well. Never become a one trick pony or soon the opposition will be able to read your plays.
3. Hard Work Is Everything
Natural ability will only get you so far. The truly great players work on their games each and every day. They practice harder and longer than the guy next to them and when it comes down to those clutch moments in a game that is when those extra hours and dedication will pay off. There are countless stories of Kobe’s tenacious work ethic. Here are just a few examples:
In high school Kobe would arrive at the gym at 5am to start practicing. After school he’d stay til 7pm working on his game. This was every day!
When in London for the 2008 Olympic games, the star-studded Dream Team players including LeBron James, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh would arrive for practice at 8am. Kobe would come out drenched in sweat, having already been practicing for three hours.
Kobe would arrive early to training and force himself to make 800 shots before the training session even started.
Now can you imagine if you put in this much time and dedication to your basketball. How good you would get. How much fitter faster and more skillful you would you be than your competition. There is no substitute for hard work in your quest for success.
4. Be Cool Under Pressure
Most players can land a jump shot or drive in for a lay-up when there’s no defence. But what happens when it the championship game the crowd is screaming and the defence is double teaming you? How will you perform? As well as putting in the hours in the training gym so you have the endurance and muscle memory to execute under pressure, kids need to be able to stay calm, cool and focused in those ‘clutch moments’ of a game. Learning how to block out the fans, the defence and even your teammates to focus on what you must do to help your team win. Kobe Bryant was an expert at this, which is why he had the nickname “Black Mamba”. Because he would be calm and quiet until the perfect time and then strike with relentless speed and precision. Remaining calm and focused and avoiding visible frustration will allow you to earn respect and take your game to the next level.
5. Commitment Towards Goals
Setting goals is something that Kobe has always done in basketball and in life. When you set clear specific goals you can then break them down into daily actions you need to complete to reach success: How to write goals like Kobe:
Write down clear, specific goals that you want to achieve.
Give them a set time limit.
Break them down into daily actions and sub goals.
Look at them and read them aloud every day.
6. Be Adaptable
The game of basketball is constantly changing. New tactics and slight rule changes are always affecting how the game of basketball is played. Also, your position in the team may change as you get bigger or play with new teammates of different skills and abilities. So, it’s important that you can adjust your game to the suit the situation at hand. Sometimes you may need to control the pace of the game and take a conservative approach, other situations may call for full throttle attack or full court press defence. Being able to read the game and your role within it is a crucial skill that Kobe was a master at. So there you have 6 attributes that were crucial in making Kobe Bryant on of the greatest players ever. To learn to play basketball more like Kobe Bryant you can sharpen your skills, fitness and tactical game at a 3-day Basketball training camp, with some of the best coaches in Australia. Click here for more information.
Kobe Bryant Shooting Form: How To Shoot Like Kobe Bryant
If you've ever wanted to learn how to shoot like Kobe Bryant, I made this Kobe Bryant shooting form breakdown for you.
Kobe Bryant's genius when it comes to shooting is something every player should spend time absorbing and understanding.
Plus, I heard all your comments on which player's shooting form breakdown you'd like to see...
Which is why in our newest video post, we did an in depth analysis of Kobe Bryant's shooting form.
More...
Quick Navigation: Kobe Bryant Shooting Form Breakdown
SHOOTING STANCE
ALIGNMENT
THE DIP
THE SETPOINT
HAND POSITION
THE RELEASE
THE FOLLOW THROUGH
THE OFF HAND
SHOULDERS & FEET
THE EYES
YOUR PERFECT FORM
SHOOTING STANCE
Let's begin with looking at Kobe's shooting stance...
You will most often see Kobe shooting with a wide base.
And he usually has his knees pointing inwards.
ALIGNMENT
Kobe leads with his shooting side.
This means that because he shoots with his right hand, his right shoulder, hip, and foot will be further in front than his left side.
When he shoots, his shooting shoulder, elbow, and hip are aligned.
His forearm is slightly bent towards his shooting eye.
He creates this alignment before he shoots by slightly turning his feet towards his non shooting side.
He is right handed so he turns his feet slightly to the left.
Kobe takes a lot of difficult shots where sometimes, his shooting or dominant side, is facing away from the basket.
When this happens, he turns while he is in the air to bring his shooting shoulder forward.
And only releases the ball once his shooting side is aligned towards the net.
THE DIP
Off the pass, Kobe dips the ball to his waist before rising up to shoot.
There is no need for him to dip the ball off the dribble because he is already low and ready to shoot.
THE SETPOINT
Kobe’s set point is much higher and further back than most players. At his set point, the middle of the ball is directly above his head.
His elbow is about at forehead level and the ball is above his right eye.
Because his elbow is already so high, when he shoots, he is pushing the ball more forward than upward, which gives him less arc on his shot.
Kobe gets a lot of elevation on his shot and is considered to be a two motion shooter.
This means that he has a significant pause in his shot before pushing the ball forward.
You can see here that he doesn’t start pushing the ball towards the net until he is already in the air. And releases right at the peak of his jump.
Even though he’s a two motion shooter with a high set point, he still reaches his setpoint before his feet leave the ground.
HAND POSITION
Kobe tries to keep a gap between the basketball and his palm when he shoots.
He places his hand on top of the ball and spreads out his index and middle finger.
If you look closely here, you can see him spreading out his index and middle finger to make a wide V.
THE RELEASE
Kobe dominates with his index finger.
You can see here that his index finger goes down the most, while the other three fingers stay up.
THE FOLLOW THROUGH
Because Kobe's elbow starts off at forehead level, after he releases, his arm is straight and his elbow is very high above his head.
THE OFF HAND
He brings his off hand very close to his shooting hand so that his two thumbs make a T.
He starts to remove his off hand as he begins to extend his shooting arm.
SHOULDERS & FEET
Kobe’s shoulders go back on his shot.
So while he is in the air, this causes his feet to sweep forward.
The shoulder’s swaying back and the feet sweeping forward, is what the guys at Pro Shot call the sweep and sway.
THE EYES
Kobe keeps his eyes on the rim for the whole shot.
His eyes are locked on the target until the ball goes in.
YOUR PERFECT FORM
Almost every player I coach wants to get a shooting form that looks like their favorite player's form...
You've probably tried to do this too. I know I did when I was obsessing over how to improve my shooting.
So you try to copy every single aspect by watching these breakdowns. But what happens?
You end up hurting your form more than helping it... Why? Because every player is different.
Every player has a different body type, different height, age, strength, shape, and even hand size. All of these things matter...
So when you're trying to shoot like Steph or Kobe, you're copying shooting principles that work for THEIR unique physical characteristics, not yours.
Now of course, if your shot is horrible, like you shoot with a set point over your head, then of course your form and shot will improve if you try to copy a pro player. But other than that, if you want to truly reach your MAX shooting potential. ..
Then you need to develop a set of mechanics that are UNIQUELY customized for YOUR body and YOUR characteristics. The way to do that is to learn the correct shooting principles and mould those around your unique characteristics like your strength, age, style of play, etc.
The worst part if you don't train for your own unique style of shooting like that, you can never find a form that 'sticks'. Which can get super frustrating because you never get that 'reliable shooter' status. Your consistency suffers. Your in-game shots are never as good as your practice. Teammates stop relying on you to take shots and no form ever starts to feel like "your own"... And now you know why.
Once you install those correct shooting principles into your own form by going through this training program, you'll develop a beautiful, consistent, smooth shot that's unstoppable on the court.
Coach Faizal
Kobe Bryant and his Game - All about basketball
Kobe Bryant and his Game
Kobe didn't lie. One day he declared that he would be the best. Naturally, no one took his words seriously then. Who cares what the 17-year-old says, who has just traded the bench for the NBA basketball team; a guy with Magic's smile, Michael's movements and the charisma of a Hollywood actor. “Youthful maximalism… It will pass with time,” basketball snobs made their diagnosis. Fortunately, he did not pass, but was transformed into an indefatigable pursuit of excellence
Bryant's story as told by himself
The reason I was given the name Kobe at birth is rather unusual (according to a family story, Bryant's parents chose the name for their child from... the menu of an Italian restaurant; "kobe" is a steak such). And I'm happy that my parents decided to call me that. This name, it seems to me, has a special international connotation.
I learned the basics of basketball in Italy when I was a schoolboy. When I was eight or nine years old, I also played a lot of football. But two things contributed to my decision to focus exclusively on basketball: the yearly trips home to Philadelphia and the dramatic growth spurt since I was 11 years old.
European football was underdeveloped in Philadelphia. But basketball was very popular. The only problem was that the game in the American venues was noticeably different from what I was used to in Italy. At first, I couldn't understand the differences in the rules, the thrash talk and, in general, the demeanor of some of the guys who played with me. But I quickly adapted to this kind of basketball. I made the most progress around the age of 11-13. And then I realized that I can compete with any player. By the way, it was at this age that I finally managed to beat my sisters, who are excellent basketball and volleyball players. My father still resisted, and I could only defeat him in a one-on-one game when I was 14-15 years old (Kobe's father, Joe Bryant, is a former NBA player who later played for 8 years in Italy).
High school was a transition period for me. Our team moved from last place to first place, and we became state champions. Back in the summer, before the start of my senior year at school, I realized that my dream of getting into the NBA without going through college could become a reality. I was able to perform well during the ABCD Camp, and was also named the best high school player of the year. Coincidentally, I had the opportunity to train with the Sixers. It was because the daughter of Philadelphia coach Lucas, who was at my school, Lower Merion, mentioned me in passing to her father one day and hinted that he should see me. What happened a little later, and I was allowed to train with the team. Then I began to think that I can do something, that everything is possible. I met Joe Carbon, the Sixers assistant coach, who helped me a lot, and who I have been working with for several years.
School Phenomenon
The game came to Kobe when he was still a boy, and since then they have not parted. Fans flocked from
all over Philadelphia to get a glimpse of his Game. He was still a schoolboy, but so talented, it was so nice to watch him when he dominated the court among his peers! Genes did their job, father's advice, watching various videos, hundreds and thousands of hours in the hall.
"His game was incredibly mature for his age, and his understanding of basketball was well beyond his years," recalled the school's director of physical education, Tom McGovern.
Scouts noticed Kobe in his first year of high school. He had such ability, skill and hard work that everyone spoke of him as a potential superstar. Countless hours of daily training allowed Kobe to grow, in terms of basketball, right before his eyes.
“I used to get to school an hour and a half before school started to work in the gym,” says McGovern. “And I remember the sound of a basketball, like someone was playing in the gym while I was lifting weights. I went out to see who was there. And it was Kobe, soaked through with sweat and playing with himself all alone. Moreover, he not only threw on the ring, but also practiced dribbling, moving around the court, doing “physics” and everything else. He was extraordinarily capable."
Every year in Lower Merion, Kobe got better and better, his game evolved from match to match. Halls at the games of his team were filled to capacity, and he never left the fans disappointed. He broke Wilt Chamberlain's record to become Pennsylvania State's all-time scoring player with 2,883 points. He averaged 30.8 points, 12 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 4 steals and 3.8 blocks per game. After such a successful season, the question of entering college did not even come up. His Game demanded the highest level, and Kobe Bryant was aimed only at the NBA.
Like Mike
1996 Draft and Kobe. Fate decreed that the phenomenal basketball player was selected at the "unlucky" 13th number, behind Lorenzen Wright, Samaki Walker, Eric Dampier, Todd Fuller (does anyone know this?) and Vitaly Potapenko, the Charlotte Hornets club, then traded on Vlad Divac with the Lakers. Probably, the listed five players will later be remembered only in the context in which they remember Sam Bowie, who, in turn, was ahead of Michael Jordan in the 19 draft84.
Honestly, I wanted to leave “His Air” alone. Let him continue quietly playing golf on his flat lawn and shopping for NBA clubs, and no one would touch him unnecessarily. However, it seems to be absolutely impossible to forget the unforgettable, eternal and imperishable. Especially in this case.
The already familiar atavism took place when Kobe came to the Association. He was so similar to Jordan, especially in terms of playing, that Michael, entering the court against Kobe, may have felt that he was playing against his own hologram. The same ideal technical throw, the same plastic, "cat" movements, the same flights not in dreams, but in reality to the ring, and most importantly - a huge desire to win at any cost. Everyone noted this similarity, since it was impossible not to notice or ignore it. At the same time, Magic Johnson said in an interview that the League and its fans should not worry about the departure of MJ, because they have Kobe. And the future of the NBA was tied to Kobe. Not with Iverson, not with Garnett, not with T-Mac, not with Carter, just with Kobe. He was associated with something new, with basketball of a different, more advanced formation.
I immediately remember the famous All-Star Game of 1998, when Michael and Kobe clashed with each other in an absentee duel, and the match itself was positioned as a confrontation between young and old, energy and experience, West and East. Jordan 2 and Jordan 1. All attention was focused on the rivalry of these two figures. And Kobe Bryant did not disappoint, although he did not win. But this confrontation adorned the entire match with chic, brightest colors, and at the same time took pride of place in the history of American basketball.
Now the archaic label "second Jordan" has been placed on LeBron, and Kobe Bryant has suddenly become just Kobe Bryant. Nevertheless, we still have to compare Michael and Nemichael, but for now let's remember the first steps of KB in professional sports. Return of NBA showtime
Bryant had an even rookie season, scoring 7.6 points per game. It was the
“build-up” season, adapting to the NBA. That year opened up a guy with a gleaming bald head, coming on as a substitute, but never afraid to take responsible shots, take the lead and lead teammates, even though they were much older than him. Kobe Bryant became the youngest NBA player since J. O'Neal. He became the highest scorer in the rookie match and won the top throw contest with an amazing final etude - a chic dunk with the transfer of the ball under the foot from one hand to the other.
Season two has begun, and Kobe, who has grown a little afro on his head, reminiscent of the days of funk and Julius Irving, has become "in" in the League. Even more: it was a breakthrough. A never-ending performance of exceptional basketball prowess. Showtime throughout the season. From the very first seconds of the regular season, he also began to regularly “shine” in the 10 most beautiful moments of the week in the NBA. He scored 360-degree turns, with and without resistance, slam dunks and lay-ups. With his signature, “killer” crossover, he beat the defender on the dribble, and then went under the shield, firmly pressing the ball with one hand to his chest so that it was impossible to knock it out without a foul. In basketball clips, he appeared more often than all other players. When the "old guard" from the 80s ruled the ball in the Association, the star of Kobe shone brightest of all. His Game marked the influx of a "new wave" of players, a generational change in the League. He personified the bright future of the NBA. This was felt by the fans, who selected him for the starting five of the Western team, making Bryant the youngest participant in the All-Star Game in the history of the game. And another paradox: being a player in the starting lineup of the West, he was not a starter for his team. But it took a little more time and patience to implement this option.
In the year of the lockout, he became the Lakers' main shooting guard. And then - it took three years for Kobe to become the lord of the three rings of the NBA champion, the MVP of the 2002 All-Star Game and one of the best, and maybe the best basketball player in the world. This is 23 years old! At an age when most American basketball players are busy with March Madness and only dream of the NBA. In the 2002-03 season, KB lost the NBA MVP title to Tim Duncan, despite the fact that he played with incredible dedication and sometimes single-handedly pulled out matches that seemed already lost. He scored 30 points, 6.9rebounds, 5.9 assists and 2.2 steals per game. He made 12 three-pointers in a game, 9 of them in a row. Lakers head coach Phil Jackson put Kobe Bryant even higher than Jordan: “Not only does he regularly score points, but he can also perform dispatching functions and take over the game at critical moments. Kobe's versatility is unique. This I have not seen in any of my former wards. He climbed to the top of the basketball Olympus, where the Gods of the Game sit: Chamberlain, Russell, West, Kareem, Dr. Jay, Magic, Bird, Michael; and stood on a par with them. Kobe was at the peak of his career, but life played a cruel joke with him ... Fallen angel
Inner harmony. Self-sufficiency. Serenity. Absence of shortcomings. No scandals. Aestheticism. talent and charisma. Employment and efficiency. For Carnegian Americans who are constantly solving questions like, "How do you make a good impression on people?" etc., all of the above is a mantra. Kobe Bryant combined all these qualities in himself, he was an ideal athlete, so America idolized him. Yes, and he still idolizes, although after everything that happened, his image sat down in a big dirty puddle.
In the summer of 2003 he was accused of rape. In general, that's all. There is no point in disclosing
the details of this case. So it's clear that Kobe Bryant, being a famous person, should have been more careful. And the girl, who was so “mercilessly” humiliated by a basketball player, took the opportunity to “divorce” the superstar for money. Kobe, who has the best lawyers, will surely get away with it. The Bryant case looks like a childish prank compared to the accusations against O. J. Simpson, and Kobe is far from Mike Tyson. However, how many nerves and training time were wasted! And Bryant lost a lot of money: to pay for legal services, for a diamond ring to appease his wife Vanessa, because of terminated contracts with some companies ... They added fuel to the fire and a series of injuries, and the scandal with Shaquille O'Neal due to disputes " who's boss," rumors of his departure from the Lakers. It is very possible that Kobe will indeed move to another club this summer. He needs this not only to satisfy his personal ambitions, but in order to become a franchise player, that is, a player around whom the whole team will “build” in order to become its sole leader. Whether the trade will take place - time will tell. But the problem is that Kobe now looks like only a shadow of himself from the past. The man who laughed
What do you think is the most important thing in this rape story? That she ruined Kobe Bryant's image? The fact that after it some firms terminated the contract with him? Time spent on courts? No. The victim that suffered the most from this was his Game.
Think back to that 1998 All-Star Game. Remember Kobe. He laughed. Every moment seemed to bring him joy and pleasure. Beating Mutombo, when he gracefully dribbled the ball behind his back and scored a hook, flying into touch, then a three-pointer, and how he was sitting on the bench with Karl Malone, and the expression "smile from ear to ear" - it was about him. His championship. All his games. He always laughed heartily, showing off the whiteness of his teeth when he won, sometimes just from a successful move or throw. He was completely focused on the game, but at the same time, it seemed that everything was given to him with unprecedented ease.
Another basketball player played just as easily and elegantly, always artistically and emotionally. It was, you might guess, Michael Jordan. But even at 40, Michael, it was noticeable, received satisfaction from the game. And he played not because of money, not to work out the contract, basketball was his life. Inspiration is the key word that defined the Game of Jordan and Kobe Bryant.
There are hard workers in basketball who work hard for this sport, first of all, work. However, the Game belongs to the likes of Michael. The basketball court is their stage, and they are the actors. It is worth remembering what Jordan so attracted fans to. The fact that he scored a lot of goals? The fact that he could beat the defender, and did not let the attacker score? Perhaps it is, but this is not the most important thing. His Game has always been distinguished by theatricality, emotionality, and improvisation. It was a piece of drama in action, it was a basketball symphony. Michael was gloomy, angry, upset, joyful ... But never indifferent. This has always united him and KB.
But at the start of this season, after all that had happened, Kobe's inspiration left. He played without a sparkle in his eyes, without that improvisation on the floor, he performed all
automatically. He became serious, indifferent and pompous. He still scored his 20 points, sometimes finished with overhead shots, showed off his dribbling and handed out great passes. But the excitement has disappeared.
For a moment, in that game against Orlando, when he scored 44 points and equaled West and Baylor's record, it seemed that he was playing his Game again. Will Kobe play like before? Is not all lost? Surely Bryant himself will not answer this question. Obviously, if he forgets about his problems on the court, and the Game returns to him, then he will go down in history as the greatest, brilliant basketball player, and not one of many . ..
So, Kobe, give us back your Game!
Viktor Kozhbakhteev // March 28, 2004
To stumble at the beginning of a long journey. How Kobe Bryant started his career in the NBA
Awareness of how Kobe Bryant played in the summer league after the draft in itself can be of little interest to anyone, but in combination with his official debut in the league, it is already perceived differently. And now is the time to make sure of this, because exactly 26 years ago on November 3, 19In 1996, Kobe Bryant entered the court in his first official NBA game.
What happened before the debut of the future NBA legend is much more interesting than himself. In the first game for the Los Angeles Lakers, which came against the Minnesota Kevin Garnett, Kobe played 6 minutes, scored exactly 0 points, made 1 block shot and made 1 turnover. All. The result did not cause bewilderment, although it differed from what Bryant had shown before.
Two weeks after the Charlotte Hornets traded their draft pick Kobe to the Lakers, the 17-year-old played his first summer league game in which he scored 27 points and personally smashed Detroit. After the game, the entire press conference of Pistons head coach Alvin Gentry was reduced to the fact that the journalists somehow managed to squeeze out the phrase from him that Bryant was the best attacking player of his age that he had ever seen.
The Lakers then went on a tour of China, where Bryant continued to assert himself with his characteristic youthful maximalism. Kobe didn't just take the teams apart, but he did it in a cheeky and pretentious manner. For example, in his best game at that time, in which Kobe scored 36 points and 5 assists, Bryant played in the number 32 jersey, which, as everyone knows, was already assigned to Lakers legend Magic Johnson.
Bryant wanted to chop off the 23rd in honor of his revered Michael Jordan, but Cedric Ceballos had already appropriated this magical combination. Then Bryant decided to dare and took advantage of the fact that Asian matches are not considered official, which means that the player can wear any number and chose a modified variation of number 23, which turned out to be Magic Johnson's number. Bryant was scolded, but no special claims were made.
Probably in vain, because the quarrelsome boy soon felt special treatment from the club and became self-willed. Just before the start of training camps, Kobe went to the famous basketball courts of Venice Beach, where, during one of the matches against the local punks, he injured his left wrist when he was trying to hit from above in a spectacular way. The diagnosis - no basketball for the next 5 weeks - and the reaction of the general manager of the club, Mitch Kapchak, followed immediately.
- This will lay siege to him for a long time. We will not rush to return him to active rotation until we are sure that he will be able to avoid the consequences of the injury, and Kobe himself will not begin to treat his career more professionally," Kapchak concluded.
As a result, Bryant sat on the bench for the entire period of preparatory games and the first game of the Lakers of the 1996/1997 season, in which the Lakers defeated Phoenix with then little-known point guard Steve Nash.
Only after that Kobe's debut happened, which, unlike his subsequent career, is definitely not dazzling. Bryant opened his NBA points scoring in the third game of the season against the Knicks - Kobe scored 1 point in 3 minutes.
Lakers fans had to wait 25 games to demonstrate quality at the highest level. It was then that Bryant scored over 20 points for the first time and made it clear that his ambitions stretched a little further than small-town games with Venice Beach beachgoers.
Mix up your training sessions and aim to perfect all facets of your offensive game. This also applies to defence as well. Never become a one trick pony or soon the opposition will be able to read your plays. 
Because he would be calm and quiet until the perfect time and then strike with relentless speed and precision. Remaining calm and focused and avoiding visible frustration will allow you to earn respect and take your game to the next level. 
So, it’s important that you can adjust your game to the suit the situation at hand. Sometimes you may need to control the pace of the game and take a conservative approach, other situations may call for full throttle attack or full court press defence. Being able to read the game and your role within it is a crucial skill that Kobe was a master at. So there you have 6 attributes that were crucial in making Kobe Bryant on of the greatest players ever. To learn to play basketball more like Kobe Bryant you can sharpen your skills, fitness and tactical game at a 3-day Basketball training camp, with some of the best coaches in Australia. Click here for more information. 
..
One day he declared that he would be the best. Naturally, no one took his words seriously then. Who cares what the 17-year-old says, who has just traded the bench for the NBA basketball team; a guy with Magic's smile, Michael's movements and the charisma of a Hollywood actor. “Youthful maximalism… It will pass with time,” basketball snobs made their diagnosis. Fortunately, he did not pass, but was transformed into an indefatigable pursuit of excellence 
But two things contributed to my decision to focus exclusively on basketball: the yearly trips home to Philadelphia and the dramatic growth spurt since I was 11 years old. 
Fans flocked from 
And it was Kobe, soaked through with sweat and playing with himself all alone. Moreover, he not only threw on the ring, but also practiced dribbling, moving around the court, doing “physics” and everything else. He was extraordinarily capable." 
Probably, the listed five players will later be remembered only in the context in which they remember Sam Bowie, who, in turn, was ahead of Michael Jordan in the 19 draft84. 
At the same time, Magic Johnson said in an interview that the League and its fans should not worry about the departure of MJ, because they have Kobe. And the future of the NBA was tied to Kobe. Not with Iverson, not with Garnett, not with T-Mac, not with Carter, just with Kobe. He was associated with something new, with basketball of a different, more advanced formation. 
Nevertheless, we still have to compare Michael and Nemichael, but for now let's remember the first steps of KB in professional sports. 
A never-ending performance of exceptional basketball prowess. Showtime throughout the season. From the very first seconds of the regular season, he also began to regularly “shine” in the 10 most beautiful moments of the week in the NBA. He scored 360-degree turns, with and without resistance, slam dunks and lay-ups. With his signature, “killer” crossover, he beat the defender on the dribble, and then went under the shield, firmly pressing the ball with one hand to his chest so that it was impossible to knock it out without a foul. In basketball clips, he appeared more often than all other players. When the "old guard" from the 80s ruled the ball in the Association, the star of Kobe shone brightest of all. His Game marked the influx of a "new wave" of players, a generational change in the League. He personified the bright future of the NBA. This was felt by the fans, who selected him for the starting five of the Western team, making Bryant the youngest participant in the All-Star Game in the history of the game.
And another paradox: being a player in the starting lineup of the West, he was not a starter for his team. But it took a little more time and patience to implement this option. 
Kobe's versatility is unique. This I have not seen in any of my former wards. He climbed to the top of the basketball Olympus, where the Gods of the Game sit: Chamberlain, Russell, West, Kareem, Dr. Jay, Magic, Bird, Michael; and stood on a par with them. Kobe was at the peak of his career, but life played a cruel joke with him ... 
So it's clear that Kobe Bryant, being a famous person, should have been more careful. And the girl, who was so “mercilessly” humiliated by a basketball player, took the opportunity to “divorce” the superstar for money. Kobe, who has the best lawyers, will surely get away with it. The Bryant case looks like a childish prank compared to the accusations against O. J. Simpson, and Kobe is far from Mike Tyson. However, how many nerves and training time were wasted! And Bryant lost a lot of money: to pay for legal services, for a diamond ring to appease his wife Vanessa, because of terminated contracts with some companies ... They added fuel to the fire and a series of injuries, and the scandal with Shaquille O'Neal due to disputes " who's boss," rumors of his departure from the Lakers. It is very possible that Kobe will indeed move to another club this summer. He needs this not only to satisfy his personal ambitions, but in order to become a franchise player, that is, a player around whom the whole team will “build” in order to become its sole leader.
Whether the trade will take place - time will tell. But the problem is that Kobe now looks like only a shadow of himself from the past. 
He was completely focused on the game, but at the same time, it seemed that everything was given to him with unprecedented ease. 
It was a piece of drama in action, it was a basketball symphony. Michael was gloomy, angry, upset, joyful ... But never indifferent. This has always united him and KB. 
.. 
All. The result did not cause bewilderment, although it differed from what Bryant had shown before. 
