D’Angelo Russell on Kobe Bryant: ‘He told me he likes to shoot the ball’
The peerless Kobe Bryant has been known by many names over the course of his 19-year NBA career. The Black Mamba, Kobe Bean, Vino, Kobe Wan Kenobi, Chucker Cheese, Ground-Hog Day, Kobrick Koffee. OK, maybe I made up the last three. But if the Mamba’s recent comments to Lakers rookie D’Angelo Russell are any indication, we may have to add another one to the list: Captain Obvious.
At Media Day for the Lakers on Monday, Russell was asked to envision his first assist to Bryant and his response was one for the ages.
D'Angelo Russell says he has gathered some important insight while talking to Kobe: "He told me he likes to shoot the ball."
— Greg Beacham (@gregbeacham) September 28, 2015
With a career average of 19.6 shot attempts per game and the most missed field goals in NBA history with 13,766? Yeah, I would say we agree with that assessment. And with the prospect of playing heavy minutes next to a pass-first youngblood in Russell, you know that Kobe has gotta be licking his chops like a ravenous old hound staring down a juicy slab of raw meat.
Russell isn’t the first young Lakers guard to pick up a piece of Mamba wisdom, and let’s just say that Kobe’s relationship with his shiny, new toys will be an intriguing subplot as the Lakers move into the 2015-16 season.
37 years old and that Mamba Mentality is still as strong as ever. Never stop doing you, Kobe.
*Stats courtesy of Basketball Reference*
