Kobe Bryant is doing his best to impart the “Mamba Mentality” to today’s NBA players.
Bryant held an invite-only training camp at his Mamba Sports Academy in Thousand Oaks, Calif. last month, according to the New York Times’ Marc Stein. Stein says the list of attendees included Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, Kyrie Irving, De’Aaron Fox, Jamal Murray, Isaiah Thomas, John Collins, Buddy Hield, Aaron Gordon, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Jordan Clarkson.
Attendees did strength training, on-court training and video work with Kobe, noted Lakers skills coach Phil Handy and more. Other names I've heard as participants: Jamal Murray, Isaiah Thomas, John Collins, Buddy Hield, Aaron Gordon, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Jordan Clarkson
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) September 26, 2019
Stein says the group did strength training, on-court training, and video work with Kobe.
Kobe helping Kawhi and Paul George makes it seem like Bryant is working to help the LA Clippers take down his former team, the Lakers. But Caldwell-Pope is a member of the Lakers, and maybe there were other Lakers; we don’t know the entire list of participants.
Bryant has gotten active in a coaching role since retiring. Not only is he helping these NBA players, but he’s also coached his daughter’s youth teams.
Let’s just hope whatever advice he provided these players produces better results than what happened with another player Kobe trained last year.
