Tom Thibodeau and Kobe Bryant to meet again
On Tuesday 23 November, Kobe Bryant and his Lakers will host the Chicago Bulls and their first-year coach, Tom Thibodeau. And, for the first time in a long time, Bryant and Thibodeau will get reacquainted. Bryant asserts that when he was in high school,
it was Thibodeau who helped him develop his emerging skills while serving as an assistant coach for the Philadelphia 76ers.
“He was crucial. He was with me when I was 16 or 17 years old,” Bryant told reporters after his team’s recent 117-89 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Sunday night. “Just doing drills and just working on ball-handling and just teaching me the game.
He was there from Day 1.”
Thibodeau recalls Bryant’s unique skill after seeing the Philadelphia native in action against some of the best players in the country. “You could just tell [that Bryant was special]. The way he would study everything. [It was] amazing for a high school kid,”
Thibodeau said, according to ESPNChicago.com.
Thibodeau remembers one thing in particular that set Bryant apart from the rest. “His drive. He was so driven,” the coach said. “He was a high school kid, and if he had a day off from school he’d be in the gym from eight in the morning till eight at night.
And he was trying to play against the pros and watch everything and lift weights.”
The Bulls' head man had a feeling Bryant would be great, and over the years has enjoyed watching the superstar evolve. “In high school, when he was playing against pros he looked like he belonged with them. You knew he was going to be special,” Thibodeau recounted.
“But I think his drive is what really separates him when you combine that drive and intelligence with his talent. It’s the top of the line.”
As a high-school student, Bryant was unaware of where their paths would lead, but appreciated the coach’s help and support. Over time, the player has grown to respect Thibodeau and his approach to the game.
“I think his defensive schemes themselves as a whole are fantastic,” Bryant told the media. “He’s a lab rat. He’ll stay in there and figure things out and figure percentages out, and who’s doing what. He’s really focused on that task.”
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