Tony Allen thanks Kobe Bryant for the compliment – NBA Update
Recently when Los Angeles Lakers super star Kobe Bryant was asked about who was the toughest defender, he came across last season, Tony Allen was the man he mentioned.
Now, the Memphis Grizzlies star has thanked Kobe for his generosity and expressed his determination to keep working hard.
Allen wasn’t a well known name when he joined the Grizzlies last summer, but as the season progressed he established himself as probably the best perimeter defender in the league. During the process, he emerged as a vocal leader
in his team and helped Memphis achieve the defensive tenacity, they used to devastating effect during the playoffs.
Allen’s contributions have been acknowledged by many since then, but he admitted the special feeling when it came from Kobe,
“I’m not going to sit here and say that I ain’t [the best perimeter defender],” Allen said with a laugh in an interview with Hoopsworld. “I thank Kobe Bryant for acknowledging my talent and effort because Lord knows he’s not an
easy challenge.”
Kobe Bryant has been every defenders worst nightmare for the last decade or so. There is simply nothing, the Lakers man cannot do when out on a basketball court, and is arguably the greatest player of the last 20 years after the
iconic Michael Jordan.
Therefore, if he thinks you are doing a good job, then you are doing a good job alright. However, such is the fire that burns within Allen that he isn’t going to rest on his laurels at all.
“I appreciate the compliment, but there’s still more work to be done. I still have a lot of work to do.” Said the guard.
The gritty shooting guard doesn’t believe that he has reached the peak of his ability and he is determined to keep working hard until he does. While some might have used the extended NBA lockout to get some well needed rest, or
to just lay off for a bit before the action starts again, that is simply not going to happen with Allen.
The Grizzlies man, instead, has been working nonstop in the gym and he won’t stop any time soon - lockout or no lockout.
“I have a love for the game and I’m using this time during the lockout to work and improve. I’m trying to make a positive out of this situation. Every year I go hard around this time so that by the time the season starts, I’m going
full throttle and feeling 100 percent.”
It is that hunger that became infectious within the Memphis locker room last season and catapulted the side into the playoffs and past the San Antonio Spurs.
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