Originally published by LakersNation.com
During Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant’s farewell tour in 2016, he was getting a chance to compete against new faces of the league with one of them being Milwaukee Bucks Giannis Antetokounmpo.
In Bryant’s final season, Antetokounmpo was beginning his NBA journey and was not quite at the level of stardom. After coming over from Greece, the forward was skinny but gifted athletically and he quickly transformed his body to handle a physical playstyle.
Despite only playing against the Black Mamba a handful of times, Antetokounmpo made sure to take advantage of learning from an all-time great. Fortunately, he got to workout with Bryant and the 2021 champion shared what that experience was like, via the Thanalysis Show:
“I had my notebook because I was younger back then, I was probably 22 (years-old). Text him, I said, ‘Hey, where is the gym?’ He texted me and I said OK. So, I land on the same day that we’re working out. I land at like 7 a.m., got there and all of a sudden I’m like what am I going to do, what am I going to do? I don’t have a hotel room, I’m not going to spend money for a hotel room, I’m going to go straight to the gym. Our workout was at like 10:30, so I got to the gym, 8 a.m., I had my physio with me. I was like, OK let’s warm up and then warmed up for like 30 minutes and he told me, he said, ‘What are we going to do now?’ I said, ‘We’re just going to wait.’ He comes in and brother, I’m not even exaggerating, I’m not. He’s walking towards me, he’s glowing. Bro, I’m not exaggerating, he’s walking slow motion. Man, we’re talking about aura, we’re talking about ultimate aura, like I’m starstruck. I don’t even know what I’m going to say. So he’s walking to me and he’s like, “Hey, big fella. How are you doing?’ He said, ‘You ready to work out?’ I said, ‘Yeah, I’m ready.’ I have my notebook with me, we were working out, working out and then he told me, ‘Go right, make some shots.’ I made five like usually you make five and go to the next spot. He goes, ‘Five? Make 20.’ I said, ‘What you mean 20?’ He’s like, ‘Yeah, you make 20, until you can’t shoot no more.’ Then I’m not going to talk about the workout a lot, but arguably one of the greatest moments with a legend, with a goat was with Kobe Bryant.”
For Antetokounmpo to have a moment like that and to learn from a legend of Bryant’s caliber surely prepared him for what it takes to be a great in the NBA. Now, the Bucks star is a champion, two-time MVP, Finals MVP, Defensive Play of the Year and one can credit that to the work he has put into his game.
Larry Nance Jr. details difference of LeBron James & Kobe Bryant
Another player fortunate enough to experience being a teammate of Bryant was Larry Nance Jr., a former draft pick of the Lakers. After getting traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2017, he also got to play next to LeBron James as well.
Not many players can say they played with two legends and Nance Jr. broke down the differences in leadership between Bryant and James.
Have you subscribed to our YouTube channel? It’s the best way to watch player interviews, exclusive coverage from events, participate in live shows, and more!
During Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant’s farewell tour in 2016, he was getting a chance to compete against new faces of the league with one of them being Milwaukee Bucks Giannis Antetokounmpo.
In Bryant’s final season, Antetokounmpo was beginning his NBA journey and was not quite at the level of stardom. After coming over from Greece, the forward was skinny but gifted athletically and he quickly transformed his body to handle a physical playstyle.
Despite only playing against the Black Mamba a handful of times, Antetokounmpo made sure to take advantage of learning from an all-time great. Fortunately, he got to workout with Bryant and the 2021 champion shared what that experience was like, via the Thanalysis Show:
“I had my notebook because I was younger back then, I was probably 22 (years-old). Text him, I said, ‘Hey, where is the gym?’ He texted me and I said OK. So, I land on the same day that we’re working out. I land at like 7 a.m., got there and all of a sudden I’m like what am I going to do, what am I going to do? I don’t have a hotel room, I’m not going to spend money for a hotel room, I’m going to go straight to the gym. Our workout was at like 10:30, so I got to the gym, 8 a.m., I had my physio with me. I was like, OK let’s warm up and then warmed up for like 30 minutes and he told me, he said, ‘What are we going to do now?’ I said, ‘We’re just going to wait.’ He comes in and brother, I’m not even exaggerating, I’m not. He’s walking towards me, he’s glowing. Bro, I’m not exaggerating, he’s walking slow motion. Man, we’re talking about aura, we’re talking about ultimate aura, like I’m starstruck. I don’t even know what I’m going to say. So he’s walking to me and he’s like, “Hey, big fella. How are you doing?’ He said, ‘You ready to work out?’ I said, ‘Yeah, I’m ready.’ I have my notebook with me, we were working out, working out and then he told me, ‘Go right, make some shots.’ I made five like usually you make five and go to the next spot. He goes, ‘Five? Make 20.’ I said, ‘What you mean 20?’ He’s like, ‘Yeah, you make 20, until you can’t shoot no more.’ Then I’m not going to talk about the workout a lot, but arguably one of the greatest moments with a legend, with a goat was with Kobe Bryant.”
For Antetokounmpo to have a moment like that and to learn from a legend of Bryant’s caliber surely prepared him for what it takes to be a great in the NBA. Now, the Bucks star is a champion, two-time MVP, Finals MVP, Defensive Play of the Year and one can credit that to the work he has put into his game.
Larry Nance Jr. details difference of LeBron James & Kobe Bryant
Another player fortunate enough to experience being a teammate of Bryant was Larry Nance Jr., a former draft pick of the Lakers. After getting traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2017, he also got to play next to LeBron James as well.
Not many players can say they played with two legends and Nance Jr. broke down the differences in leadership between Bryant and James.
Have you subscribed to our YouTube channel? It’s the best way to watch player interviews, exclusive coverage from events, participate in live shows, and more!