“‘Yo, Coach, you’d better fix that motherf**er…’”
When two of the NBA’s most formidable forces converge, sparks are inevitable. LeBron James, the embodiment of collaborative leadership, and Kobe Bryant, the paragon of relentless individualism, found themselves sharing the same jersey during the 2008 Olympics.
In Kobe’s view, if you hadn’t put in the same obsessive grind he did, you hadn’t earned the right to touch the ball in crunch time. Meanwhile, Bron has mostly been a pass-first player. Now, some may wonder how even Team USA managed a perfect win at the 2008 Olympics. Especially considering the existing rivalry between former Milwaukee Bucks star Michael Redd and Detroit Pistons’ Tayshaun Prince, as admitted by Redd on a recent chat on the Thanalysis Show.
Well, it turns out the contrast between LeBron James and Kobe Bryant didn’t just create some minor tension. This contrast sparked a significant transformation. This, too, came from Michael Redd, who didn’t hold back his appreciation of Bron on the show.
“LeBron’s ability to galvanize was special… Even at 23 years old, he wanted to do everything together. And he was the young guy and jovial… But he really had an impact on Kobe as far as bringing him within the fold and us and it being us and not just being a group of individuals,” Redd said. Sure, debates will forever swirl over who’s the better all-time player. Kobe or LeBron. but what often gets missed in those arguments is the ability to learn and evolve. Even as a star. And to Kobe Bryant’s credit, he didn’t pretend that teaming up with LeBron didn’t teach him something.
If you’re wondering what exactly Kobe walked away with from that summer, it was LeBron’s magnetic leadership that stood out. The kind that doesn’t just get teammates in position but gets inside their heads, makes them believe they can do more. As Kobe himself once told Fox Sports in 2016, “He has a very big personality, and one of the things I noticed about him, playing with him on the Olympic team, is his ability to communicate with others, get the best out of others, and challenge them in a very gregarious way. It’s one of the things I’ve always admired about him.”
Aug 24, 2008; Beijing, CHINA; USA players Kobe Bryant (left), Lebron James (second left), Dwyane Wade (second right), and Carmelo Anthony pose with their gold medals following the mens basketball gold medal game against Spain at the Beijing Olympic Basketball Gymnasium during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. USA beat Spain 118-107 to win the gold medal. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
However, the team didn’t experience smooth dynamics from the start. Reports suggest that LeBron wasn’t thrilled with Kobe’s handling of certain possessions. Especially when it looked like Black Mamba was going full solo mode. During a game against Australia, for example, Kobe let a few fly that didn’t sit well with the team. This was despite securing the win. That’s when the aforementioned quote at the top came into play.
A US team staffer recalled that LeBron walked off the court and told Coach Mike, “‘Yo, Coach, you’d better fix that motherf**er,’” right after Kobe’s off-script shooting spree. But make no mistake, sure the 4x NBA champ had issues with Kobe Bryant’s gameplay in certain situations. But he had immense respect for Black Mamba on all other fronts. Something he has admitted on multiple occasions. And if you just assumed that it was just James who had an impact on Bryant, think again. The Los Angeles Lakers star himself admitted it was a “dream” come true for him to play alongside Kobe in 2008.
LeBron James admired Kobe Bryant even after being drafted into the NBA
Think about it. You’ve just been drafted, your name’s buzzing across the league, yet your eyes are still locked on someone else’s greatness. That was Kobe for LeBron. “As I got drafted, I still just admired him, seeing what he was able to accomplish, winning championships, being early in his career where he learned from the misses he had… And he used that as motivation…” the 35-year-old Laker recalled in an article by Business Insider.
You could sense how much that early Kobe resilience stuck with him, even back in LeBron’s high school days. Then came 2008—the Redeem Team era. For most players, just wearing that Team USA jersey is huge. But for LeBron? “We take it down to 2008 when we become the Redeem Team, and it was a dream come true for me to be able to line up alongside him.”
Seemingly, that’s how much Black Mamba meant to him. Sharing the same court, watching him work during practices—it was more than just basketball. Clearly, both LeBron James and Kobe Bryant have had some great praise for each other during their careers and have impacted each other in one way or another.
The post As Team USA Rivalries Brewed, Lebron James Influenced Kobe Bryant’s Leadership, Claims Ex-Teammate appeared first on EssentiallySports.