Bryant's Leadership Style With Lakers Softens

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Bryant's leadership style with Lakers softens


TERRY PIERSON , STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
ONTARIO – Kobe Bryant’s style of leadership has been more or less consistent over the first 18 years of his career.

It’s called tough love. Like it or prepare to be at odds with the tough-minded superstar.

Until this year, that is.

Bryant said last week that he was taking a more “nurturing” role with this year’s Lakers, who are leaning on far less experienced players than Bryant is used to.

“You had a lot of veteran guys that have been around,” Bryant said, “so, the teaching style is a little different.”

Byron Scott, who was Bryant’s rookie mentor with the Lakers in 1996, said Bryant “has done a heck of a job with taking guys to the side, just teaching them little things about the NBA.”

Scott described Bryant as a mentor and “a little bit of an assistant coach,” shortly before the Lakers played the Golden State Warriors on Sunday at the Citizens Business Bank Arena.

If this gentler, more patient Kobe doesn’t quite align with the image Bryant has carved out over his career, it should be noted that it wasn’t long ago he was much tougher on young players.

“I didn’t even talk to the man,” said Robert Sacre, who was a Lakers rookie in 2012. “I introduced myself to him. I think the first two things I said to him was ‘ball’ and ‘outlet.’”

But Bryant is 36 and his window to win another championship is closing quickly. If the Lakers are going to exceed expectations and make a playoff run after going 27-55 last year, they will need Bryant to help cultivate young players such as Julius Randle, Jordan Clarkson, Wesley Johnson and Nick Young.

“He just wants to win,” Sacre said, “and I think he knows what he needs to do to help this team and we know what we need to do to be a be part of his legacy, so we just want to help him out and make it better. And all around we’re a closer team.”

Bryant spent the summer training individually with Johnson, and also logged sessions with Young, Randle and other Lakers.

But it’s Randle for whom Scott anticipates Bryant’s guidance could be the most helpful.

“He and I had a talk one day with Julius,” Scott said, “and I told him that if he has anywhere near the work ethic as Kobe, he’ll be an All-Star. If you don’t you’ll just be a good basketball player in the NBA one day.”

As bad as it gets"

 

I saw this. I think it's important. These kids need a kick in the butt, but that's Byron's job. Now Kobe needs to be the "good cop". With older guys, I get having a no-nonsense approach. These kids would probably snap under that pressure though from Kobe.

Mentor Mamba is in the house.

 

Kobe is just doing whatever it takes. He's still the tough guy we all love and admire. Just watch the post game interview he gave the Serena Winters @ thelakersnation put up. He just understands at this time and age what he has to do for this team to have any chance.