LOS ANGELES — It’s a wonderful basketball life for Kobe Bryant now that his youth is no longer wasted on the young. Under Phil Jackson’s tutelage, Bryant, who is all of 21years old, and the Lakers have matured into the Beast of the West.
Bryant had the stunning talent and sparkling personality since skywalking directly into the NBA from high school four years ago, but he’s added maturity to go with his game. Sixers coach Larry Brown suggested the real difference in the Lakers this year is not Shaquille O’Neal, but the improved play of Bryant.
“Kobe’s matured,” Phil Jackson said, noting there was merit to Brown’s comment. “[In the past] perhaps, even to the point of disgruntling his teammates, he would take a chance offensively or a chance with the ball or even defensively. He’s become much more responsible and reliable as to what’s a bad choice or what is a good choice.”
In grand Jackson-esque style, the coach added, “Kobe’s pulsivity has changed. It’s the exuberance of youth. He has matured in that way.”
Bryant does make it look easy. Even when he has a bad game like his 4-for-12, 10-point performance in the 100-88 win over the Sixers Friday night, he remains effervescent on the court and in the locker room. He greets visitors from other coasts warmly and excitedly talks about meeting Laker fan Snoop Doggy Dogg, saying, “He’s tall, he could play the 3.” Of the Lakers star-studded notoriety, he said, “People enjoy watching winning teams. This is a nice little show.”
It’s become that, in great part, because of Bryant’s development, offensively and defensively. When Chris Childs was asked why Bryant is better defensively this season, he said quite simply, “He’s trying. You have to play defense for Phil.”
When Bryant jacked up an off-balance clanker against the Sixers early in the shot clock in the third quarter, he soon found himself on Jackson’s bench. All the little learned lessons have made him more confident.
“I’m just improving with my teammates, that’s just growth,” Bryant said. “You’re motivated to improve from the beginning, but then when you actually start seeing improvement, that makes you hungrier. You say, ‘Let me make it happen some more.’ We all had an open mind to Phil and a belief in ourselves we were going to do whatever to make it happen.”
And they have. With nine games to go, someone wanted to know if the 61-12 Lakers were going to cruise a little down the coast highway, once they lock up homecourt advantage throughout the playoffs. Bryant smiled and said, “I’m going to keep playing hard. I’m only 21.”
His youth is served well.
