Kobe assumes new role

MANILA, Philippines - During a visit to Manila two years ago, Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant said he would never consider being a playing coach. “No way,” the 32-year-old NBA guard emphatically remarked. “It’s hard enough to be a player. I still need to work 10 times harder as a player. If I take on the added responsibility of coaching, I just won’t have time to do other things. Will I coach after playing? No, no. That’s not for me.”

But a few weeks ago, Bryant appeared to have softened his stand on the issue. While he never hinted a coaching career may be in the offing once he retires, Bryant spoke about the vital role that coaches play in guiding a player’s future. “Coaches play an important role in teaching players,” he said. “They shouldn’t be screamers or yellers. They should be patient and know how to talk the game. The key is to be able to teach.”

Wonder of wonders, Bryant has agreed to be the playing coach for the All-Star squad that’s facing a PBA selection tonight and the Smart Gilas national team tomorrow afternoon, both at the Araneta Coliseum. Could it be a portent of things to come?

Bryant arrived with seven companions on a private plane provided by the MVP Sports Foundation from Shanghai yesterday. The negotiations to bring in Bryant were initiated in Los Angeles and it didn’t take long for the Black Mamba to agree as there’s a special place in his heart for the Philippines.

“It helped that Kobe was still in Asia,” said East-West Private marketing specialist Chao Chuatico-Espaldon. “We spoke with Kobe’s really good friend in LA and the invitation was forwarded to Kobe.  Luckily, his commitment in China ended Thursday night so he was free to fly over the next day.  Kobe enjoys Manila and knows how passionate Filipinos are for basketball.”

Bryant’s agent Rob Pelinka and superagent Arn Tellem were reportedly flying in to witness the exhibition series.

Espaldon said as soon as Bryant gave his go-signal, he asked for profiles of the PBA and Gilas players the All-Stars are facing. “Derek (Fisher) and Kobe are in touch,” said Espaldon. “They asked what rules will be used and when they were told FIBA rules, they asked for a briefing when they come in so they know what to expect. They want to be ready to win. They asked for profiles and videos of the players they’re going up against. They’re serious about this.”

There’s no question that whenever Bryant takes to the floor, his primary intention is to win. It’s what drives him to excel. “If I’m hurt but I’m still standing, I’ll go out there and give it my best shot,” Bryant told The STAR in an interview last week. “It’s just the love of the game. I love playing. I don’t like taking days off. I don’t like quitting. It’s not whom I am. To me, it’s about winning. Somebody has to win and I’d rather (that somebody) be me.”

Bryant has played on five NBA championship teams and is the Los Angeles Lakers’ all-time leading scorer. He was named the MVP of the All-Star Game in 2002, 2007, 2009 and 2011. A prized possession is the gold medal he earned with the US team at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. This past season, he averaged 25.3 points in 82 regular season games. Bryant led the NBA in scoring twice, dropping 35.4 points a game in 2005-06 and 31.6 in 2006-07. In 2006, he erupted for a career-high 81 points against Toronto, the second highest total in NBA history behind only Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point explosion. 

Bryant has three years left and over $83 Million to earn on his Laker contract.  He’s far from reaching the age of diminishing returns although his scoring norm this past season was his lowest in seven years. Bryant hasn’t won an NBA crown without coach Phil Jackson whose triangle offense suits his style. Whether new LA coach Mike Brown can whip up a formula to bring a sixth ring to Bryant’s finger is a huge question mark.

Bryant lives in a $4 Million Mediterranean-style mansion with his wife Vanessa and their two children, Natalia, 8, and Gianna, 5. According to writer J. R. Moehringer in GQ Magazine, Bryant takes a helicopter to every home game. “If you make $23 Million a year with your body, taking a helicopter to work is actually quite practical,” said Moehringer. “It’s just another tool for maintaining his body. Given his broken finger, his fragile knees, his sore back and achy feet, not to mention the chronic agita, Bryant can’t sit in a car for two hours. The helicopter, therefore, ensures that he gets to Staples Center feeling fresh, that his body is warm and loose and fluid as mercury when he steps onto the court.”

Bryant has his wife’s name tattooed on his deltoid and the names of his daughters on the forearm. Between the names of his wife and children is inscribed Palms XXVII. Bryant, a Catholic, said the verse is beautiful. In part, it reads: “When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, come upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.”

Coming off a season where the Lakers were swept in the Western Conference semifinals by the Dallas Mavericks, Bryant said, “We’re moving on…we’ve had a great run, playing in seven finals in the last 12 seasons but it’s back to working harder than ever.”

Bryant is obviously not finished as a competitor. In a Dime Magazine article, Bryant said “The motivation to succeed runs through me like blood.” Now that the Lakers are on a new course, Bryant will want nothing more than to rise to the top again. It’s like proving himself all over. And that’s bad news for 29 other NBA teams.

“I will not back off until I’m back on top, back in the place where they said I could never be again,” Bryant wrote in Dime. “Mountains don’t scare me. The lack of mountains scares me. The climb up, the struggle for every inch of ground and every level of ascension is what feeds me. I welcome the challenge. I welcome that chance to be fed because no matter what – no matter how hard, how far or how many stand in my way, I remain determined. The more obstacles that are placed between me and my goals, the hungrier I become. 

“Desire is a double-edged sword. It gives you strength; it gives you motivation and focus.  My biggest fear is not winning another title. But fear is a great motivator. I’m determined to lead this organization back to the top.”