There have been plenty of Kobe Bryant stories told throughout the years, and Luke Walton just provided us with another good one.
Speaking on Bleacher Report's "Open Run" podcast Wednesday, the new Lakers coach told a story about his playing days with Bryant.
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“I remember one time my rookie year, I came in a little — uh, (Bryant) and Shaq like to do this as, I think it was just rookies, but any young guy — I probably had too much to drink the night before, so I came in, I was a rookie, I felt good, and they could smell some alcohol on me. And Kobe informed the rest of the team that no one was allowed to help me on defense, and that I had to guard him the entire practice.
“I was laughing at first like, ‘Oh, this is funny,’ but in Kobe’s mind, in his eyes, it was like, ‘No, I see and smell weakness, I’m going to destroy you today.’ He taught me that lesson. He probably scored 70-something in practice that day, and I was begging for help, none of the teammates would help. But, yeah, his killer instinct and his work ethic, they’ll stick with me forever.”
Walton said Shaq did the same thing to him and wouldn't even allow him to foul the big man.
