Q&A: Kevin Durant details mentorship from Kobe Bryant

[20Four]

Below is a recent conversation I had with Thunder forward Kevin Durant, who talked extensively about his development and how Kobe Bryant’s mentorship shaped him.

When you look back at your seven year-NBA career, what do you think is the biggest are of growth?

“Just about winning. Being known as a winner. Of course we haven’t won a championship, But when you play the Thunder, you know it’s not going to be an easy game. That’s what I enjoy the most, knowing that we have a chance to win every chance we step on the court. That’s what defines you as a players, the ability to win as a basketball game.

It’s all about Determination and will. Team work and sacrifice. There will be ups and downs. But it’s about how you persevere through the tough times. There’s peaks and valleys in everything and it’s definitely an 82 game season. You’re going to see peaks and valleys. How you react to the valleys, calm and collected in the peaks. That’s what defines great teams with how you persevere.

How do you work on your game?

“Thinking the game more and working on my individual skills, ball handling, post ups and jump shooting. Just keeping the game fun. In the summer time, I play a lot of pick up and a lot of one-on-one just to keep the game fun and so I can react off of instincts. I play the game solely just off of how I feel out there and how the defense is playing me. I try not to be mechanical. That’s how I game is grown.”

Does any of that approach model anything after Kobe Bryant?

“Of course. He’s the greatest of all time. His skill is second to none. Him and MJ are neck and neck as far I think as far as skill. You can put in athleticism and be the best passer and strongest and quickest. But it’s about skill. I think that’s how his game is played. That’s why Kobe is the top two best ever in just having skill, footwork, shooting the three, shooting the pull up, posting up, dunking on guys and ball handling. It’s flat out skill. Him and Jordan are 1 and 1 a. They’re neck and neck as far as the skills are concerned.”

He plays his game no matter what, the intensity and focus and he will play to win. He also will do what he needs to do to get ready to play. If he sees a mismatch, he’ll take it down low and demand the ball. He’s one of those guys who will always bring the same intensity every time no matter who’s on the court.”

How would you compare yourself with Kobe on and off the court?

“Off the court, yeah, we’re different. On the court, we’re the same type of person I think. I think Kobe can appreciate that about me. I can tell. I’m going to go at him when I’m on the court. We’re going to throw elbows and talk trash. We’re going to talk [junk] to each other. I think he appreciates that how I play. I may be wrong. But I can sense when a guy has that mutual respect. I don’t give a damn who he is. He don’t give a damn who I am. We’re going to go at it. You can throw the names out the door. The guy in front of me, I will try to kick his [butt]. He’ll do the same with me.”

What’s Kobe’s personality like?

“He’s one of those guys that’s to himself and real quiet. That’s how it was being around the Olympics. He’s a great guy to talk to and somebody that I remember two years ago, called him at like 3 in the morning. They had a game the next day. I was picking his brain a little bit. He’s one of those guys who’s a night owl.”

What were you asking him?

“I was picking his brain about different situations in the game and how I can handle my teammates better and how I can approach the game a little better. I don’t think I told anybody that. But I texted him one night and said, Man I need to talk to somebody before playing the next day. It was three in the morning. He picked the phone up. That’s something I’ll always remember. When we play each other, it’s better now that we have that relationship because it was almost bragging rights.”

So giving what you’ve gone through with your scoring this year, what impressed you about what Kobe did back in his prime?

“What I did is not a fraction of what he did. What guys are doing now is nothing compared to what he did. Me, Carmelo, LeBron, Paul George, what we’ve done out there in this league is nothing compared to what Kobe did. A lot of people forget. We live in a world of what have you done for me lately. We don’t remember the day before sometimes. Think back five, six seven years ago with what he was doing, it’s unheard of.”

Link of full article:

http://www.insidesocal.com/lakers/20...m-kobe-bryant/

Do it Mitch!

[20Four]

Durant knows Kobe is the best.....lol LEBRONZE who?

[russwest0]

KD learning from the best.

Must say, he has been a lot more carefree with his shot selection this season. As he said, he's just been "letting it fly." One quality he picked up from Kobe that I approve of.

[GOATbrook]

Kobe - Alpha
Lebron - Beta
KD wants to be Alpha so natural choice.
Also Kobe > Lebron

[20Four]

KD learning from the best.

Must say, he has been a lot more carefree with his shot selection this season. As he said, he's just been "letting it fly." One quality he picked up from Kobe that I approve of.

Definitely....now I know why Durant took at LEBRONZE as a real rival because he knows lebronze isnt in the same league as him and kobe...

[STATUTORY]

Kd is the spiritual successor to Kobe, I ain't even mad at his success

[gts]

Link of full article:

http://www.insidesocal.com/lakers/20...m-kobe-bryant/

Do it Mitch!

Nice read.. thanks for sharing

[Nikola_]

[QUOTE]You can put in athleticism and be the best passer and strongest and quickest. But it

[russwest0]

It's also hilarious how literally every player in the NBA picks Kobe over LeBron.

[20Four]

It's also hilarious how literally every player in the NBA picks Kobe over LeBron.

I bet that gets LEBRONZE furious....

[20Four]

Nice read.. thanks for sharing

Ya mang anytime son! :)

[20Four]

Errrrbody knows what kobe was doing 5-6 years ago is UNHEARD of....nobody in this league now maybe besides DURANT can handle Kobe's torch

[zoom17]

I bet that gets LEBRONZE furious....

Lebron 2 rings 4MVPS 2FMVPS

Durant

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Lebron 2 rings 4MVPS 2FMVPS

Durant

Kobe 5 rings......

[sportjames23]

ProfessorBe
TutorBe
ScholarBe