Kobe shares impressions of LeBron's first season with the Lakers & advice for Zion | Get Up!

So three years ago we were together and you told me that you had this idea for this book project that was kind of a Harry Potter style concept and here we are three years later because this project became a reality, so congratulations, tell us. about that and how Kobe Bryant decided to do this right, I just felt like I learned a lot from the game. He was trying to find different creative ways to share those experiences, you know, without seeming preachy. You know what I mean, things that I've learned from the game that I try to teach my kids so that I can just go out and tell them those lessons.

If they don't listen to me, you have to find out. a creative way to package it this way, they can find those Easter eggs on their own and that's when I started thinking about ideas, you know, creative concepts and stories to be able to instill those life lessons. What is an example of a life lesson? give me give me a great life lesson fruit for this particular book it's about managing fears, how do you manage those? These young people in the story have fears that they have consciously or unconsciously repressed and those fears manifest themselves in different ways. and we see it manifested through the game, so what they have to learn within the novel is to have the bravery and the courage to face those fears and then they can decide what they want to do with them, but at least they have the power over them. your fear versus the other way around is interesting because I have said many times the courage it takes to play sports at the level you played is the courage to take the risk of always being remembered for your worst there are some players who will be remembered for your worst moment requires a special kind of courage, doesn't it?

Yes, but you know it's also an acceptance. You have to be able to accept things and then roll with your fingers, not necessarily fight. you accept them well, you accept those things, you feel at peace with those things and then you can move on. Now let's talk about pressure because there are many people who face different pressures in many different ways. I, like NBA stars, right now feel like they are under enormous pressure, they don't seem to be happy most of the time and maybe it's because they are so public that we hear about it all the time, but we have seen different incidents, whether it was Kevin Durant, Mrs.

Kyrie or others, when you were at the top of the mountain, when you were the biggest star in sports, you were happy, oh, of course, because I was playing a game that I loved, you know, I mean, happiness comes. From that,

first

of all, obviously you know that you have frustrations, you have moments where you are happier than others, but when you are doing something that you love to do, the happiness is already there and now there is a certain completion and you know . frustration that comes with the job, but ultimately I think they love the game, so how do you perceive that?

However, when you hear the guys talk about all the pressure, it feels like it's been magnified. I don't know if it's a function of social media and the widespread attention it receives, how do you proceed? Yeah, I think that has a lot to do with it, actually because the opinions are there, you can see them, since you know when I started playing many, many years ago. I would have to wait until the next morning to read the newspaper and see what bad things people say about you. Now you go on social media and you're inundated with that pressure and criticism and all that kind of stuff that we're still in.

It comes with the territory, right, you can't please everyone, all you can do is do your best, just accept it and move on, how you handled it, how you handled the criticism, exactly that way, you handle it, you move on. . I mean, the most important thing is that the game can't lose sight of the fact that it's not what people think of you, but the game. Are you leading the team the right way? Are you doing the things necessary to study your craft? your team is in the best possible situation to be champions that's the only thing that matters the criticisms come and go, right, you can have a great game on Monday, everyone loves you, you have a horrible game, a horrible game on Tuesday, You're the worst, right? be cyclical until you want a championship and then everyone will calm down and love you for two weeks and then say you can't repeat that's how it's okay, I've been dying to ask you this forever, so for 30 years, my job has been in arguing that this guy is better than that one, this guy is better than that one, as if he were Kobe and he is Michael and he is Michael and he is LeBron and it is his magic and he is Larry and he is Russell and he is changing the great debates all those debates like one of the people in those as one of the people that's on the other side of that, how important is it to you how people perceive you, for Michael Jordan, Larry Bird and LeBron, it's hard for people to believe, but I really don't believe it.

I care, you know, I moved on, you know, so like you have a career, you do the best you can in your 20s. I was very lucky to play and then you leave it, that's it, you move on to the next thing. So now I'm focused on these next 20 years and those debates are entertaining. I'm sure it's fun for people to get involved in them, but for me personally on that issue, when everyone gets into it, is LeBron better than Kobe? It is and you hear it you can't not hear it you don't have a reaction for sure I don't think the best way to explain it is I usually don't get involved in things I can't win you definitely know what I'm saying it's an argument are you why is there that moment?

I remember you. I don't remember exactly where it was, but someone was saying something to you in the arena and you held up five fingers, which suggested to me that this was one of you, our closing arguments. You know that a lot of other people know that you know the criticism, like how you deal with fat and people try to downplay your career in some way. I only raise five because the most important thing we do, you know, the goal is to win. championships, that's what we're here for people always talk about the next so-and-so, who will be the next Kobe Bryant when you look at the NBA now, who reminds you that there are many players that you know have that motor that motor and Russell, without a doubt one of them, James has kicked it into high gear and you know Kyrie and them, even the younger ones, it feels weird saying guys younger than James Harden Kyrie Irving because they're still young to me, but you've got Jason.

Tatum of the world Donovan Mitchell of the world I mean the NBA is in good hands and the word that will always be associated with you is Mamba, the Mamba mentality and it feels like that's a moving target like the Mamba mentality could mean so many different things. I see you posting things about the Mamba Mentality all the time as we sit here, what makes me think of the Mamba Mentality? It's really just about curiosity and when you're curious, you have a thirst to learn and improve, and that's because the basis of everything is asking why.

Why did this move work? Why does this particular tactic work? And you are just that curiosity. How do you train better? How do you eat better out of curiosity? Everything else is based on that other thing. Once upon a time, but the most famous. high school basketball player who once came to the NBA and then when LeBron came to the NBA this whole intention was magnified, now Zion Williamson is in the middle of something I can't even imagine being him at the age of 18 years. or 19, what

advice

would you give to someone like him, who right now is as famous as anyone in sports in America at that age?

Just focus on the game, it seems very, very simple, but that's the challenge the right people are giving you. In different directions, you have different requests and opportunities and that's fine, but you have to focus and concentrate on the most important thing, which is the game. Everyone will yell at me if I don't ask you this, so everyone is talking about Golden State and now the Warriors. You're amazing, yeah, pick your best team and see what year you think, we're at your best, we're debating a seven game series, you guys were guys against the Warriors, who wins, yeah we'll win, that's what I would say.

It was what are they going to do with Shaq? I mean, they have boogie cousins ​​now, so he might as well if I give you a real tactical answer about it. Really, it's just a question of who can impose whose will and style. game, do we do a good job of moving the ball to get to open areas and slowing down the game or will Golden State control the tempo and pace themselves with their shots and ball movements? So to be completely honest, it's hard to really say. who would win I like our chances Shaq so Shaq was a tough man and you can't forget he could run the court like a guard right he moved like a guard which is pretty scary the game is a lot different now than just Los analysis have played such an important role and have been an important part.

Do you like all three? All the dependence on the analysis. They are three-pointers, layups and free throws. You enjoy it? I think it has a place. in the game I don't think it gives the full answer of understanding why things happen well and how to create momentum. I mean, the game is really about momentum and who can control the momentum. More soft drink numbers. There is the thrill of the game of who gets to dictate. Pace and rhythm those things are not the most important because those numbers of actually won games look good and you can tell yourself a story, but the real story lies in the rhythm and pace of the game.

Let's talk about your old team. Lakers, it's obviously been a difficult

season

for them, how does it compare to what you expected? LeBron arrives the

first

year. What has this

season

been in relation to what you expected? Well, yeah, I think they got it. You know, he's unfortunate because he got hit. With so many injuries and quick succession every time a streak, I mean, they're playing really well, I think exceeding people's expectations and then they got all these injuries set them back a little bit and it's hard to reset that. So now you know they're stuck in the nap, Rudd, but nature should be better, and what would happen if you gave Magic Johnson some

advice

, for example, what would it be if I gave magic some advice?

Yeah, well, you know, I think it's just a question. of being patient, of course, and obviously they will make smart decisions, you have opportunities, pieces that you can exchange assets and things of that type, or you can stay with the young ones, we are extremely talented and have great advantages and let them develop, but you Anyone who Whatever direction you're going in should be a good direction and how about LeBron asking you for advice as a guy who's been the face of the Lakers for so long? What would you advise him? Oh, you just have to do it. keep pushing well this season it's like that or it would make the championships worth it you know, and I mean you just have to keep it up, it would be fun.

The other thing I wanted to ask you about is the biggest story of the entire NBA season. now it looks like it's the next offseason there's all this talk about where this guy is now here it's going to be an entertaining offseason that's one look i'm not going to take off the first week of july yeah yeah what do you think Do you think all the players move? guys coming together, you played your entire career in Los Angeles through the good years and the bad. A guy like Dirk almost feels like this is the end of that time.

What diminishes in any way when these guys move on from one? room for another team to try to win I don't think that diminishes because everyone is doing it so you want to have a collection of teams competing against each other if you have all these super teams competing against each other so it makes for a good competition certainly It's compelling as a fan, but yeah, you're right, I mean, it's different. I remember calling Dirt when I was a free agent and I told him I called him, I said Dirt, listen, I know you know you're not leaving Dallas, I get it, but I have to make the call, what do you think it says?

Yeah man you're right bro I'm a lifer like you man you know we ain't leaving so it's just a different philosophy but look. Come back to that now, like of all the things you treasure from your career, we're on that list, you played your entire career for the best team, the saga understands that the Lakers are my favorite team growing up, so playing with one. franchise and it's also a two-way street, you can have an athlete that wants to be with an organization, but if the organization doesn't have that loyalty in return, then you have that fraction of separation, so I was very fortunate in the last few things that I have to let you go You have climbed this mountain again three years ago you told me about this book project and here you are congratulations what's the next mountain you have so many you have your hands and so many different things that you wanted since the last time I saw you, you want an Oscar for crying out loud, what's next?

What is the next mountain for Coco? We have more stories coming, so this is the first time there's an art series and we have another novel coming out in September, another one coming out in November, so you know, this oneIt's the beginning of the launch of our publishing business which will then become animated films and you know, Broadway musicals and things like that. order so we're working so it's great to see you thank you so much for doing this Kobe Bryant everyone how about that?