Kobe Bryant and Anthony Davis couldn’t seem more different off the court.
One is a ruthless competitor, a vociferous murderer of rivals and rims, and championship-ring-bearing lunatic…in a good way. The other is a silent, rather stoic and shy workhorse with the versatility and wingspan necessary to do just about anything he wants.
They’re different. And yet, apparently, there’s a little bit of Kobe in Brow.
Talking with SLAM‘s Adam Figman, in what was a great feature, Davis revealed that Kobe was something of a mentor to him when he first entered the NBA fray:
Before he suited up for a single NBA game, Davis was a member of the 2012 Gold- winning USA Olympic team, earning the role as the token up-and-comer on a roster laden with established names like Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and Chris Paul. He says he kept his ears open during the experience, soaking in knowledge wherever he could find it. “I picked all of their brains,” he says. “Kobe took me under his wing and told me, You’re gonna be fine, just keep working. I was hanging out with him a lot, just trying to see who Kobe is and why he is Kobe. I learned a lot from him. I learned a lot from all of those guys. Those guys just told me to go out there and be yourself. Have fun.”
Picture this: You’re a spry, eager, inexperienced, nerve-fraught 19-year-old trying to figure out a new, life-altering job, looking for direction, pining for acceptance, hoping against hope you’ll succeed in the face of immense pressure, fully aware you may not. Then, in strolls the callous symbol of success in your profession, extending a hand, slinging advice and guidance and, most importantly—not to mention uncharacteristically—faith in your future.
Crazy, right?
But that’s basically what happened to Davis. Kobe wasn’t known as a mentor then. Hell, he’s not known as a mentor now. Only during the 2012-13 season did he start to soften in the public eye, after 15-plus years of perpetually snarky demeanor and flagrant honesty often portrayed as sadistic immaturity, unflappable stubbornness and self-involved snobbery.
There Kobe was, though, offering help and pearls of wisdom to a young neophyte thrust onto the global stage before he even played in an NBA game. That’s a fun anecdote. And perhaps it contributed to Kobe’s character evolution around that time. Or maybe this has always been Kobe’s cachet: viciously smile, nod and talk in front of the cameras while gently and humanely helping those in need behind the scenes.
Whatever the case, it’s a wonder Davis remains as serene as he does. Kobe apparently didn’t teach him the death stare or how to be so candid it stings. In so many ways, Davis still seems to be that kid trying to figure things out…probably because that’s exactly who he is.
Halfway into his 21st year, only two seasons deep into his NBA tenure, facing mounting expectations—many of which project him as an all-time great—Davis is still developing and evolving, which doesn’t bode well for rival teams, but certainly lends hope to anyone he may eventually take under his wing.
Dan Favale is a firm believer in the three-pointer as well as the notion that defense doesn’t always win championships. His musings can be found at Bleacherreport.com in addition to TheHoopDoctors.com.
