Guarding legends like Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant in the NBA enhanced several players’ skills despite the severe challenges they faced. Boston Celtics legend Isaiah Thomas is among them. The 35-year-old recently opened up about how the late Lakers legend helped him improve as a player.
In his 13-year career, Thomas played for 10 NBA teams, including the Sacramento Kings, Phoenix Suns, Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Los Angeles Lakers. However, he suffered serious injuries that plagued his NBA career after leaving the Celtics and he even played for G-League teams from 2021 to 24.
While speaking to The Players Tribune, Thomas opened up on his relationship with the Black Mamba. He talked about how defending Kobe and watching his games improved him as an NBA player. He said, “Every night, I knew I was getting 30 [points]. I knew it because I just figured it out. I figured the game out inside and out. I watched film every day. I prepared on some Kobe sh*t. Like I really did.”
Thomas mentioned that Kobe’s mentorship helped him gain the Mamba Mentality. The duo watched NBA games together, and the 2008 NBA MVP helped Thomas enhance his skills. He added, “And he was able to mentor me and really mold me all year. I used to call Kobe at night. (I’d ask) ‘What do I do when they’re defending me like this?’.
“We used to watch film, he used to really take his time and watch film with me. My skills were always there, but my mental just took it to a different level. And that’s how I was able to have that success.”
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Fans Admire Isaiah Thomas’s Take On Kobe Bryant’s Mentorship
The fans appreciated Isaiah Thomas for crediting Kobe Bryant with helping him become mentally tough. While some talked about the mental part that separates the five-time champion from other NBA stars, others named NBA stars mentored by Kobe.
In his career, Thomas averaged 17.5 points on 43.4 percent shooting from the field and 36.3 percent beyond the arc. In the 2013-14 season, IT averaged 20.3 points with a then-career-high 45.3 % FG. His prime came in the 2016-17 season with the Celtics, when he averaged 28.9 points in 76 games while shooting 46.3 percent from the field and 37.9 from the three-point line.
Also Read: VIDEO: Jalen Brunson Gets Real On Lakers Legend Kobe Bryant’s Influence On Players And Fans
