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Duble Up - get your hummingbird ass in here and
this shiiiiiiiiiittt!!
Hakeem pays Kobe the utmost respect...I don't think he'll come right out and say it but based on his comments below it appears Kobe was the smartest player he's ever worked with...
Olajuwon: Kobe’s accomplishments speak for themselves. His work ethic, his determination to be the best. When you talk about Kobe, you talk about his work ethic and how great it is for someone to maximizing his potential. Kobe has reached his whole potential, and maintained it, pushed it as far as it can go. When he passes me on the all-time scoring list, I think there’s no question that it is well-deserved. He’s just a great, great scorer. Just to be mentioned as one of the all-time scorers is a huge accomplishment for me.He’s mentioned that he also worked with you on dealing with double teams as well as some specific moves. How would you describe the session?Olajuwon: I was surprised and impressed when he called me up that he wanted to come and work out. I said, ‘Kobe, you have all the moves already, you don’t need me!’ He said ‘No, I want to master the post, and I love your game.’ He gave me huge compliments (like that). So I knew right away how I could add value to his game from the post point of view, because my moves work better with quicker guys like him. Many of the moves require certain reflexes, agility and fakes. He’s the ideal player to use those moves, and he could add volume to his game. When a big man makes a move, for example, he has one dribble or two dribbles and has to go up, but with a guard, you don’t pick up that dribble until the moment you’re ready to shoot. That gives him the advantage over every big guy that plays in the post because he often will have more dribbles to do more things.
How would you describe how you operated around the paint, and how you tried to impart certain facets of your game upon Bryant?Olajuwon: We worked on basic moves to create space, how to free yourself from a guy and shake him off. We worked on how to deal with double teams, how to read the defense when it’s coming. It’s really important to be able to go both ways with a move. Any time the defense tries to figure you out, you counter with something else. What makes the moves so deadly is you take whatever the defense gives you. That’s why it was so much fun working with Kobe ... it was unbelievable. What was funny was the game the Lakers played against the Rockets (in the 2009-10 season) because I was there, and after Kobe shook Shane Battier with a move in the post, and finished off the glass, he looked at me and winked. The move was textbook. That was something that we had worked on so much. It made me very happy to make a contribution to his game, to add to his talents, to add to his accomplishments. Now, when I watch his games, I see how much he goes to the post .... And now I even see Gasol using some of the baseline moves, and I wonder, is he showing Gasol some of the moves? The quick baseline spin move is one I don’t remember seeing Gasol use before.
It would seem that it’d be difficult to retain all of that information in just a few hours, Hakeem? It’s obvious to say that Kobe’s one of the smarter and more cerebral players in the game, and natural to think his learning curve is a lot steeper than almost anybody’s. Did you find that to be true?Olajuwon: I think my principle is to take whatever the opponent gives me. I would take something all day until they take it away. So if it’s the jump hook, I’ll do it until they counter it, then I’ll spin to the baseline. But when I see that he starts playing me honest, not giving me right or left, then I’ll start to create my own shot, force him to commit before I make my move. And Kobe is the master at that. Also, once they started bringing double teams, I developed some tricks over the years that just come by experience. That’s what I shared with Kobe, the secret of what I was trying to do, not just a demonstration. Then it’s about repe ion.
I know you’ve worked with several other players on low post game, most recently Dwight Howard. Has anybody ever gotten things as quickly as Kobe?Olajuwon: Oh, no question. Because when I demonstrated the moves, he would quickly learn the secret behind the move. To him, it’s so easy because he has so many talents. With him, you only have to show him once. One time, and that’s it to make him comfortable. He’s just very natural. We spent 2-3 hours on some moves we’d repeat about 10-15 times, and towards the last 15 minutes of the session, he was flawless. When I took him to the airport, I could tell that he got it. He was excited. How many people can catch all that in such a short period of time? His ability, his knowledge and his talent is incredible. I was so privileged to be able to work with him.
How different is it teaching a big man like Howard?Olajuwon: No … No. I mean, look at what he’s coming in to start with! He has all these weapons. I showed him one move, and told him to use his reflexes as a guard, and he got it. Just by saying that to him, it clicked. All the moves were different from that point on. His reflexes are incredible. He’s a big guard, but he’s as quick as a little guy.
Olajuwon: The moves I taught to Howard are different from what I worked on with Kobe. He also has tremendous athletic ability, but the moves are a lot different because Kobe can move differently. For example, I didn’t do a lot of jump hooks with Kobe, but I would do a lot with Dwight. It took three days with Dwight. We had more time, and I give him tremendous credit also. But Kobe’s a guard posting up, and that’s always an (advantage). I’m a big guy, but when I face up my opponent, at that time I’m a small forward, I’m not a center any more. When Kobe’s posting his guy, he’s playing center. To have that kind of freedom, and (focus on) reading and reacting is the name of the game. If I’m bigger than a guy, why try to beat him outside? Go post him up. If you can do that like Kobe can (in addition to his other guard skills), it gives you something against everybody.
How do you put what Kobe’s done thus far in his career into context?
If you look at the Top 10 all-time scorers, Kobe and Jordan are the only guards other than Oscar Robertson, who’s now 10th. Kobe used the word “feisty” to describe how the “little guys” got in there.Olajuwon: People always compare Kobe with Michael Jordan, and that’s the highest level of achievement right there. Even being mentioned with MJ is the ultimate compliment. When Jordan retired, you just thought a player like that wouldn’t come along again. But then Kobe almost immediately drew those comparisons, and that says it all. He established his own iden y as one of the best players to ever play the game.
Olajuwon:That’s a good way to put it, with Jordan and Bryant really being that rare combination of physical and mental gifts.Well, the two guard is the toughest position, the most athletic position. The average two would be a superstar at the four or five position with the skill set. So, for someone to dominate at the most difficult, the hardest position, it’s just something else. Both what set Kobe and Michael apart was that they were too big for most 2’s, and too mobile for most 3’s, so they have the advantage over most everybody. Very, very seldom do you find a player that matches up with them. If they’re as tall, they don’t have the same athletic ability or skills. Of course, it’s not just about having those physical advantages. The confidence and desire about their ability that they have, you can’t teach. It’s just a gift. That combination together? That’s a true leader that leads their team over and over to a championship. Individual accomplishments? Kobe is not worried about that, he just wants the championships. He’s a big picture guy. He’s playing to win, and when you play to win, everything else will follow. He’s scoring because he sees the opportunity to score.
Having spent some time with Kobe and taught him some things, what have you seen from him since?Olajuwon: Yes, it’s so much more than just one or the other. Talent and intelligence and motivation.
Finally, I wanted to relay to you what Kobe said earlier this week after a Lakers practice. Quote: “"In my opinion, he is the best post player ever, with all due respect to Kevin McHale. Hakeem was phenominal."Olajuwon: First of all, I was a fan of his before we worked together. I just have a tremendous admiration for him that he’s reached that level and is still wishing to improve. That says a lot. But now, I try to give him his space and I watch for an opportunity that we could get together again. But I don’t try to follow up. He knows where I am, and when he came to town, we had a chance to discuss how he’s feeling and how he feels about the moves. It was great (when L.A. played at Houston last season), especially when he winked at me. That was a treat.
http://www.nba.com/lakers/news/110129kobehakeem.htmlOlajuwon: Wow, what an honor for him to say that. Coming from him that is the ultimate compliment for me.
D
Its no secret Kobe's work ethic and offensive moves are top shelf. You can't say the same for Dwight. The bigger difference is each players approach when it comes to proving people wrong. Kobe's bent in making sure you'll never doubt his ability as a player, unfortunately that comes at the expense of watching him shoot the ball 9 x out of 10, efficiency and team chemistry be damned.
With Dwight, he's the type of guy whose willing to make himself look bad when the going gets tough and wveryones finger points at him. He likes being coddled and supported. Anything less and what you'll get is a half ass effort.
Koolaid bro, I'll donate a $100 to the Get Koolaid_Man Laid Foundation. You really need pussy, that's your only hope to save you from being obsessed on a basketball forum. During off season.
Throw in a pair of white pants and you might have a deal.
<--- white pants, for those who can't see
as for Kools post, that was actually a nice read, gotta respect the dream tbh.
Lol at least have a correct thread le, he taught Dwight a different move, he didn't teach Kirby the jump hook.
Good job, good effort.
for s sake, whos that girl in your sig...
ariana grande
googled her, shes aight, looks way hotter in that sig imo.
All that scoring talent and still managed to shoot in the mid 40s for his career.
The big black arm around his shoulder is the funniest part imo
So who taught Kobe how to win without a dominant big? I guess you can say he taught himself now that he needs two dominant bigs.
Kobe > D12....I dont think anyone has doubts about that.
Only thing D12 will ever be elite in is defense. If this era had better defensive bigs like the early 2000s, D12 wouldn't be able to average 20 ppg on above 50% FG. I think after the back surgery it's safe to say he will never be as good as he was when he was ranked 2nd best in the league, last year whenever he went 1 v 1 with an average big man he never shot a decent %, he either turned it over or he went to the FT line for 2 bricks. That's who Dwight Howard is, a poor offensive big man that thrives on P&R when at his athletic peak due to speed and jumping ability. D12 I doubt will ever be a decent scorer in the post, if he was, he'd be the 2nd coming of Hakeem.
I think Kobe fans finally realized that they can no longer compare Kobe to the GOAT (Jordan) and truly greats (Shaq, Duncan, Hakeem, Magic, Bird), so they are aiming at D12 and try to at least win a couple of skirmishes.
Can't fault them on that, got to build up that confidence in their demigod and make him look good. You put your girlfriend against Kate Upton and she's not gonna look too hot, but if you put her next to Khloe Kadarshian, she will look a lot better.
ambchang
Hakeem, though, forgot to teach Kobe how to be a good teammate, let alone be one.
o/u on how many times koolaid jerked off while reading this interview?
"OMG SOMEONE'S PRAISING KOBE HNNNNGGGG-"
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