JJ Redick recently appeared as a guest on Andrew Schulz’s show. Flagrant podcast. During the 130-minute conversation, the panel discussed numerous topics. Among many others, Redick was asked to name the best players he has ever faced.
In addition to adding Stephen Curry to this list, the ESPN analyst also talked about his interactions with Kobe Bryant from Team USA Basketball Camp
Andrew Schulz put JJ Redick on the spot by asking the sharpshooter to name the “best player” he has ever played against. Redick immediately named Kobe Bryant as the best player he should protect. Additionally, while he didn’t have to guard LeBron James, Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant at any point in his career, Redick gave the three current faces of the league a nod to the esteemed list.
“He (Kobe Bryant) is the best player I have ever defended. He didn’t have to defend LeBron, he didn’t necessarily have to protect Steph. But those three guys and I will put KD in there too. “Those are the four.” Redick responded.
Shortly after, the Duke University alum recounted two Kobe Bryant stories from Team USA’s basketball camp in 2006. First, JJ talked about Bryant being a “psychopathic worker.” He said coach Johnny Dawkins was exhausted because Black Mamba forced him to train at 6 a.m.
“Coach Dawkins comes in, he looks haggard, like he’s exhausted. I’m like, ‘JD, what the fuck is going on?’ He says, ‘Kobe, man, he had me here at 6 a.m.’ He was here for three hours. He was working counter to counter and had to make 10 shots in a row.’ All those stories about Kobe being a psychopath, they’re all true.” Redick said.
Later, Redick also revealed how the Los Angeles Lakers superstar offered to shoot together.
About 15 minutes into the session, Redick noticed the 6-foot-6 guard watching his shots closely, trying to learn.
“It comes to the end of the first practice and Kobe says, ‘Hey, do you want to shoot?’ and I said, ‘yes, yes, I’ll shoot and at that moment I think he wants to shoot with me because he’s being a good guy.’ And then we shoot, about 15 minutes in, I realize he’s watching me shoot. Watching how I catch the ball, watching how I play my feet. He is trying to pick something up. He was always trying to learn.” Redick said.
Not many established superstars in the league would offer to practice with a player who is still in college. Plus, trying to learn new things from a young man who isn’t even in the league seems pretty strange. However, that was the way Bryant acted. He did not miss any opportunity to improve.
Jay Williams also revealed a story that shows how tough Kobe Bryant was.
In 2021, Jay Williams also narrated a story proving that Kobe Bryant was among the hardest workers in the league.
During a clash against the Los Angeles Lakers led by Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal, Williams decided to arrive four hours before the game to take 400 shots. After working for nearly an hour and a half, the then-Chicago Bulls guard noticed Bryant still practicing. And 25 minutes later, Bean ended his session.
After Kobe recorded 40 points in the game, the Lakers leader revealed that seeing Williams in the gym inspired him to work harder.
“So the game was at 7…I’m going to get there at 3. I want to make sure I hit 400 shots before I go back to the room and sit in the sauna…I worked out for a good hour. hour and half,” Williams said. “When I came out after finishing, I sat down and of course I still hear the ball bouncing.
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“Hey Kobe, why were you at the gym so long?” asked. Bryant responded: “Because I saw you come in. I wanted you to know that it doesn’t matter how hard you work. I am willing to work harder than you. You inspire me to be better.”
Clearly, Bryant always wanted to be better than his opponents, whether during the course of the game or simply in practice. Stories like this have inspired multiple players around the league and fans around the world to emulate the same work ethic that Bryant had.
