Kobe Bryant couldn’t help himself, apparently.
Even though Bryant is living the retired life after dropping 60 points in his final game last month, he’s still leaving his mark on the NBA playoffs. The Los Angeles Lakers legend reached out to Draymond Green after the Golden State Warriors’ loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 4 of the Western Conference finals and offered an inspirational message that clearly hit home.
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Green scored 11 points, grabbed 13 rebounds and added four blocks Thursday night as the Warriors staved off elimination with a 120-111 win in Game 5. It was an obvious improvement over Green’s last two games, during which the 26-year-old scored 12 points combined while shooting 2 of 16 from the field.
“Anybody can tell you something,” Green said after Game 5, according to The Orange County Register, adding he also spoke to Bryant on the phone this week. “But when you’ve got a guy like that who has really been through everything, it kind of hits home a little bit more, so it was great.”
Bryant obviously knows a thing or two about winning, having racked up five NBA titles during his 20-year career with the Lakers. Green would be wise to heed his advice. And so far, he has.
“He’s been through having the fans, love him. He’s been through having the fans completely hate him,” Green said. “And when they hate him, he used that as fuel.”
Green and the Warriors looked like they could use some fuel after falling into a 3-1 series hole following back-to-back losses. They might have discovered it with a little help from Black Mamba.
Thumbnail photo via Kyle Terada/USA TODAY Sports Images
