Kobe Bryant As A UCLA Coach, No Thank You!
What? Did I read that right? Los Angeles Lakers‘ Kobe Bryant as the next coach of the UCLA Bruins? Yes I did and it was a real article that came out of the Los Angeles Post-Examiner by James Moore. The actual title that made me double-take is Kobe Bryant and UCLA: A Perfect Marriage. The first thing that I thought when I read that headline, “um, no.”
January 4, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (24) dunks to score a basket against the Indiana Pacers during the first half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
A lot of things seem like they would be a “perfect fit” when put together, but in reality, they just turn out disappointing. A peanut butter and pickle sandwich, alcoholic energy drinks, “Pop Punk”, a sports wives television program, any movie with Vince Vaughn in it, buying a home in the desert, mango salsa and even Kobe and Dwight Howard as teammates, just to name a few.
Sure they sound like perfect fits, but once you actually realize what you have gotten yourself into, you realize how big of a mistake you made and never want to experience it again. The same can be said about the possibility of Kobe Bryant coaching UCLA, as written in the Post-Examiner.
First off, Kobe is a great basketball player. There is no doubt about that. He is not only one of the greatest Lakers of all-time but one of the greatest NBA players of all-time. No doubt.
Yet being a great player does not translate to being a good coach. Any one remember Earvin “Magic” Johnson‘s 16 game stint with the Lakers? He had a 5-11 record (.313). Exactly.
Not to say that will happen with Kobe, but what has “24” done to prove that he can not only coach, but coach, develop and recruit en route to making UCLA elite? Moore states that:
"Kobe Bryant not only could, he would turn UCLA into a powerhouse that would routinely make final four appearances and making national titles so common, anything less would be unimaginable."
What? How? Moore kind of explains it.
"Kobe would prepare more than just his players for each game. He would prepare himself and his staff as well by doing what he has always done, out working everyone else."
Again, what?
Maybe it is just me but I view basketball as a team sport and if Kobe “out works” everyone rather than working with everyone, the foundation of the team will fall apart. It is forgotten in this article that individual players have different skills sets and need to be developed independently and then brought together at game time. Just because he is Kobe, UCLA will win under his direction?
UCLA Bruins
On top of that, Kobe has not really been known as being a good teammate, so how will he profess team play? Think about that! And that bit about Kobe routinely making Final Four appearances? I just do not see it. Additionally, he never played college basketball, so he would essentially be journeying into unknown territory. I am sure most fans would not necessarily like that trait in a coach.
I get that he is a future NBA Hall of Famer, but he has gotten to where he is by being Kobe. A man that is looking out for Kobe. There is nothing wrong with that, but at the same time, that does not translate to being a great college coach.
And for Pete’s sake, he is Kobe Bryant! He is not looking to coach a basketball team after he has retired, he is going to want to be coach, General Manager, President and Owner of an NBA team. Anything to outdo Michael Jordan.
So as much as this fantasy looks good on paper, for a team like UCLA, I would prefer the Bruins to have a coach that has had several years of both experience and success. A person that not only knows the game in the team perspective, but also has an excellent track record in recruiting and development. You know, someone like Shaka Smart, Billy Donovan or Mark Few.
But that is just me.
Nov 23, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (24) reacts after missing a basket as heads down court in the second half of the game against the Denver Nuggets at Staples Center. Nuggets won 101-94. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports