Kobe Bryant recently told ESPN that he's "an open book" when it comes to dishing out advice to current NBA players, such as Boston's Isaiah Thomas who has had many conversations with Kobe throughout the playoffs.
Kobe has also said that he speaks regularly with James Harden, Kyrie Irving, Russell Westbrook and Gordon Hayward. One person who might be reaching out to Kobe for advice in the near future is Lonzo Ball, who is projected to be a top-3 pick and has a real chance of playing for his hometown Los Angeles Lakers next season.
Although, Lonzo's father LaVar thinks his son has to play his own game and "don't need no advice from Kobe Bryant."
This morning on "Mornings with Keyshawn Johnson on ESPN Radio 710 LA, LaVar said,
"I don't need no advice from Kobe Bryant," LaVar said. "I don't need advice from Kobe Bryant. 'Zo's got to play his game."
"If they're at practice and he sees something, and Lonzo listens to him or whatever, he's good. ... But it's just not, 'OK, I'm talking to Kobe, so now I'm going to be good.' If Kobe sees something that 'Zo is doing, then go from there. But I'm not trying to pattern after nobody."
Kobe also told ESPN that his impulse to mentor younger players can be attributed to Michael Jackson, who told him during a visit to Neverland Ranch to reach out to all the greats in his profession and learn from them.