Kobe Bryant is savoring his retirement and admits not missing the NBA life. But like most retired greats, he does have lots of stories to tell – including the Los Angeles Lakers mental tactic on special players.
The special players in mention are the ones due for a max contract deal. Bryant is, of course, aware of what is at stake and players due for such would want to prove that they are worth every penny. But Kobe and the Lakers made sure that they had to work for that, applying a psychological approach to frustrate them and the team they play for as well.
Bryant mentioned how the Lakers would double-team players due for a max-contract where they made life miserable. Players who already had a max contract in their pocket were given single coverage, something that could very well frustrate players aching to prove their stock, USA today reported.
With the player due for a max contract unable to perform normally, the frustration would eventually radiate to the team and cause problems. The tactic makes a lot of sense considering basketball is not only physical but a game that requires good IQ.
It remains to be seen however on how many teams the Lakers were able to use that tactic and who was the brains behind the ploy, SB Nation reported. It may have happened a long time ago when the Lakers were still among the competitive quintets in the NBA. As most know, the Lakers had two forgettable years though they are looking good this early in the season under Luke Walton.
The lesson here from Kobe is that basketball requires full concentration and not purely athleticism or talent. Bryant showed a lot of both, marvelously handling his career. He is a well decorated NBA player where he stands to be inducted among the greats in the NBA Hall of Fame.
