Kobe Bryant expects great things from LeBron James in the Lakers



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Noting that "dreams are noticeably bigger now" for the young Los Angeles Lakers core, Kobe Bryant personally welcomed LeBron James to the Lakers family shortly after James enlisted in the famed franchise [19659002] Bryant told his former rival that he was there to support the new Lakers superstar and his family, and that the arrival of James had pushed the Lakers to "center and front".

"I talked to him during the playoffs and then I talked to him last night, right after the decision," Bryant told Stephen A. Smith on ESPN Radio. "I said," Welcome to the family, my friend. "It sounds crazy, but I said," Friend, now you're part of the family. "So everything you need from me, you tell me, no matter the case, I'm here for you, I just wish him his family "

" Friend, as a people, you have to help your brothers do things right, "added the ultra-competitive Bryant, who is going to To be James's rival to be part of the same franchise.I did a great career, I played 20 years, it was great, I spent a good moment, we had the chance to win five championships and all that, now it's the turn of another person, and that's what the Lakers have always been. 19659002] "When I arrived here, Magic [Johnson] m received with open arms, me and Shaq [O’Neal] and we were able to continue the tradition with the support of Magic and Kareem [Abdul-Jabbar] and it is our responsibility to pay that. So, all I can do to help LeBron bring a championship to the city of Los Angeles, I totally agree. "

Bryant said his first reaction to the news that James had accepted a four-year contract with an option of up to $ 153.3 million was that the Lakers bosses, Jeanie Buss, Johnson and general manager Rob Pelinka, "are beasts."

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Bryant repeatedly expressed his enthusiasm for his former agent and friend, Pelinka and Buss, who cleaned the house in early 2017 and took control then that he hires Johnson to be President of Basketball Operations and Pelinka.

I sent Jeanie a picture of a meme from "Game of Thrones," Bryant told Rachel Nichols in "The Jump." "I sent him a picture of Khaleesi on the boat coming back to her homeland with all the boats behind her … and I told her that I told her to Jeanie, because I had bad to say, okay, I want to take control organization or not … I told Jeanie that sometimes the "Mother of the Dragons" was to be the "Mother of the Dragons." And Jeanie was turned into Khaleesi. "

About how the arrival of James impacts the young players in the Lakers stable claim that the team's defense and playmaker Lonzo Ball and striker Kyle Kuzma will quickly improve under James' direction

"With LeBron on this list, I do not think it's a big deal," said Bryant about the Lakers, who finished 35-47 but suffered a series of injuries late last season. "Dreams are noticeably bigger now, LeBron speeds up court Be learning for these young people and they can learn much faster because they will have the opportunity to see him work every day, how he will practice, how he takes care of his body and how he eats. They can learn very, very quickly, it will really help the growth of Lonzo and Kyle and the rest of the guys. "

" … For us to have a player like LeBron here, he just creates a lot of energy [para la ciudad de Los Ángeles y la NBA]"added Bryant." Players like Lonzo, Kyle and D & # 39; others now have very good pressure to push them back sooner. I can not wait to see how they will react. "

Bryant spoke profusely of Johnson's ability to protect James in a purple uniform.Golden, and said that with all that Johnson did and did for the organization is that "maybe they have to give another statue to this guy."

Bryant also believes that James will not have any problems playing in the main reflector. The most glamorous franchise of the NBA.

"This requires a certain amount of thick skin because it's a place used to some inheritance," said Bryant. have thick skin and inner confidence that things will go well and then be able to infuse that into the rest of your teammates as you go through the worst time. "

" LeBron has proven that he can do it. They have thrown everything at this child since he was in high school and he has been able to cope with it and persevere and I am waiting for him to do the same thing here. "

Bryant said that he hoped to reach out to James in the same way that Johnson and other Lakers legends did for him, and he believes that James' presence in Los Angeles will make the Lakers the main destination again in the NBA.

"It takes a certain player to get," said Bryant, "our franchise was very lucky to have some really great players and to represent the franchise. Very lucky now to have LeBron as one of these players.

"For the other players in the league, I think that he pushed the Lakers to the front and center again and at the top of the conversation, creates an energy around the city that I think is extremely important not only for the city but for the entire league, the league tends to improve when the Lakers and Boston are in the fight. "

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