Lately,most Kobe Bryant news people read are about the Los Angeles Lakers star planning to retire or not after next season. The 19-year veteran has cleared this issue.
On his Twitter, he insisted that like what he said in an interview last February, the 2015-16 season will not be his last.
The latest Kobe Bryant news is kind of different though. It is not about Black Mamba's future but his past. The 1996 13th overall draft pick has a bad record when it comes to his relationship with teammates.
However, a story of Andrew Goudelock might debunk every misconception about the Black Mamba. In an article by Basketball Insiders, Goudelock, who played with Kobe Bryant from 2011 to 2012, relieved the times when Kobe motivated him to get better. He even claimed that he is 'Mini Mamba' to Kobe's Black Mamba.
"Kobe gave me the 'Mini Mamba' nickname and would encourage me to perform with confidence, almost to the point where I was cocky about my game," Goudelock said. "He could tell I had a passion for the game, it was almost an unspoken understanding. Sometimes players didn't take certain shots during a game and Kobe would turn to me like, 'Only you and I would have taken that shot.'"
Goudelock even has a rare Kobe Bryant story. On the same article, the 22-year old shooting guard who is now playing in Turkey said Kobe Bryant once treated them at the MGM Grand Hotel and spent 'all kinds of money' for his teammate.
"Kobe took the Lakers during preseason to the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas and bought the whole top floor for the team," Goudelock recalled. "He met us there with his helicopter and was spending all kinds of money on us and let us ball out for the night."
This is definitely a different Kobe Bryant news. Just a few days ago, Jared Dudley of the Milwaukee Bucks said it is Kobe Bryant's free rein of the Los Angeles Lakers that drive away top quality players.
