“Send Them My Way”: Kobe Bryant Voiced Concerns Over LeBron James Gene That Bronny and Bryce Inherited (2016)

Published 01/26/2024, 2:10 PM EST

The late, great Kobe Bryant sensed the talent that Bronny and Bryce James have back in 2016. Known for his killer instincts on the court, the Black Mamba offered to help out and teach LeBron James‘ kids something that would help them in the long run. He believed that “they pass too much.”

Kobe was always fond of LeBron and their brotherhood, so it doesn’t come as a surprise that he offered to coach Bronny and Bryce. However, his saying this to LeBron’s mother Gloria James is surely something special. The 5x NBA champion believed that as good as LeBron is as a player, his belief in his team restricts him from taking matters into his own hands.

Whereas Kobe was all about showing up in clutch situations and carrying his team for the majority of his career. Although he appreciated LeBron’s quality as a leader, he believed that the next generation could be changed. So, when he saw LeBron’s mother, Gloria, in the hallway outside the locker rooms, he extended to coach her grandsons. Kobe told her that he had been watching Bronny and Bryce and they were doing great things, but they needed to change their habit of passing the ball too often. The Mamba told her, “Send them my way, and I’ll fix that.”

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Kobe Bryant saw something special in Kyrie Irving

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Kobe always endorsed being authentic, but he also believed in change. He said, “You have to be true to who you are, and authentic. And I think every team should have that lightning rod. Because the happy-go-lucky stuff doesn’t work. I don’t care what anybody says or people’s perception of the team”.

So, while it was too late for LeBron to become the “lightning rod” at that point, he thought that the future generations of the James family could still adapt to that quality. As for the Cleveland Cavaliers team at the time, the LA Lakers legend did see that quality in someone. He said, “From the Cavs’ perspective, it’s hard for me to tell from afar who should be that person.”

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“LeBron’s not that person. LeBron, he’s a … he brings people together. That’s what he does naturally. He’s phenomenal at it. But you have to have somebody else who’s going to create that tension. Maybe it’s Kyrie [Irving],” he added. NBA veteran Gilbert Arenas has a similar criticism of Bronny who is about to enter the league. He believes that Bronny is too good but his habit of going by the textbook restricts him from really exploding. The Black Mamba really was a visionary when it comes to sensing talent.

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My introduction to basketball was through Kobe Bryant. Soon enough, I was hooked to his game and although I started with being a fan of his, I also became a fan of basketball. To this day, Kobe remains my reference and guide as I try to navigate through life.

Edited by:

Caroline Joseph

“Send Them My Way”: Kobe Bryant Voiced Concerns Over LeBron James Gene That Bronny and Bryce Inherited (2016)

Kobe Bryant saw something special in Kyrie Irving

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