Kobe advises Warriors' Green to lead: 'He's got to give them that conflict'
Every great team must be served a slice of humble pie every now and then.
Although the 2015-16 iteration of the Golden State Warriors is likely more than simply a "great" team - their current 90.1 winning percentage suggests they're nearly flawless - they are far from invincible, as evidenced by Sunday's shocking 112-95 loss to the lowly Los Angeles Lakers.
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As the Lakers - now sporting a 13-51 record - reminded the Dubs (55-6) of their basketball mortality, Kobe Bryant sought out fellow Western Conference All-Star Draymond Green immediately following the game in order to deliver some rather sage advice.
"He's the one that has to keep his finger on the nerve with this team, because it can get lax, it can get comfortable, and I think he's the one that's going to have to create that conflict, that tension in the locker room, because if they don't have that, then in the playoffs, then they are going to be in trouble," Bryant said of Green.
"He's got to give them that conflict."
Although 11 years and 16 seasons separate the two players, the 37-year-old Bryant can certainly appreciate the enviable position Green and the Warriors currently occupy atop the league's standings. After all, "Vino," too, was once the toast of the town as he and his Lakers of the early 2000s ran through the Association en route to three consecutive championships. Bryant and co. also won back-to-back titles in 2008-09 and 2009-10.
Green - a 26-year-old and veritable pup in terms of NBA years logged - grabbed the unofficial mantle of "emotional leader" of the Warriors last year, during a breakout season in which he not only saw his stats rise across virtually all categories but also earned the trust of his teammates and head coach Steve Kerr.
The passion - and sometimes unbridled fury - with which the Michigan State product plays has more often than not paid dividends for the Dubs. However, the short fuse that has become synonymous with his name has also been detrimental to the club at times.
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This energy, though, is precisely what Bryant has encouraged Green to exploit in order to prevent Golden State from becoming complacent in their mission to defend their 2015 title - a recommendation Green remains moved by considering its source.
"He's that guy and probably one of the best to ever do that," Green said of Bryant. "For what he's done for the game, being a fan of him, to hear that from him, means a lot, and it's one of those things it makes you want to do it even more. That's a guy who's been there, done that, he's won back-to-back championships, like we're trying to do, so he knows what it takes, he knows what you have to do. You just take the advice. You know you have to bring some leadership to the table and you just remember what he told you. I'm not sure how you do it, but try to find a way."
The Warriors are still on pace to best the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls' historic 72-10 regular season record, but Green and company are likely more focused on winning their second straight championship - something "The Black Mamba" knows a thing or two about.