New Orleans’ Anthony Davis appreciative of Kobe Bryant’s mentorship

The Lakers’ Kobe Bryant didn’t practice Tuesday in Phoenix and may not play in today’s game in New Orleans to preserve his 36-year-old body. Hans Gutknecht ‑ Staff Photographer

The Lakers’ Kobe Bryant didn’t practice Tuesday in Phoenix and may not play in today’s game in New Orleans to preserve his 36-year-old body. Hans Gutknecht ‑ Staff Photographer

NEW ORLEANS — Anthony Davis’ eagerness to return to the court went beyond his frustration over a recently sprained left toe that sideline him for three consecutive games.

Davis also looked forward toward suiting up when the New Orleans Pelicans (20-21) host the Lakers (12-3) tonight at Smoothie King Center to face a certain player. His name is Kobe Bryant. You may have heard of him.

“He’s a competitor and brings the competitive nature out of everybody,” Davis said Wednesday after the Pelicans’ morning shootaround. “Guys have to show up when you play against any good team. When Kobe is on the team, they’re capable of winning.”

The Lakers listed Bryant as questionable to play against the Pelicans after sitting out eight of the past 15 games to rest. Regardless of Bryant’s playing status, it seems unsettling for the Lakers that Davis will return considering he averages 24.2 points on 56.1 percent shooting, 10.4 rebounds and 2.9 blocks. Davis, in only his third NBA season, credits part of his quick ascension partly to Bryant’s mentorship during the 2012 London Olympics.

“I loved every moment of it,” Davis said. “He took me under his wing and showed me a lot about the game, hard work and professionalism. That’s the first moment I counseled with him and ended up winning gold together. That whole experience in the London is the most thing I cherish.”

But Davis hardly sounded interested in sharing insight on Bryant’s feedback.

“He did, but that’s between me and Kobe though,” Davis said. “It was good. What we did and said was for us.”

Still, it’s not hard to connect the dots.

Davis reported that he spent his time in the 2014 FIBA World Championships and various offseason workouts improving all parts of his game, ranging from ball handling, shooting and post moves. Earlier this season, Bryant called Davis “an athletic Pau Gasol,”

“He’s athletically gifted and has similar skill,” Bryant said earlier this season about Davis. “But Pau is the most skilled big man I’ve seen. He still has a ways to go in matching that skill level if he ever gets there, man, watch out. He just has to continue to work on the block and turn his left shoulder and right shoulder, use both hands and jump hooks. Those are things that for Pau, it’s natural. If [Davis] puts that to his game, the sky is the limit for him.”

Davis sounded humbled about Bryant speaking his name in the same sentence as Gasol.

“Pau is a great player. Pau has done so many things and accomplished so much,” Davis said. “Kobe played with both of us so I’m just glad I can be in that category with him.”


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