Grizzlies swingman Dillon Brooks may not have the offensive talent of an NBA superstar, but his efforts on the court and talents as a perimeter defender have set him apart from most other role players in the NBA.
And while the 27-year-old is clearly confident in his game, he has dreams of playing at a higher level, similar to Kyrie Irving — who he recently compared to Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant.
“He’s just like Kobe,” said Brooks. “He’s just like Jordan and those guys. He plays the game at a different pace. He uses both hands, mid-range God. And that’s where I want to be at one day, be able to shoot the ball more.”
The quote comes in the aftermath of a clash between the Grizzlies and Mavericks, where Irving put up 28 points in a 112-108 loss.
Despite the defeat, Irving was a shining example of offensive brilliance, and his game frequently draws comparisons to past NBA greats like Allen Iverson and, of course, Kobe Bryant.
Kobe Bryant Was A Huge Mentor To Young Kyrie
It’s no coincidence that Irving plays in a similar way as Bryant. It’s likely he picked up his “attack” mentality as a mentor under Kobe back when he was still alive and offered his knowledge to younger players.
Even as Irving gained experience, he always looked to Kobe for motivation and wisdom.
“I asked Kobe how do I attack this season. How do I really lock in and focus on the mission of winning the championship? He straight up said, ‘You can’t give a f–k about what people say. If you are paying attention to what other people say, stop. He gave me some extra motivation in the most Kobe way,” Irving said on Bryant ahead of the 2016 championship. “He was like, man I think Golden State is definitely going to win the championship this year. Can you imagine Kobe saying that? He was my hero.”
Today, Kyrie often gets criticized for being an agent of chaos and dysfunction, but when he’s on the court, he will always give his all, and he can always be counted on to show up and perform.
While being compared to Kobe and MJ might be a bit of a stretch, Dillon Brooks (among others) clearly holds him in very high regard.
Source: fadeawayworld
