What do Kobe Bryant and Gilbert Arenas have in common? According to Antawn Jamison, both will shoot when triple-teamed.
The difference between Kobe and Arenas? According to Jamison, Bryant will pass if yelled at and Arenas will shoot regardless.
“Kobe will tell you, he’s like, ‘Look, you guys as my teammates, yell at me. Let me know that you’re open because I’m so programmed,’” Jamison told ESPN LA radio. “And this guy has told me this. ‘I see nothing but that basket. You could be open. It could be three guys on me. But the only thing I see is that basket. So, you have to tell me, Look, I was open. Or yell at me in mid-play.’ He said, ‘That doesn’t affect me at all, and I respect that.’ So, you know, I’ve dealt with Gilbert, who, ‘Look, I’m going to shoot with three guys on me, and that’s it.’”
Setting aside Arenas averaging more assists per 36 minutes (5.4) than Bryant (4.7) in his career, it’s no surprise Bryant becomes so single-minded with the ball in his hands. After all, he has led the NBA in usage percentage three times for a reason.
If we learned anything from Jamison’s interview, it’s how vocal Kobe’s teammates must be this season, considering Kobe is averaging a career-high 5.5 assists per 36 minutes.
