The recent buzz about what moves players borrowed from who has led to a lot of discussion in recent weeks. This morning, I stumbled across a YouTube video which features nearly a half hour of Kobe Bryant’s best work on the offensive end in the playoffs from 2008 to 2012. 08-10 may have been the best stretch of basketball Bryant has played in his career, but the five year stretch the video highlights shows how much Bryant has borrowed from other players.
The elbow and baseline fadeaways have Michael Jordan written all over them. However, we see Hakeem Olajuwon’s Dream Shake in this video. Carmelo Anthony’s one dribble pull up jumper on the wing, Tracy McGrady’s off the glass to himself move, Dirk Nowitzki’s signature one-leg-up-fadeaway and many more.
Then, on top of that, we get to see some of Bryant’s own creations. You’re not likely to find a more creative player out of the triple threat than Bryant because he’s been able to take the best from so many players and fuze them together to become his own player. Bryant’s reverse-pivot out of the pump fake is his, and his alone. His step through after the pump fake is his as well. The fact that he has multiple moves for every spot on the floor has made him so hard to defend over the course of his career.
Do yourself a favor and enjoy 30 minutes of Kobe dominating in the playoffs.
