Download our Free Mobile App!
Faster with Fewer Ads

Get App
Lakers Nation
  • Rumors
  • Schedule
    • Lakers 2025 Preseason Schedule
  • Videos
    • YouTube
    • Podcast
  • FAQ
  • About
    • About Lakers Nation
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Policy
  • Download Our App

Download our Free Mobile App!
Faster with Fewer Ads

Get App
Lakers Nation
  • Rumors
  • Schedule
    • Lakers 2025 Preseason Schedule
  • Videos
    • YouTube
    • Podcast
  • FAQ
  • About
    • About Lakers Nation
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Policy
  • Download Our App
Search
  • Rumors
  • Schedule
    • 2024 preseason
    • 2024-2025 regular season
  • Videos
    • YouTube
    • Podcast
  • FAQ
  • About
    • About Lakers Nation
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Policy
  • Download Our App
Follow US
© 2024 Medium Large Sports Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Lakers Nation > Blog > Lakers News > Kobe Bryant Discusses How Soccer Has Influenced His Basketball Game
Lakers News

Kobe Bryant Discusses How Soccer Has Influenced His Basketball Game

Corey Hansford
Published: 01/10/2016
2 Min Read
SHARE

Kobe Bryant has become one of the greatest basketball players to ever walk the earth, but growing up in Italy, he also developed a love for soccer.

Even though he is far removed from his soccer days, the things he was taught growing up impacted how he sees things on the basketball court.

After the Los Angeles Lakers loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, Bryant went into detail about some basic differences between soccer and basketball according to Shahan Ahmed of Yahoo! Sports:

“Most of the time, American basketball is only taught in twos: 1-2, pick and roll, or give and go, or something like that,” Bryant explained. “In playing soccer growing up, you really see the game in a combination of threes, sometimes fours—and how you play within triangles.”

Bryant would go on to add that those things give him a different perspective on the court:

“You see things in multiple combinations,” Bryant continued. “And growing up playing (soccer), my eye and my brain became accustomed to seeing those combinations in threes and fours versus one and two.”

Bryant has always been a huge soccer fan, touting FC Barcelona as his favorite team and Lionel Messi as his favorite player. Most knew that Kobe played soccer growing up in Italy, but hearing the impact it has made on his game is extremely interesting.

Kobe may be known for his scoring, but he also has over 6,000 assists in his career making him the only member of the ‘30,000-6,000 club.’ For that, we can thank Kobe’s love of soccer for giving him a different perspective than the rest of the league.

Total
0
Shares
Share 0
Tweet 0
Pin it 0
Share 0
TAGGED:Kobe BryantLos Angeles Lakers
ByCorey Hansford
Corey Hansford is the Senior Editor for Lakers Nation, as well as a contributor for Dodger Blue, Rams News Wire, and Raiders News Wire. He is a passionate follower of the Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas Cowboys, Los Angeles Dodgers, Chelsea FC, and the UFC. He can usually be seen arguing the merits of Kobe Bryant or cursing the decisions of Jerry Jones. He is also a former producer and associate producer for Sirius XM Sports Radio on both the Fantasy Sports Channel and College Sports Nation. Proud graduate of Long Beach Poly High School and The Real HU, Howard University, with a degree in Broadcast Journalism. Follow him on all social media outlets at @TheeCoreyH.
Sign Up for Our Newsletter
Get breaking Lakers News direct to your inbox.

Categories

  • News
  • Rumors
  • Games
  • History

Information

  • Advertise
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

Get breaking Lakers News direct to your inbox.

© 2025 Medium Large Sports Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?