Bryant says he also talks regularly with Cavaliers point guard Kyrie Irving, MVP candidates James Harden and Russell Westbrook, and Utah Jazz star Gordon Hayward, whom Bryant spent three days training with in Orange County last summer.
"I'm around for all the guys," Bryant tells ESPN.com. "Anybody can reach out. It's an open book."
When Bryant retired, he vowed he would pay it forward to help mentor the young players who succeeded him. So, when Hayward called him last summer and said he would be in the area, Bryant arranged for them to train together.
"I really love Gordon's game," Bryant says. "He's got versatility and size. He plays with great pace. You can't rush him into making a poor decision.
"He can shoot the long ball, he can hit midrange, he can take you in the post. I think he has a tremendous amount of potential."
Bryant said he and Hayward focused mostly on footwork and positioning during their three days together.
"We talked a lot about how to get to certain spots on the floor," Braynt says. "How you can get to that place that makes you comfortable. I told him, 'You know what you like to do. Figure that out first, then figure out where you can do it best.'"
https://es.pn/nba/story/_/id/193463...glad-boston-celtics-isaiah-thomas-reached-him
Kobe said some very kind words about Hayward. I definitely think working out with Kobe helped him take his game to the next level. I expect Hayward to continue to improve and make it 8 straight seasons with a higher scoring average.
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