New Lakers’ Assistant Coach Unsure How He’ll Talk to Kobe Bryant


Mike Brown hired Ettore Messina (one of Europe’s brightest coaching minds) to join his staff in LA, but Messina has some well-founded concerns about how exactly he’ll communicate with Kobe Bryant. Per Ball in Europe: “Messina is known for his charismatic and irrepressible attitude on the bench but has also the gift of self-irony outside the court. A few days ago, he spoke about leadership in a conference on sport business and digressed on the first challenges of his new life as a Laker. ‘The other day I was on the phone with the Lakers staff, asking advice on where I should get a house,’ said Messina. ‘I was told some people prefer living close to the practice facilities; others, like Kobe, live further away. Sometimes, in order not to challenge the incredible L.A. traffic, Kobe even comes to practice by helicopter. At that point I thought: ‘This guy makes $25 million and comes to practice by helicopter – What am I supposed to say to him? ‘Down with that ass, bend your knees’?”

(H/T: PBT)