In his 20 year Laker career, Kobe Bryant won the hearts of Laker fans and inspired several more. The ‘Mamba,’ as he is popularly known, won five championships for the Los Angeles Lakers. But there was also a chance for a sixth title.

Back in the 2012-13 season, the Lakers’ front office put together a roster consisting of five NBA stars. Apart from Kobe, Gasol, and Artest, who were already existing members in the roster, the Lakers would add Steve Nash and Dwight Howard. These key additions made the Lakers one of the most feared teams prior to the start of the season.

However, the team wouldn’t provide the expected results. One of the reasons for this was Dwight Howard’s drop in performance. While on the Magic, Howard was a force in the NBA with an aim to become one of the greats, but since joining the Lakers, things went downhill for the big man. In light of this, Kobe Bryant spoke to the ‘Athletic’ on how Howard could attain the tagline of an NBA great.

Kobe Bryant’s advice for Dwight Howard

As the 2012-13 season came to a close, the Lakers finished with a dismal 45-37 regular-season record and would be swept by the San Antonio Spurs in the first round of the playoffs. However, somewhere in the middle of the season in January 2013, Kobe Bryant spoke to the ‘Athletic’s’ Sam Amick in regard to Howard’s performances and how he could become an NBA great.

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“Yeah (Howard can fit in that). I don’t wonder (that) anymore. It’s just a matter of learning. It’s a process for him. He wants to be one of the greats of all time, and to do that you have to learn from the greats of all time—be it Bill Russell, be it Shaq,” said Kobe.

“I mean Shaq was a moody, temperamental dude. So if you watch all the big men who have come before, you start to see a common denominator,” he added.

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“Wilt (Chamberlain) — God Bless him — was phenomenal, but he didn’t have it. Russell and (those) guys win (repeatedly) — Jordan, Magic, myself. You’ve got a little asshole engine. … I’m a problem solver. I try to figure things out, come hell or high water,” explained Kobe.

Kobe revealed that in order for Howard to get better, he’d have to learn from NBA greats and also build a personality similar to legends like Shaq and MJ, while also developing problem-solving skills. Since his departure from Orlando, Howard would never exhibit the same MVP level of play that he once used to carry the Magic to the finals. However, he would earn his redemption and win an NBA title alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

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