“Two Different Styles of Leadership”: Former Teammate Compares Playing Under Kobe Bryant and LeBron James

When he was drafted to the Los Angeles Lakers in 2014, Jordan Clarkson had the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play with Kobe Bryant. Despite Bryant being in the twilight of his career, Clarkson has learned a lot from him. Before the start of the 2019/20 season, he had summer workouts with Kobe, which prepared him both physically and mentally for the upcoming season.

He played two seasons with Kobe, till Mamba’s retirement in 2016. In the 2016/17 season, he got traded to Cleveland, where he got to play with another GOAT LeBron James. Not many get the opportunity to learn from two of the greatest leaders on the court.

Clarkson says he was blessed to see both Kobe Bryant and LeBron James

In 2018, John Michael and Rafa Hernandez-Britoasked from CavsHQ asked Clarkson about the difference between their leadership. He said, “Two different styles of leadership. LeBron, very encouraging, bringing everybody along, and Kobe, he’s testing you, seeing what you gonna give him. If he gonna get at you, he gonna scream at you, he gonna cuss, he gonna do whatever it is. He had his own way of leading guys as well. It’s two different sides. I’m just blessed to see both of them.”

Kobe was his first mentor, and Clarkson says he was always there for him. “During my rookie year, Kob was always on me. Get in the gym early with him, getting shots and stuff like that. Kob had his own way of encouraging guys. But it was something similar (To LeBron).”

He has learned a lot from both Kobe and LeBron and has upped his game since last season. He was traded to Utah midway through this season but has consistently been a bucket off the bench. In his 34 games for the Jazz, Clarkson has been averaging 15.6 points off 48% shooting from the field. Only Donovan Mitchell and Bojan Bogdanovic have average better points per game than him.

When the Jazz play in the NBA Playoffs, Clarkson’s scoring off the bench will be vital for them. He may even get a start since Bogdanovic has been ruled out due to injury.