“Dream of Mine to Come Here” – Diehard AC Milan Fan Kobe Bryant Once Also Revealed How Soccer Strategies Helped Him in Basketball

Kobe Bryant was an inspiring figure all around the globe. His tragic death in 2020 sent shockwaves around the world. Kobe’s influence on the NBA was immense, and he was inducted into the Hall of Fame for his contributions. However, Kobe’s influence was well beyond basketball and has a huge impact on other sports as well, such as soccer. He was a big soccer fan from his childhood days and supported Serie A champions AC Milan.

The soccer world mourned his death and for a reason. Kobe learned a lot from the same and once admitted that it helped him in basketball.

Kobe Bryant moved to Italy with his family at the young age of six. His father left the NBA to ply his trade in the Italian basketball league. This led to him being exposed to the game of soccer at an early age. He even admitted to playing soccer until the age of 14. However, he went on to follow his father and chose basketball over soccer in his college days.

There was no hiding Kobe’s love for AC Milan. In 2013, he visited AC Milan’s training center during the offseason. He admitted that both he and his father are Milan fans.

“It’s great to be here at Milanello. It has always been a dream of mine to come here. I have been a big fan of Milan ever since I was a kid,” Kobe said. “Why I became a Milan fan? I watched them when I was a kid. They had Gullit, Rijkaard, Van Basten and Maldini. Milan has always been my favorite team, and Milan is always in my heart.”

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Kobe once admitted to playing soccer in his childhood. He also revealed the game has helped him in mastering major hoop skills.

Kobe Bryant revealed how soccer strategies help him in basketball

The Lakers legend was immersed in Italy’s sporting culture in his childhood. He played soccer in Italy before starting his professional career in basketball. This helped him in gaining some major skills in basketball.

“[Soccer] is strategic,” Bryant told ESPN. “Upon receiving the ball you already have to have a good idea of what you’re reading in front of you and what the next move is. And also the structure; they taught me at an early age how to play in triangles and how to utilize space, which wound up helping me tremendously in basketball as well. I loved the idea of how quickly the ball moves and how quickly you have to process what’s moving right in front of you to make decisions.”

Kobe was known for his swift movements on the court in his NBA career. His footwork and off-the-ball movements made him a standout player from others. Kobe used what he could from soccer and implemented it in basketball. This surely would have impressed former Lakers coach Phil Jackson.

Kobe was involved in several advertisement campaigns alongside soccer stars, such as Lionel Messi. Even after his retirement, he continued to involve himself in the game in some capacity or another. This made him among the most loved athletes in the world.

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