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Learning From The Best: Ingram Receives Text From Kobe About Workout

When Kobe Bryant’s illustrious career came to an end in 2016, the five-time NBA champion vowed to build up his business company Kobe, Inc., and remain active around the league during retirement. Working out with young players, showing what it takes to become great was one of his plans, and recently, put the wheels in motion with a current Los Angeles Lakers rookie.

Lakers rookie Brandon Ingram—No. 2 overall selection in the 2016 NBA Draft out of Duke university—has voiced his desire to learn from Bryant whenever he is willing to. Ingram, now 19-years-old, but drafted at 18, relates to Bryant who was take. No. 13 overall by the Charlotte Hornets in the star studded 1996 NBA Draft at just 17-years-old.

Kevin Ding of Bleacher Report spoke with Ingram about what he hopes to learn from Bryant, and the exact text message the “Black Mamba” sent him.

Ingram has been longing all season for the chance to connect with Bryant, yearning to find out specifically “whatever he did his rookie year to get prepared” and generally about that killer mentality that Ingram called “unreal.”

Ingram’s wish came true Wednesday when he got a text message from Bryant—”What up, youngin? It’s Kobe. Hit me up”—to open the door to what could be a wealth of information. Ingram initially didn’t believe it was really Kobe.

 

New Los Angeles Lakers advisor and NBA legend Magic Johnson may be behind this whole thing. Johnson has admitted he plans on bringing in Bryant to help the organization in any way possible.

Nearing the all-star break, Brandon Ingram has had a solid first half of the season for Los Angeles. In 27.7 minutes, the 19-year-old rookie is averaging an effective 8.0 points and 4.1 rebounds per game on 36.2% shooting and 30.4% from three-point range.

Ingram’s dream has come true. Whenever his workout takes place, the first day of Kobe Bryant’s School of Greatness will be in session.