Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo says a private workout with Kobe Bryant during the Lakers star’s 2016 farewell season left him in awe of Bryant’s “aura.” Speaking on “The Thanalysis Show,” Antetokounmpo, then 22, recalled arriving from Greece and heading straight to the gym after texting Bryant for the location.
According to Antetokounmpo, his flight landed around 7 a.m. and the workout was set for 10:30 a.m. Rather than book a hotel, he and his physiotherapist warmed up at the facility from 8 a.m. “We were just going to wait,” he said.
He described Bryant’s entrance as almost cinematic. “He’s walking toward me, he’s glowing… I’m starstruck,” Antetokounmpo said. Bryant greeted him with, “Hey, big fella. How are you doing? You ready to work out?”
During shooting drills, Antetokounmpo expected to make five shots at each spot, but Bryant raised the bar: “Five? Make 20… until you can’t shoot no more.” Antetokounmpo called the session “arguably one of the greatest moments” of his career.
Since that encounter, Antetokounmpo has become an NBA champion (2021), two-time league MVP, Finals MVP and Defensive Player of the Year—achievements he credits to relentless work on his game.
In a separate segment, former Lakers forward Larry Nance Jr.—who played alongside both Bryant and LeBron James—outlined differences in their leadership styles, noting the unique approaches each legend brought to the locker room.
Source: Lakers Nation
