SUMMARY
- Charlotte Hornets veteran Gordon Hayward shared his experience of working out with Kobe Bryant on the "Podcast P" hosted by Paul George.
- The sessions with Kobe Bryant had a significant impact on Gordon Hayward's career.
Charlotte Hornets veteran wing Gordon Hayward recently opened up about his workouts with the late basketball legend Kobe Bryant. In the latest episode of “Podcast P” hosted by Paul George, Hayward recalled his experience.
Hayward, known for his time with the Boston Celtics and currently playing for the Charlotte Hornets, shared a story that highlights Kobe’s unique approach to mentorship. He stated that Kobe asked him to meet at the gym at 7 in the morning. Well aware of Kobe’s image for punctuality and strictness, Hayward made sure to arrive early at 6:15, fully prepared for what he expected to be a tough training session.
However, the morning didn’t go as Hayward expected. Despite his early arrival, Kobe was not there. The minutes passed and Kobe didn’t show up till 7:30, so Hayward decided to text Kobe, who replied quickly and arrived within five minutes.
“He’s[Kobe] like Oh! You’re there. Like texted back immediately. Word. I’ll be there in 5 minutes.” Hayward said. “He walks in. Throws his keys off to the bleachers. Doesn’t say anything like…My bad I’m late or Yo what’s up man? How you doing?”
Surprisingly, Kobe didn’t give any apologies or greetings for his late arrival instead he immediately went to practice and they worked out for over 2 hours together. After that day, Kobe instructed Hayward to meet him at different locations for early morning workouts for the next two days.
Gordon Hayward reflects on Kobe Bryant’s elite mentality
During the same podcast, Hayward went into more detail about how these sessions with Kobe Bryant had a big impact on his career. He stated Kobe’s actions as a test of his commitment. Hayward realized that Kobe was checking whether he was serious about his work and whether he was worth the effort and time.
“I think the whole thing was him just like testing me like, ‘Who is this? Does he want to work? Is he gonna be bulls–tting, like what’s his deal? Because I’m not gonna put in the effort if he’s not going to,’ type thing,” Hayward said. “From then on, he was kind of like in my corner and he taught me more than anything, it’s just the mentality. I think that’s what really took me to the next level, was that mentality.”
Kobe wasted no time introducing Gordon Hayward to the Mamba Mentality 😭
New episode premiering NOW: https://t.co/lXSrnsKYLl pic.twitter.com/C2NUvSI14X
— Podcast P with Paul George (@PodcastPShow) January 1, 2024
Hayward credits these experiences for not only improving his skills on the court but also building his mindset. He said that Kobe’s approach helped him develop a tough mentality, which he believes was crucial in taking his game to a higher level.
Learning from Kobe seems to have worked for Hayward, who has managed to remain an impactful player despite a challenging injury history. Currently playing for the Hornets, Hayward averages 14.5 points, 4.7 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 1.1 steals per game. His leadership skills are crucial for a young team like the Hornets, especially during their 10-game losing streak.