In a throwback to some of the greatest “what could’ve been” moments in basketball, WNBA star Napheesa Collier recently opened up about a unique mentorship request from none other than the Black Mamba himself, Kobe Bryant. And no, he wasn’t asking for pointers on his legendary footwork – he wanted Collier to help mold his daughter Gigi Bryant into the basketball prodigy the world could see coming.
On a recent episode of “Podcast P with Paul George,” Collier reminisced about the wild connection that began at UConn, Gigi’s favorite college team, and led to summer workouts in LA. Napheesa’s husband, Alex Bazzell, who had trained NBA players, was also part of the equation – though Kobe didn’t seem to care much that Bazzell wasn’t an active player. What mattered? That this dude could coach.
“Gigi was a massive fan of UConn,” Collier said. “That’s where I first met them. After that, we’d hit LA in the off-seasons, and I was like, ‘Hey, Kobe, I’m around. If Gigi wants to ball, let me know.’ And bam, I’m suddenly on Kobe’s speed dial.”
From there, what started as casual run-ins at the gym turned into semi-regular personal workouts with Gigi. Collier and her husband would be running drills, and oh, no big deal – Kobe Bryant is casually on the sidelines watching. Imagine that pressure. But no one’s nervous, right? Especially not with the most famous death stare in basketball hovering nearby.
Kobe was apparently so impressed with Bazzell’s work that he kept calling him up for more sessions. No paychecks involved, just pure basketball love. And for Gigi? Well, let’s just say she didn’t shy away from taking on Napheesa, a seasoned WNBA star.
“She had no fear,” Collier said. “She was taking her Kobe fadeaways at me like it was a game seven situation. I’m blocking her, and she’s just coming right back for more. She was 12 and already had that ‘Mamba mentality’ locked in.”
Yes, that’s right, a 12-year-old Gigi Bryant was out there trying to posterize a WNBA All-Star, and it seems like she almost succeeded. Maybe Kobe wasn’t the only Bryant destined for a basketball legacy.
Napheesa recalls those times with both fondness and disbelief, especially considering Kobe’s untimely passing alongside Gigi in 2020. In an emotional interview with The Star Tribune soon after the tragic accident, Collier shared just how much Kobe meant to her as a person.
“Every time you talked with him, you left thinking, ‘Wow, what an amazing guy.’ And he made you feel that way without even trying,” she reflected. “It doesn’t feel real still. Losing them both… it’s unthinkable.”
And let’s not forget Kobe’s ESPN “Detail” series, where he broke down Napheesa’s post-up game while she was at UConn – just another small nod from one of the game’s greatest to a rising star. Talk about the ultimate compliment, right?
So, whether it’s mentoring a future star or working out under Kobe’s watchful eye, Napheesa Collier’s connection to the Bryants is a story that reminds us all of the magic that happens when icons and future stars cross paths. For now, though, Collier can probably rest easy knowing she survived one of the most nerve-wracking workout experiences imaginable – being schooled by a fearless 12-year-old with Kobe watching. No pressure at all!
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