Kobe Bryant gives advice, support to Paul George after devastating injury

Kobe Bryant is nearing the end of his career. He’s in his 19th season with the Los Angeles Lakers, who traded with Charlotte for his draft right back in 1996.

Kobe and PG.

As a Palmdale, California native, Paul George used to watch Kobe as much as he could. Though he rooted for the Clippers — he likes the underdog — a young George once said to himself, “one day I’m going to be like him.”

When associate head coach Brian Shaw was with the Pacers, he was often share stories with George about Bryant and what it takes to great. For instance, if George was slacking or took a day off, B-Shaw would remind him that Bryant isn’t taking the day off. That resonated with PG.

[Solomon Hill appreciated challenge of going against Kobe]

George recently spoke to Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News about Bryant and the impact he has had on him.

It’s so hard to compare anyone to Michael, but I think it’s fair to say Kobe is the second coming of MJ,” said Indiana Pacers forward Paul George, who grew up watching Bryant while playing for Knight High in Palmdale. “Kobe has transcended the league the same way I felt Michael did.”

After George had immediate surgery in Las Vegas after he suffered an open tibia-fibula fracture back on August 1st in a USA Basketball scrimmage, many players reached out to Paul. Some, like teammates C.J. Watson and Roy Hibbert, even visited.

Kobe Bryant was one of those that made sure to check in with the Pacers’ budding star and offer his support.

“I made sure his spirits were OK,” Bryant said Monday night in response to a question asked by Candace Buckner. “It’s such a devastating thing to have happen. I just wanted to check on him to make sure he knew I was here to support him and having been through these types of situations myself, I wanted him to know if he some advice, if he needed to know how I tried to work on my game even though I wasn’t playing, to give me a call and I could talk him through that a little bit.”

[Pacers exhale after snapping eight-game losing streak]

When going through a traumatic, likely season-ending injury, it’s nice to have others in your court. George, a genuinely nice and personable guy, has many that stretch outside the Pacers’ organization.

Like Coach Mike Krzyzewski, Jerry Colangelo, Kevin Durant, James Harden, and …… Kobe Bryant.

Excellent company.

(Before home games, George is on the floor working on whatever he can, so eager to rejoin his teammates in uniform for games. Below he is working with assistant video coordinator Mike DiBenedetto on ball handling.)