COACHING
One of the natural transitions for any professional athlete is to go into coaching once their playing days are done for. Though many do not necessarily reach the heights of being a head coach, there a several other roles such as assistant coaches and the like that former athletes can contribute to. Bryant has notoriously been a stickler for excellence and execution, often putting the pressure on his teammates to play up to his standards. NBA All-Star Dwight Howard left Los Angeles on bad terms when he bumped heads with Kobe over his approach to leadership. One of the most recent incidents supporting this happens to be a clip of Bryant furiously leaving practice after deeming his teammates “not good enough” to play with. Coaching and leadership is about balance, knowing when to push people to their limits but also when to relent. Everyone is different, and perhaps Kobe’s myopic train of thought may not work well in coaching. It may also push players to reach their full potential, who knows.
