Mike Brown hired Ettore Messina (one of Europe’s brightest coaching minds) to join his staff in LA, but Messina has some well-founded concerns about how exactly he’ll communicate with Kobe Bryant. Per Ball in Europe: “Messina is known for his charismatic and irrepressible attitude on the bench but has also the gift of self-irony outside the court. A few days ago, he spoke about leadership in a conference on sport business and digressed on the first challenges of his new life as a Laker. ‘The other day I was on the phone with the Lakers staff, asking advice on where I should get a house,’ said Messina. ‘I was told some people prefer living close to the practice facilities; others, like Kobe, live further away. Sometimes, in order not to challenge the incredible L.A. traffic, Kobe even comes to practice by helicopter. At that point I thought: ‘This guy makes $25 million and comes to practice by helicopter – What am I supposed to say to him? ‘Down with that ass, bend your knees’?”
(H/T: PBT)
