In an interview with Ramona Shelburne of ESPNLA.com, Clippers forward Blake Griffin shed light on a story that most Lakers fans don’t know about.
The U.S. Men’s basketball team trained in Las Vegas prior to their departure to London for the Olympics and Griffin was on the team with Bryant before he injured his left knee.
According to Kobe’s trainer Tim Grover, he wanted to add bike training into his workout regiment and on the day before Team USA’s first practice, Bryant went for a unique ride.
Shelburne retells the story in her piece on Griffin:
Grover researched a trail in Las Vegas, rented three bikes — one for Bryant, one for himself and one for Bryant’s security guard — and on the night before the first day of practice, they each put on headlamps and headed out to the trail and rode.
Adding,
“We finished up around 2 a.m.” Grover said. “And we were back in the gym working out by 7:30 in the morning.”
The story just continues to reaffirm the notion that Bryant is a relentless worker and will go to the greatest lengths to get his body in the best shape possible.
Since Kobe went down with his Achilles injury, there are questions as to whether or not he’ll return as the same player and if he can get back to the high level he was playing at before the injury.
Griffin’s enthusiasm about the story shows the way that Bryant is able to lead by example and his work ethic is second-to-none.
Bryant had one of his most productive seasons before his injury averaging 27.3 points, 5.6 rebounds, and six assists while being selected to his 15th All-Star game.
While he wants to make it back-in-time for opening night, Bryant has his work cut out for him, but count on him being ready.