In his “Mamba Mentality” autobiography in 2018, the late Kobe Bryant said that he attributed some of his defensive success to former Portland Trail Blazers great Clyde Drexler.
Even seven months after his passing, the on-and-off impact of Kobe Bryant continues to be felt. Shortly after his playing career, Bryant added to his résumé by becoming an Academy Award-winning writer, and host of ESPN+ show Detail. Earlier this week, Amazon made Bryant’s autobiography, “Mamba Mentality” free to read. Within it, one can find unlimited praise for multiple Portland Trail Blazers players.
Bryant praised future Blazer Carmelo Anthony, saying “nothing was more grueling” than their postseason matchup. That’s high esteem, considering Bryant battled the likes of Bruce Bowen and Tony Allen in the Playoffs on multiple occasions. He also made note of Trail Blazers great Rasheed Wallace.
But, perhaps the most enduring, noteworthy statement Bryant made came in regards to Clyde Drexler’s influence on the type of defense he stood to play in the future. Bryant, a future 12-time All-Defensive Team selection, recounted a Dec. 12 meeting against Drexler, then a member of the Houston Rockets.
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Bryant, who would become a first-time All-Star two months later, was held to 0-of-4 shooting in the first half, a byproduct of Drexler’s phone-booth defense. But in the second half, Bryant’s competitiveness boiled over, as he erupted for 27 points in a come-from-behind Lakers win. He called it a big moment in his development, and offered this statement on Drexler.
"“I always admired Clyde. I always looked at how he defended. He understood how to use his hands and block the vision of the player with one hand while using the other as a threat to steal the ball, or shield it.He also had great balance and used that to his advantage. The way I defend, in fact, can be attributed to Clyde. (And MJ, of course).”"
Highlights of this game have been difficult to come by. But, for those interested, here is the box score, per Basketball Reference.
Praise for Clyde Drexler has been just as difficult a find, particularly with The Last Dance highlighting where the Drexler-led Portland Trail Blazers fell short from a mental standpoint.
Historically, he’s been considered a good, but not great individual defender. Over the course of his career, he earned just a single Defensive Player of the Year Award vote in 1987-88. We’ve taken a closer look at how he’s been viewed by the public.
To see a player of Kobe Bryant’s stature giving credit to Clyde Drexler on the less glamorous end of the floor is in a way, a breath of fresh air.