Kobe Bryant Has Set Aside The Celtics-Lakers Rivalry To Help Isaiah Thomas Break Down Game Film

Kobe Bryant may be a Los Angeles Lakers legend, but he’s reached out to help a Boston Celtics superstar in a time of need. On the heels of a spectacular performance against the Washington Wizards on Tuesday in Game 2 of the East semifinals, Celtics point guard Isaiah Thomas revealed that he’s gotten some help breaking down film from Bryant.

Thomas did get a bit coy when it came to specifics. A reporter asked what exactly Kobe sees that might be different than other players, but he didn’t get much of an answer.

“I’m not going to tell you,” Thomas said with a smile. “He wouldn’t want me to do that.” He did say, though, that the film sessions prove to him that Bryant simply saw the game better than other players.

Mentally, he’s on a different level than anybody I’ve ever met. We were on the phone for 30 minutes. I emailed him my film and he watched every minute, he was telling me what times to go to and what to look at and gave certain plays and things I didn’t look at when I watched film.

Mentally, you can tell he’s one of the greatest ever.

Thomas revealed that Bryant got in touch after Game 2 of the Chicago series, which saw Boston fall behind 2-0 to the Bulls as Thomas dealt with the sudden death of his sister, Chyna.

After Game 2 of the Chicago series, when I went home actually. He wanted to go over film with me, he called me, and we did it. He made me figure out a lot of things. He reached out on behalf of my sister. When that had happened and then, I mean, he’s just been a very helping hand when it comes to the film and figuring out what to do the next game.

Thomas stopped short of saying Bryant is helping him work through other, more pressing things in his life, but the intent is clear: Bryant reached out after tragedy struck Thomas and is trying to help him stay focused on his game.

It’s a move, however, that seems as much about basketball as it is about helping a young man go through a tough time in his life. Consider the magnitude of a Lakers great helping a Celtics player improve his game.

Outside the tragic circumstances of Thomas’ breakout, it would be a huge controversy. But Thomas’s story thus far as transcended team boundaries, even for Bryant.

“I mean I don’t even think he thinks of things like that,” Thomas said when asked about the Celtics/Lakers rivalry. “He’s trying to help out.”

Thomas said his mom, in particular, was excited that Bryant called to offer his help.

“I remember when I was at home in Washington, I was on the phone and my mom was like ‘who are you talking to.’” Thomas said. “I had to put it on mute, and I was like ‘It’s Kobe!’ Then she started tripping a little bit. So that was fun.”