Exclusive: Kobe Bryant, LeBron James’ Coach Phil Handy Weighs In On GOAT Debate

Phil Handy spoke about the GOAT debate and revealed the similarities between LeBron James and Kobe Bryant.

The Lakers assistant coach joined the “Battle for LA Podcast” to share his take. He talked about Kobe’s impact on him and the game of the five-time champion.

“Man, I loved it,” Handy said of working with the Black Mamba. “That was the only reason why I ever became a coach in the NBA. Kobe Bryant was the sole reason because I initially had some other opportunities with several coaching staffs, and I wasn’t interested.

“In my pursuit of wanting to be one of the best trainers in the industry, I looked at the opportunity of working and getting to know Kobe as the ultimate challenge because I didn’t know him. That was the driving force for me in taking the opportunity to work for the Lakers. He was just a class act. He is the ultimate competitor. He’s one of those dudes that’s cut from MJ’s cloth. He wanted to compete and find angles to compete. He was always trying to find different people to push and compete.

“My time with him was crucial, and it was educational for me. And just really getting to see the fabric of some of the greatest players ever to play the game and what they do – on how’s their approach daily to be great. So I look back on those years, and I’m very grateful for the opportunity to spend some time with him.”

Phil Handy talked about the GOAT debate

“The Last Dance” sparkled the GOAT debate including LeBron James and Michael Jordan. What does Handy say about the GOAT debate? LeBron and Kobe are more similar than you can imagine.

“Absolutely,” Handy said. “With those guys, people always have a conversation about the GOAT, and they’re trying to put those guys against each other on a daily basis. But what people don’t understand, all three of those guys and any other great players’ work ethics are insane. Like, insane to the point that people don’t really understand the work that they put in on and off the court and taking care of their bodies.

“There are a lot of common denominators between Kobe and LeBron with the time I spent with them. A lot of denominators on how they study the game, their basketball IQ, studying their opponents, studying themselves. They’re in a different class because, for them, they are really pushing themselves to try to perfect the game, and they’re pushing themselves to be as great as they can be every day.

“Having had the chance to work with both of those guys, there were so many similarities with their approach to the game and how hard they work.”