Jerry Stackhouse and Kobe Bryant were drafted one year apart, so the former North Carolina star witnessed the latter's tremendous journey from being a high school phenomenon at Lower Merion High School to becoming a certified legend in the NBA.
Stack was drafted third overall by the Philadelphia 76ers in the 1995 NBA Draft, while Kobe entered the pros a year later after the Los Angeles Lakers selected him with the 13th pick in the first round. Jerry revealed that he immediately found out how tenacious and relentless Kobe was in putting in the work when they worked together with renowned coach and trainer John Lucas.
Early morning grind
Even though the man who would eventually be known as the "Black Mamba" arrived in the NBA at age 18, he already had a solid grasp of the incredible amount of work he would have to expend to become great in the league. Stackhouse saw this firsthand when they trained with Lucas, who had them go not to the basketball court but on the track at dawn.
"Early on, he loved basketball. He loved the work, putting in the extra work. I remember John Lucas used to have us out on the track before we even did anything on the basketball court. We were out running sprints on the track, and he was there every morning," Stack said on "Legends of Sport."
Stack added that the youngster didn't mind the time of day or the weather conditions. All he wanted to do was work on becoming the best basketball player he could be. Whether running on the track until his legs cramped up or shooting midrange jumpers until his arms felt stiff, the young prospect was willing to put in the effort.
"It sounds cliché, but he was there early, he stayed late, he did all the things to become who he became," Jerry continued.
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Put off some people
Stack shared that even though Bean came into the NBA straight from high school, he certainly didn't lack confidence or competitive fire. In fact, he was so confident in his ability to emulate Michael Jordan that he rubbed his fellow players the wrong way, Jerry included.
"Even as a young player, he wanted to play, he wanted to compete, he wanted to play. Obviously, he adored Michael Jordan. It was almost like an idol to him, and that rubbed some of us the wrong way, honestly. The mannerisms, the tongue, the whole thing—everything like Michael Jordan," the North Carolina native said.
Despite some negative sentiments, Kobe had thick skin and drowned out all the noise, focusing on improving with each passing season. It also helped that several years later, he found himself under the guidance of champion coach Phil Jackson, who helped him thrive with Shaquille O'Neal.
"He got drafted into a great situation, going to one of the most storied franchises in the history of basketball, and was allowed to grow. He played for Dell Harris, who was a good coach, and then when they moved on to Phil Jackson, they were able to take it to another level," Jerry stressed.
The late, great Kobe is fondly remembered for many things. However, for Stackhouse, his relentless nature put him head and shoulders above his contemporaries. Bean's work ethic was truly motivating. He was willing to outwork everyone else, even if it meant sacrificing his time.
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