In this week’s episode of Podcast P with Paul George, Presented by Wave Sports + Entertainment, NBA coach Phil Handy discussed his experiences working with Kobe Bryant and shared his thoughts on the challenging relationship between Bryant and Dwight Howard during their time with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Handy reflected on his early interactions with Bryant, noting the superstar’s intense work ethic and clear goals. “He respected my work ethic. I was always there early, I always stayed late. I was always on the court with whoever wanted to be on the floor,” Handy said. “Kobe knew what he wanted. He was very precise. I want to continue to get better with my ball handling. I want to keep starting with my footwork and continue to work on my separation on my jumper.”
Handy explained how working with Bryant was an educational experience for him, focusing on refining Bryant’s already sharp skills. “Kobe was such a vertical player. I wanted to help him condense his handle and become a little tighter with his ball control,” Handy added. “The first time I said that to him, he was like, ‘What does that even mean?’” Handy then showed Bryant video examples, which the Lakers star quickly understood.
However, Handy also addressed the more complex relationship between Bryant and Howard during their time together on the Lakers. He acknowledged Howard’s status as a Hall of Famer but highlighted the difficulties of his transition from Orlando to Los Angeles. “Dwight was in his pond in Orlando, but coming to LA was a different story. There was already a big fish in that pond,” Handy explained.
Handy suggested that Howard’s sensitivity to public perception may have played a role in the friction between him and Bryant. “Dwight cared about how people perceived him. LA was such a big place with bright lights, and when he got there, Kobe was already established,” Handy said. “If you’re both A-personalities, it can be tough. Kobe was super demanding, and sometimes people just don’t mesh.”
The Lakers’ star-studded roster, which included Bryant, Howard, Pau Gasol, and Steve Nash, didn’t always gel as expected. Handy pointed out that despite the high-profile names, sometimes team chemistry just doesn’t work out. “People think, ‘Oh, Dwight, Kobe, Steve Nash, Pau Gasol, they should all play well together,’ but it doesn’t always work like that. Sometimes people just don’t fit on a team, and that’s all it really boils down to,” Handy said.
He also noted that Nash’s injury struggles that season only added to the challenges the team faced. “It didn’t help that Steve Nash was not healthy that year,” Handy remarked, pointing out how injuries affected the Lakers’ ability to find a rhythm.