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Los Angeles Lakers: Steve Clifford praises Kobe Bryant’s will to win

By Kenneth Teape

LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 31: Head Coach Steve Clifford of the Charlotte Hornets greets Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers at STAPLES Center on January 31, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2016 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 31: Head Coach Steve Clifford of the Charlotte Hornets greets Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers at STAPLES Center on January 31, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2016 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Former Los Angeles Lakers assistant and Charlotte Hornets head coach, Steve Clifford, recently praised Kobe Bryant’s commitment to winning.

Whenever the Los Angeles Lakers had Kobe Bryant on the court you knew they had a chance to win the game. The competitive spirit and desire to win are two of the qualities that made Bryant the great player that he was. Those qualities are also why many believe he was the closest thing we will see to Michael Jordan.

Both possessed that killer instinct and supreme confidence that they could help their team in on any given night. That rubbed some people the wrong way throughout their careers, but when looking back at their accomplishments, it was well worth it.

The work that Bryant put in was second to none. He wanted to be the best and to achieve that goal, the work had to be put in.

It is something that many people have discussed in the past. Recently, former Lakers assistant coach Steve Clifford spoke about it.

Clifford was a guest on the Lowe Podcast with Zach Lowe. The former Lakers assistant and Charlotte Hornets head coach delved into multiple topics, but one that sticks out is his take on Bryant.

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Clifford was an assistant on the failed Dwight Howard–Steve Nash-Kobe Bryant trio. The differences in personality between Bryant and Howard was a big reason things didn’t work out as planned. Bryant’s win at all cost mentality and Howard’s more jovial, carefree personality were not a good match.

Bryant’s commitment to winning is what really drew Clifford’s attention.

"“I felt like it got better and better as the season went on. Kobe was, I mean, just being around him, for me was incredible. His passion for not just winning but preparing to win, and I’ve been around other good players, I’ve just never seen anything like that. He thought that we were going to win every night. I mean he was shocked when we lost. From the film work, to the way he took care of himself, and along with that, he’s not warm and fuzzy now. With coaches, teammates, or whatever. And he sets a tone, in my opinion, of accountability that you need. You can see why the teams he’s been involved with were always right there, because he wants to win everything.”"

Bryant is not an easy person to get along with on the court. There are few people in the world that can rival his passion and drive to win. It is what separated him from everyone else when he was on the court.

Next: Kobe Bryant's Top 10 Games Of All-Time

Bryant was made great in part because of those qualities. While that isn’t something appreciated by everyone, Clifford is one person that enjoyed seeing it firsthand.

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