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Lakers coach thinks Kyrie Irving is Kobe Bryant but shorter

By Jerry Trotta

LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 10: Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers gueards Kyrie Irving #2 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during a 120-108 Cavaliers win at Staples Center on March 10, 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 condition of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 10: Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers gueards Kyrie Irving #2 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during a 120-108 Cavaliers win at Staples Center on March 10, 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 condition of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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No matter how ridiculous they come across, all-time great NBA players will always be compared to current superstars. In some maddening cases, college prospects are linked to all-time greats and players from different generations are differentiated.

When it comes to Los Angeles Lakers legend and the late Kobe Bryant, no shortage of players have been compared to the Hall of Fame guard.

Devin Booker and Jayson Tatum, who were mentored by Bryant and mirrored their respective games after him, are the first names that come to mind, but DeMar DeRozan has been floated in those conversations, too, for his mid-range prowess.

If you can believe it, another name has entered the chat courtesy of Lakers assistant Phil Handy, who believes potential trade target Kyrie Irving is Bryant but four inches shorter.

Lakers assistant Phil Handy believes Kyrie Irving is a shorter version of the late Kobe Bryant.

Comparing a polarizing player like Irving to one of the most beloved players in Lakers franchise history is quite the statement from Handy.

On one hand, the Lakers assistant makes a great point, as Bryant and Irving’s offensive games are eerily similar. While Irving might have the edge as a ball-handler, both players have mastered the art of scoring at the rim with either hand and dominating the mid-range game while keeping defense’s honest on threes.

Their similarities go deeper than that, obviously, but Handy is about as reliable of a source as you can find for such a bold comparison. The 50-year-old got his feet wet in coaching as a development coach with the Lakers from 2011-13 before coaching Irving as a Cavaliers assistant from 2013-18.

While Bryant and Irving’s respective offensive games are very comparable, the conversation ends there.

Whereas Bryant is one of the most motivated and driven players to ever play in the NBA, Irving’s love for the game of basketball is brought into question at least once per season. Nobody really compares to Kobe in that regard. He was obsessed with being great. Irving, on the other hand, treats basketball like a hobby.

We like to think Handy knows Bryant and Irving are nothing alike off the court. We just felt compelled to make that point as a nod to Kobe. His competitive drive can seemingly only be rivaled by Michael Jordan and (maybe) LeBron James.

Who knows? If the Lakers trade for Irving this offseason, Handy will get to tell the star point guard in person that he sees a ton of Bryant in his game.

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