Former Charlotte Hornets coach Steve Clifford spent one season with the Los Angeles Lakers as an assistant. That happened to be the last year the team made the playoffs, a season widely remembered for the failed marriage of Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard, Steve Nash, and Pau Gasol.
In particular, the relationship between Kobe and Howard was a constant talking point. Bryant’s serious, maniacal commitment to winning never really meshed with Howard’s carefree, joking attitude.
Clifford recently appeared on the Lowe Post podcast with Zach Lowe and was asked about the relationship between Kobe and Howard, and he couldn’t help but to praise Bryant’s insatiable desire to win:
“I felt like it got better and better as the season went on.