Ball Don't Lie - NBA

In an effort to take his game to the next level over the summer, Lakers guard Kobe Bryant(notes) solicited help from of one of the greatest players of all time — and personal favorite — Hakeem Olajuwon.

A week before training camp in September, the master of "The Dream Shake" gave Bryant a two-hour lesson on everything from head fakes and ball fakes to spin moves and jab steps. And judging by the looks of Kobe's moves during Wednesday's win over the Rockets, the star pupil was paying close attention in class.

Jeff Eisenberg of The Press-Enterprise:

Each time he backed down Houston's Shane Battier(notes) in the post and then deftly spun around him for a layup Wednesday night, Bryant jogged up court staring into the same pocket of fans seated courtside across from the scorer's table.

The man who met his gaze knew exactly the message Bryant was trying to convey.

"He looked at me to confirm, 'I'm using what you taught me,'" Olajuwon said. "That was the greatest gift for me. It was wonderful."

Here's something to think about (courtesy of SLAM): After 14 successful years in the league, Kobe can — and still wants to — learn from The Dream, yet Andrew Bynum is done with Kareem Abdul Jabbar after just a few injury-plagued seasons. File under reason number 6,947 why Kobe Bryant is a beast.

Other popular Yahoo! Sports blog posts:
NBA star hits off-the-wall trick shot
Notre Dame's BCS hopes take a hit
Decade's most brutal NHL injuries

digg delicious
more

252 Comments

Post a Comment
  1. C
    1. Posted by C Fri Nov 06, 2009 1:49 pm EST

    Report Abuse

    Dwight Howard could learn a few things from Dream
  2. tupark82
    2. Posted by tupark82 Fri Nov 06, 2009 1:50 pm EST

    Report Abuse

    damn man. this is about a month late. or is this the second time you put this up
  3. J.E. Skeets
    3. Posted by J.E. Skeets Fri Nov 06, 2009 2:01 pm EST

    Report Abuse

    Tup: There's nothing late about the story — Kobe played in front of "Professor Dream" on Wed. night.
  4. Hambone
    4. Posted by Hambone Fri Nov 06, 2009 2:08 pm EST

    Report Abuse

    The Kobe Vs. Bynum comparison might work, had Kobe spent the last 2 or 3 years with Olajuwon teaching him post moves at every practice, and talking to him every, or if Bynum and Kareem had met for 2 hours once. Big difference between not being willing to take advice, and not wanting to have a full-time basketball chaperone anymore.
  5. K NEL
    5. Posted by K NEL Fri Nov 06, 2009 2:19 pm EST

    Report Abuse

    Skeets - I think what Tup was trying to say is that we saw this clip on nba tv a long time ago. Although the recognition of using the moves was wednesday..Maybe a clip showing the move he used on Battier instead of this old clip (internet years). Point is though..Kobe still learning and chose one of the greatest big men of all time. PHI SLAMMA JAMMA!!!
  6. K NEL
    6. Posted by K NEL Fri Nov 06, 2009 2:22 pm EST

    Report Abuse

    Hambone - Bynum should embrace the time that HE received from Kareem. Bynum is good but still has a lot of work to do. He should soaking up any information that a hall of famer can give..Kareem has played against some of the greaatest players ever on and off the court (Earl Manigualt). Bynum should be more humble if that's the case
  7. Anejy
    7. Posted by Anejy Fri Nov 06, 2009 2:41 pm EST

    Report Abuse

    one more reason to say he is the best player in the game right now.
    LBJ, Wade, Melo - you guys are still not there yet.
  8. curtis
    8. Posted by curtis Fri Nov 06, 2009 2:42 pm EST

    Report Abuse

    Hakeem is my childhood idol... and I'm horribly disappointed that his selfless attitude led him to teach Kobe his post moves. I hope the Dream is working with Chuck Hayes, Scola and other Rockets big men to improve footwork.
  9. Peter
    9. Posted by Peter Fri Nov 06, 2009 2:50 pm EST

    Report Abuse

    If anyone cares to actually watch the highlights you'll say that maybe once did Kobe spin around Battier for a layup. Almost all his points came from fadeaways, very nice fadeaways but nothing dream like about his performance. Check the video evidence.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1ZEJc29-8Y
  10. Todd
    10. Posted by Todd Fri Nov 06, 2009 3:01 pm EST

    Report Abuse

    I feel your pain, curtis, but I think the outcome of either Scola or Hayes trying the Dream's moves would be more comical than effective. His post moves are based on smoothness and agility on the offensive end, something i don't believe anyone will accuse Hayes of having
  11. DS
    11. Posted by DS Fri Nov 06, 2009 3:15 pm EST

    Report Abuse

    It appears that Kareem is no longer showing up at Lakers home games so Bynum is not working with Kareem 1/2hr. prior to home games as he has done for the last 4 yrs. However, it appears that Kareem does show up at the Lakers training facility (i.e. you can see him from time to time in the background of video taped player interviews at the training facility) so he still probably works with Bynum during these periods. Kareem's reduced role has everything to do with Lakers budgetary cut backs and little to do with Bynum not wanting to work with him anymore. Evidence of this is the Lakers not replacing Rambis on the bench and the fact that they will be shelling out north of $110M in player salaries not to mention Phil's $12M.
  12. josh f
    12. Posted by josh f Fri Nov 06, 2009 3:18 pm EST

    Report Abuse

    It didn't look like Kobe did much out of the post other than fadeaways. Maybe a stepthrough or two, but that's it. The shake was definitely a part of the game though. He does a great job on the shake of stepping back into the defender before he spins around to shoot.
  13. Masterkush
    13. Posted by Masterkush Fri Nov 06, 2009 3:38 pm EST

    Report Abuse

    Another reason why haters just look like ignorant fools. This is why Kobe is the Real King of the NBA.
  14. "BIG GAME"
    14. Posted by "BIG GAME" Fri Nov 06, 2009 4:01 pm EST

    Report Abuse

    I find it utterly facinating that Kobe would devote time to learn from The Dream. At the top of his game, coming off of winning a Championship he could have been all at the casinos in Vegas proclaiming himself the Best in the League( Pierce), he could have spent his summer being a roadie for Jay-Z showing up at concerts giving The Roc sign (James), or challenging other champions in sports he had no chance at winning (O'Neal). What he did is what he's always done. Work to create or improve his next unguardable shot, go to shot. I've seen him do The Dream's post moves a lot this season already and he's getting pretty good too. Those move will prove effective as the season grows. I believe he focused on this in particular because with the Cavs picking up Shaq, he wanted to learn how to confuse and score againt him in the post. Hakeem used these moves against a younger Shaq and won a Championship doing so. In fact these are moves that work best for smaller players with agility as oppose to a big man or center.
    I recall some years back, after winning the first championship, Kobe worked all summer on the jump fake, which resulted in numerous points after defenders would jump to block and he'd wait for them to come down to jump into them, effectively making three point plays. The fade away jumper, the up and under and the move where he backs down, pivots and shoots. Each year he adds something new to the arsenol. He is the Best player in the NBA because of his devotion to the game and his respect for the those that came before him. Haters say what you want, but IF you like, err LOVE the game of basketball, you gotta love Kobe. If not, try hockey.
  15. Steven B
    15. Posted by Steven B Fri Nov 06, 2009 4:09 pm EST

    Report Abuse

    KOBE IS THE BEST PLAYER SINCE JORDAN!
    Lebron will get there one day..maybe..
  16. hr1rgb
    16. Posted by hr1rgb Fri Nov 06, 2009 4:10 pm EST

    Report Abuse

    Maybe Dream can teach him to stop being a whiny bi$#h.
  17. "BIG GAME"
    17. Posted by "BIG GAME" Fri Nov 06, 2009 4:18 pm EST

    Report Abuse

    You haven't learn to stop yet.
  18. gramirez1289
    18. Posted by gramirez1289 Fri Nov 06, 2009 4:30 pm EST

    Report Abuse

    hr1rgb u should read what BIG GAME just wrote above and u might learn sumthin, stupid ass hater
  19. Ray D
    19. Posted by Ray D Fri Nov 06, 2009 4:38 pm EST

    Report Abuse

    AMEN! Big Game, Preach on man, Preach on!
  20. ricks
    20. Posted by ricks Fri Nov 06, 2009 4:44 pm EST

    Report Abuse

    Kobe is the best player in the NBA no matter what all the Lebron James jabroneys say. He is the most dedicated and hard working player in the NBA since Jordan. In my opinion he will be better than Jordan was but he won't get the credit because Jordan was before him. Just my opinion. Kobe, do the damn thing and get L.A. another ring this year PLAYA!!!
  21. Leo
    21. Posted by Leo Fri Nov 06, 2009 4:47 pm EST

    Report Abuse

    If Kobe could learn all the move of Olajuwon, you will be facing a kobe + olajuwon shooting gurad, who can have a good percentage shotting more on the low post rather than shooting fade away shot. I think you will see the improvement this year of this shooting percentage this year. This will be the Lakers more chance to grab another champion
  22. Kristoffer P
    22. Posted by Kristoffer P Fri Nov 06, 2009 4:51 pm EST

    Report Abuse

    You have to admire his work ethic. He is always looking to improve his game!
  23. thelegendarygregostertag
    23. Posted by thelegendarygregostertag Fri Nov 06, 2009 4:54 pm EST

    Report Abuse

    As a Jazz fan who was tormented by the Dream Shake in the mid-nineties, I am utterly appalled that this is happening. It's like giving the Joker the keys to the Death Star.
    "No really, conquer the universe, we both know it's your destiny."
  24. Joseph M
    24. Posted by Joseph M Fri Nov 06, 2009 5:03 pm EST

    Report Abuse

    For those here are picky in saying what exactly Kobe did, or didn't, do during the game, you miss the point! He chose to LEARN something else! Its like a doctor or CPA who wants to maintain his excellence via continuing education! Even if he only did it for six or eigh points, the fact that it worked is what counts! It keeps great defenders like Battier off balance! Its a few more things in Kobe's bag of tricks!
    And by the way, I saw Akeem as a Pro in Houston all of the 1980s and watched him from afar in the 1990s. Regarding his Dream Shake, if you watch Akeem, much of this move, like Kobe this week, resulted in a FALL-AWAY jump shot! Remember Akeem was only about 6'10" not 7' 0".
    So to the hater who said that Kobe did a lot of fadaways well so did Olajuwon.
  25. Mr.OK
    25. Posted by Mr.OK Fri Nov 06, 2009 5:04 pm EST

    Report Abuse

    KOBE aint mimicking nobody period... kobe is a self made hoopmaster and u can see it thru all his mesmerizing moves, period..... i say KOBE must shoot more because ron the airball wacko is getting too greedy in offense and not playing hard defense that hes capable of... also lo is under his new unofficial coachs spell and tries to mimick kobe and neglecting on defense and rebounds......los new coach being his new wife and i suspect his new younf naive wife might b giving lo too much coaching and if lo doesnt wake up soon, he might find himself playing in minus 20 degree somewhere in canada next to polar bear.....another word, let the hoopmaster KOBE do the scoring and u just play defense and get rebounds, period....i say kobe must score 40 to 50 points every game until these 2 airball specialists get the idea and start concentrating more on defense,,,,,just follow kobe and good things will come ur way,,,,,go lakers and no losses from now until the end of the year because i sense that lakers can win73 ngames and break the bulls record....adinaro

Ball Don't Lie

Add to My Yahoo! RSS

J.E. Skeets

Ball Don't Lie is an NBA blog edited by J.E. Skeets. Email him, and follow him on Twitter.

Teams

Customize to follow news and rumors on your favorite teams. [ Sign in ]

Related Photo Gallery

Y! Sports Blogs

Ball Don't Lie Recent Readers