MANILA, Philippines – Rondae Hollis-Jefferson holds late NBA icon Kobe Bryant in high regard.
So it probably wasn’t coincidence that Hollis-Jefferson authored one of his finest performances in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup on Bryant’s fifth death anniversary.
Hollis-Jefferson, who has drawn comparisons with Bryant for his look and for sporting the same No. 24 jersey the Los Angeles Lakers legend wore, chalked up a triple-double of 35 points, 21 rebounds, and 10 assists as TNT scored a 115-97 win over San Miguel in Antipolo City on Sunday, January 26.
“We all know how I feel about Kobe and how much I admired his game,” said Hollis-Jefferson. “I watched him, I studied his game. He was just a workhorse at the end of the day.”
Bryant, one of the most beloved personalities in all of sports following a storied 20-year career with the Lakers that saw him win five NBA championships and an MVP award, died in a helicopter crash on January 26, 2020 along with his daughter Gianna and seven others.
The “Black Mamba” was only 41 years old and just less than four years removed from his retirement at the time of his death.
Still, Bryant remains a big source of inspiration for his fans and athletes worldwide, including Hollis-Jefferson, who was a rookie in the NBA the season Bryant hung up his spurs.
“He really cared about the game, he cared about winning, and that’s what I try to do every time I get on the court,” said Hollis-Jefferson, who has earned the moniker “Lefty Kobe.”
“I try to help my teammates be successful, before we even come to the game and practice, things like that, trying to really be a leader.”
Thanks to Hollis-Jefferson’s heroics, the Tropang Giga hiked their record to 8-3 to earn a shot at a top-two finish, which comes with a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals.
A strong contender for a third Best Import plum, Hollis-Jefferson aims to lead TNT to a third championship after capturing a pair of Governors’ Cup crowns. – Rappler.com