Kobe Bryant's ex coach while in Italy: He was a passionate boy and a pure talent
Coach for Pallacanestro Reggiana youth team talked about Kobe Bryant
Pallacanestro Reggiana youth team head coach Andrea Menozzi told an anecdot about Kobe Bryant. Menozzi was Kobe Bryant's head coach while he was a little boy in Italy:
"Kobe was an above average talent, he was a passionate boy, cute, always present at practice. At that age no one could say he would become the best player in the world, but he was a pure talent. Despite he was born in '78, he used to played with the guys born in '77. One day we were at a tournament in Castiglione delle Stiviere and we were winning easily. Kobe was on the bench and began to beg me: "Coach let me play please!" I told him defiantly no, because he was unable to score .. .With with his Tuscan accent, learned in Pistoia, he replied totally convinced: "No coach I'll score, let me play!"