Giannis discusses interest in talking to, working out with Kobe

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Kobe Bryant of the Lakers hugs Giannis Antetokounmpo after Bryant’s final game in Milwaukee on Monday night. Antetokounmpo finished with a triple-double.

LOS ANGELES - Heading into the all-star break, Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo told ESPN Milwaukee that one of his goals was to talk to former Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant and inquire about working out with him this summer.

During media day on Saturday at the Los Angeles Convention Center, Antetokounmpo was asked about Bryant and intimated that the conversation had not yet occurred.

“If I have the opportunity to work with Kobe this summer it’s going to be unbelievable," Antetokounmpo said. "Just even talking with Kobe, that’s going to be an awesome experience. … I just want to pick his brain, and as I said, learn what it takes to win, learn what it takes to be tough, just learn the Mamba mentality.”

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Antetokounmpo and Bryant had a private conversation together following Bryant's final game at the BMO Harris Bradley Center in 2016. That talk came after a 108-101 Bucks win that included Antetokounmpo's first career triple-double.

"He just gave me advice," Antetokounmpo said that night. "He told me I've got to get in the gym and work on my jump shot. He said get 1,000 shots a day. I'm going to try to shoot 1,500 (a day) this summer.

"He told me he wasn't messing around. He said be serious until the last day you play basketball, and I think that's great advice."

This past summer, Bryant issued challenges to multiple NBA players. Antetokounmpo inquired about receiving a challenge and Bryant responded with three letters, "MVP."

"That's a great compliment coming from Kobe, one of the greatest players to ever play the game," Antetokounmpo said prior to the season. "But, you know, you've got to take steps toward that."