Why the LA Clippers are suddenly the hottest team in the NBA - ESPN

LA Clippers assistant coach Brian Shaw doesn't like comparing anyone to Kobe Bryant. But he is one of just a handful of people who both played with and coached Bryant, so he's reluctantly an authority on the matter.

And he's willing to admit that he sees shades of Bryant in the recent play of one particular NBA superstar, who since Dec. 20 has quietly led the league in scoring and steals, as the Clippers have resurrected their season from disaster.

That would be franchise cornerstone Kawhi Leonard. «If I was to make any comparison in terms of what I witnessed with Kobe,» Shaw told ESPN, «it's the work ethic once either one of those two sets their mind to something.»

There are dozens of stories Shaw could tell to make his point, but the one that comes to his mind was from early in Bryant's career when Shaw was one of the veterans at the end of the Lakers' bench. It was Jan. 7, 2003, and the Los Angeles Lakers were in Seattle to face Gary Payton and the Sonics.

«We were at shootaround,» Shaw said. «And one of the reporters from Seattle says to him, 'Yeah, my daughter really loves your game, but she says if there's one thing missing, you don't have a 3-point shot.» Bryant turned to the reporter. He told him to make sure his daughter tuned in to the game that night. «Then,» Shaw said, «Kobe stayed there and just shot 3 after 3 after 3, from every spot on the floor.» That night, Bryant hit a then-NBA record dozen 3-pointers, motivated to, as Shaw said, «do something that someone said he couldn't do.»

Which brings us back to Leonard. While the goad isn't exactly the same as Bryant's two decades ago, the skill is — and the results are, too. The Lakers won that night by 21. And the Clippers, despite their 6-21 start, are the