Kobe Bryant is a three-time NBA-Champion, has been selected 10-times for the All-Stars and is the current Most Valuable Player (MVP) in basketball, but there is still more to come from him according to former LA Lakers star Jawann Oldham.
Oldham, who has his own basketball academy based at the Canadian University of Dubai, also helped set-up the basketball leagues in China and Japan together with Joe Bryant – the father of the LA Lakers shooting guard – prior to moving to the UAE.
"From what I have seen of him [Kobe], he is a very talented and gifted young man," says the 7ft tall Oldham. "He has got a lot of weight on his shoulders, but carries it well.
"He is now a lot smarter than he was four or five years ago and won an Olympic gold medal this year so he also has respect and prestige.
"His father raised him right and did a great job with him mentally, physically and spiritually, and he has done well for himself in the NBA.
"He still has a lot more to give and is going to do very well in future for the Lakers or for whatever team he plays."
In his 10-year professional career one of the teams Oldham played for was the Chicago Bulls – who also had the legendary Michael Jordan among their ranks. Jordan is widely regarded as the greatest basketball player ever and Oldham is in a unique position to draw a comparison between Bryant and Jordan.
"They are two different and dynamic players," says the former centre. "Michael was awesome! He was a blue collar basketball player; he did all the hard, dirty work as well as the nice work too – like the moves you see on the highlight reels and in the
pictures. Kobe is more offensive minded, which is not a bad thing; but I say Michael was a more all-round player and just a joy to watch and play with.
"If you ask me who my favourite is, it would have to be Michael, but Kobe still has some years ahead of him."
As a former LA Lakers player, Oldham grimaces at just the mention of Boston Celtics – who won the NBA title last season by beating their long-time rivals the Lakers 4-2 in a best of seven games final.
"It would have been a better series if all the Lakers had been in place and they didn't have so many injuries," says Oldham ruefully.
"Also if Andrew Bynum [Lakers' first-choice centre] had been there, I think that would have made a huge difference. I think Boston were very fortunate."
After leaving Japan to come to the UAE and start his academy almost a year ago, Oldham is happy with his decision and is planning to move from the Canadian University to an independent venue in Al Barsha to provide better facilities and more space for his ever increasing number of students.
"Coming here was a wise move," says Oldham. "Japan was a stepping stone, a stop-by, it was OK for a little while, but Japanese basketball has a long time in development. They need more help and I can do more good here. Here it needs help, enthusiasm of youth and professional people to push it faster than it was growing in the past 20 years.
"My academy is growing steadily every month and I have international students from all parts of the world – French, South African, English, Italian, some Arabic, Pakistani and Indian.
"I have also been impressed from what I have seen of the UAE national team – they won [the Arab Championships] last year and have looked good when I have watched them."
So who does Oldham think will win the NBA title in the 2008-2009 season starting on October 29?
"Not Boston," he laughs. "It will be a different team this year, I'll go with Lakers."
JAWANN OLDHAMThe former professional basketball player started his career in 1980 when he was selected by the Denver Nuggets in the 2nd round (41st overall) of the NBA draft.
As a 7ft centre from Seattle University, Oldham played in 10 NBA seasons for eight different teams.
During his long career, Oldham racked up 329 games and scored a total of 1,455 points. Fifty-one-year-old Oldham is currently the Director of Sports and Recreation at the Canadian University of Dubai. The university is also home to the Jawann Oldham's Basketball Academy, which opened its doors almost a year ago.
Chili's UAE, a member of Saleh Bin Lahej Group, is set to sponsor the Jawann Oldham's Basketball Academy.
OLDHAM'S NBA PICKS FOR THE NEW SEASONGilbert ArenasMiami Wizards
"He is coming back from injury and it will be interesting to see if he can bounce back. I haven't seen a guy shoot like that since 'Pistol Pete' Maravich. He is really dynamic and a good offensive player."
Fact: In July Arenas signed a contract worth $111m over six years.
Andrew BynumLA Lakers
"I want to see if he can develop into a real LA Lakers centre – a dominant centre. I like him and he has done some real good things."
Fact: Bynum is the youngest player ever to play in a NBA game at 18 years and six days old. Hasn't played since January 13 due to a knee injury.
Kevin GarnettBoston Celtics
"I like him, but I want to see him tested. I want to see if he is a true centre like we were back in the day beacuse the Lakers didn't have their first-choice centre when they played Boston and he had it too easy."
Fact: Garnett has scored over 20,000 points in 13 seasons in the NBA.
Lebron JamesCleveland Cavaliers
"He is going to be a free agent soon and the question is what will he do? He has all the talent in the world, he is young, gifted and a superstar, but will he leave the NBA and go to Europe?"
Fact: James signed a $90-million shoe contract with Nike before he had even made his NBA debut.
Kobe ByantLA Lakers
"Can he lift the team up from the Boston Celtic loss and can they win the Championship this season? Or will he be satisfied with that Olympic gold medal?"
Fact: Bryant is the youngest player to reach 20,000 points at 29 years old and is the NBA's current MVP.
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