Skip to content

Kobe's youth coach felt he was not ready for NBA leap

Action Images / RCS Reuters

Philadelphia basketball icon and Kobe Bryant's youth coach, Sonny Hill, was not on board with him making the jump straight from high school to the NBA.

"To be honest at that point, I didn't think he was mature enough to do that, I didn't think it was a good idea. One because he was going into a man's world and two, he was one of the early guys and it is kind of difficult," Hill said Monday in an interview with SiriusXM NBA Radio.

Hill, who founded The Sonny Hill Community Involvement League in Bryant's hometown of Philadelphia, knew that at 18 years old he would be seen and treated as a threat by the mature NBA players.

"When you are going as a youngster into a man's world they are looking at you as one, you are too young and two, you are trying to take my job. So that wasn't an easy transition from that point of view," he added.

But Hill was taken aback by how quickly Bryant remained focused and thankful toward him, and that is when Hill decided he would support him throughout his career.

"I have cried in terms of his development and the direction where he is going whether it is right or wrong," he said.

"His family understands what part I was able to play (in his career), what part the Sonny Hill league was able to play, the city of Philadelphia was able to play long before he became the outstanding player from Lower Merion High School."

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox