Kobe's Dad Says Wiggins Could Be Next Great B-Baller
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- The father of Kobe Bryant said that of all current players, it's the Minnesota Timberwolves' Andrew Wiggins who's got what it takes to be the next Kobe Bryant ... or close enough, anyway.
As he was being interviewed on the Brown and Scoop podcast about the few remaining games of Bryant's last season, Joe "Jellybean" Bryant speculated about players that could potentially step into the spotlight.
While he said that he didn't think there would ever be another Kobe or Michael Jordan, he gave a vote of confidence to Wiggins.
"I think the kid in Minnesota has a chance to be special…Wiggins. You talk about the size frame and those kind of things. Wiggins has the chance to be special, because really I don't see anyone else," Joe Bryant said.
Wiggins netted NBA Rookie of the Year honors during the last season.
He was thrust into the national spotlight for the Timberwolves after the team was marred by injuries last season. He started all 82 games last year and was the team's second leading scorer with more than 16 points per game. In 22 games so far this season, he leads Minnesota in scoring at more than 20 points per game.
The Timberwolves obtained Wiggins in a trade with Cleveland two years ago that sent disgruntled star Kevin Love to the Cavaliers for their first-round draft pick along with Anthony Bennett and the rights to Thaddeus Young. Bennett and Young are no longer with Minnesota, but the Timberwolves are building their organization around Wiggins and this year's No. 1 overall pick, Karl-Anthony Towns.
Kobe Bryant just played his final game at Target Center last Wednesday. While here, he met with a former player of the Minneapolis Lakers, Bob Williams, who was also the first African-American player on the team.