Candace Parker remembers Kobe Bryant in conversation with LSU’s Flau’Jae Johnson
When Flau'jae Johnson asked Candace Parker about recovering from off nights, the three-time WNBA champion was reminded of her memories with Kobe Bryant. Parker was the latest guest on Johnson's "Best of Both Worlds" podcast, released on October 3. Johnson's query came after the two discussed the impact a coach has in bringing out a player's potential.
Flau'jae Johnson understands the importance of putting in extra work to overcome slumps. Her question for Parker focused on how to navigate mental hurdles and the mindset necessary to stay focused in the gym.
"I feel like you almost have to set what you're going to do consistently," Parker said. "Kobe always talked about this, regardless of win or loss—whether I shoot four for 27 or five for 27 or 20 for 27, I'm gonna get up and going to do this, this, this, this. That's my schedule; that's my work ethic, that's what I do." (23:19)
"But then also, that gives you confidence because you've seen the ball go in, you know you are capable of doing it. So, I always asked him all the time."
Candace Parker shared Kobe Bryant's mindset of always staying confident in his shot, even during slumps. The five-time NBA champion believed that since he had missed his previous shots, the math would eventually even out, and he would start hitting his shots again. Parker also shared that, due to this belief, Kobe Bryant claimed that he had a better chance of making shots during a slump.
Candace Parker was not too fond of dunking
In Tennessee's game against the Army Black Knights on March 19, 2006, Candace Parker became the first women's player to dunk the ball in an NCAA tournament game. Not just once, Parker dunked twice in the game, both coming near the 6-minute mark of the first and second half.
However, while talking to Flau'jae Johnson, Parker shared that she had been hesitant to slam the ball throughout her career, as she did not want her name limited to dunks.
So, in order to shed light on her passing, leadership and scoring, the 2016 WNBA defensive player of the year chose to simply lay the ball several times when she was in perfect position to dunk it.