Watch: Kobe Bryant Give a Precise Breakdown on “How to Guard a Pump Fake?”

Seldom have we seen players who work as hard as Kobe Bryant. He might just have usurped even Michael Jordan on that one. There is no denying that it was one of the pillars of his success. But he had another pillar, one that goes under the radar. IQ.

Of course, a guy like Kobe would have an unparalleled IQ when it comes to basketball. But it is one facet of his game that is seldom talked about. You simply will not find mentions of it anywhere.

So how do you know that he had an incredible IQ? Simple, through demonstration and understanding of the game. For when he described how to guard a pump fake with great simplicity. And through a very simple demonstration!

Watch: Kobe Bryant describes “How to guard a pump fake?” with a great deal of simplicity

Notice that we stress the word simplicity a few times. Well, that is because the best way to display intelligence is by breaking down the understanding of complex moves into simpler actions.

Just watch how Bryant breaks down the movement of a player and how one single human motion is enough to determine how you should guard a pump fake.

He breaks down the movement with great precision and simplicity. Both are traits of someone with high IQ. The Los Angeles Lakers‘ legend was cerebral and his IQ was vastly underrated. An aspect of his basketball career that often goes overlooked.

Bryant’s IQ was off the charts and his intelligence was second to none.

When we talk about in-game intelligence, our reference point is almost always LeBron James. However, Bryant was incredibly close. He had an estimated IQ of 144, which is considered to be in the “genius” range. He was known for his meticulous preparation and attention to detail, both on and off the court.