Rondae Hollis-Jefferson holds up his Kobe 6 “Grinch” and Kobe 5 “Five Rings”. –ROMMEL FUERTES
MANILA, Philippines—If you look good, you play good. That’s usually the mantra for basketball players when it comes to their in-game shoes and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson gets the memo.
After a hard-fought 104-95 Game 5 victory over Ginebra in the PBA Governors’ Cup Finals, a banged-up Hollis-Jefferson came out of the locker room, holding not just one but two pairs of Kobe Bryant’s Nike signature shoes.
The Best Import of the Conference, who finished with a triple-double of 32 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists, held up the Kobe 6 “Grinch” and Kobe 5 “Five Rings” on the way out of Araneta Coliseum while taking the time to pose for a few pictures with his fans.
Was the triple-double outburst caused by the shoes? Maybe not, but Hollis-Jefferson explained that bringing two pairs of shoes is a usual for him.
Yes, they have to be Kobes, specifically… Because they’re all the pairs he has at the moment.
“I’ve been overseas since August, so I always have to have two pairs just in case something happens, you never know. If your feet’s not feeling good or you want to switch up your footwear, it’s always important to have a backup pair,” the former NBA player said.
“But yes, these are all I got at the house [now], Kobe’s.”
TNT import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson. –MARLO CUETO/Inquirer.net
If he was to pick, however, which one he would want to play more, Hollis-Jefferson took his sweet time looking at both pairs before coming to a conclusion.
“These ones [Five Rings]. These are a little worn out but I’ll go with them. I buy two pairs for every one I get so yes, I’ve worn these a lot,” he said, all the while smiling.
It was the Kobe 5s that he wore for the entirety of the game. He had a chance to switch to the Grinch at halftime but stayed with his more-preferred pair.
The “Five Rings” colorway of the Kobe 5s was made specifically in tribute to Bryant winning his fifth championship in Los Angeles back in 2010, the last title he won in the NBA.
Whichever kicks he decides to wear on Friday, however, the one thing Hollis-Jefferson wants to see out of the Gin Kings in a crucial Game 6 is their physicality.
“I’m good, they just played a lot more physical today, lots of banging and bumping but that’s how I grew up playing. I embrace it and I love it.”
Hollis-Jefferson will try to will the Tropang Giga to their first Governors’ Cup championship on Friday as they hold a pivotal 3-2 series lead against the reigning Commissioners’ Cup champions.