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The Golden State Warriors lost game four of the Western Conference Finals on Tuesday night, falling to a 3-1 deficit in their series with the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Warriors were heavily favored to both win the series and repeat as NBA champions following a historic 73-9 regular season, but their quest to defend their title has been stifled against Kevin Durant and the Thunder.
Following the loss that left Golden State on the verge of a disappointing postseason elimination, a recently retired player who knows a little something about repeating as champion sent an inspirational text message to Warriors forward Draymond Green.
"I got a text from Kobe [Bryant], he said 'If making history was easy, why bother?'" That's 100 percent right. It ain't easy, it's a struggle," Green said in a video for Bleacher Report's 'Uninterrupted' video series. "I'm looking forward to the challenge. I've never backed down from a challenge, his team has never backed down from a challenge, and we won't start now."
This isn't the first time this season Bryant has offered advice to Green, doing so the first time on a pair of signed shoes telling him to "be historic.":
Star struck by two players when I entered the league... G Hill and @kobebryant THANK YOU!!! Much respect!!! pic.twitter.com/ygzmaLYI4X
— Draymond Green (@Money23Green) January 15, 2016
Bryant knows a team overcoming a 3-1 deficit is entirely possible since he's experienced it firsthand when his Lakers were on the wrong end of one such comeback in the 2006 postseason. Whether or not Golden State is able to do the same, Bryant would probably have one more piece of advice for any member of the Warriors losing their confidence.
Can't win a shootout with a butter knife #letitfly https://t.co/57zWQzqsfg
— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) June 10, 2015
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