The Black Mamba, Kobe Bryant , has inspired a generation during his time. There are athletes from different sports who have picked inspiration from the Mamba, being the sports icon he was. Bryant was not only the face of the NBA but also the face of the sport back in the day. The five-time champion has a long list of accolades that can make a strong case for the greatest player of all time.
Recently, Jayson Tatum, who is also known as the biggest Kobe fan in the league shared his statements on why he sees the Mamba as the GOAT. The 26-year-old has accomplished a lot at an early age. Before turning 26, Tatum has had multiple Conference Finals appearances and a Finals appearance. JT has often been compared to having a similar mentality as Bryant, as he has a lot of winnings on his plate already.
Jayson Tatum said on NBA on TNT:
The way he inspired somebody that was 2,000 miles away that I had never met. Just watching him on TV, watching his interviews, watching how hard he worked, the ups and downs of his career. From 2,000 miles away, me, seeing myself in him, wanting to achieve my dream and chase my goal and worked as hard as I did, because he did those things. Jayson Tatum said
JT once texted Bryant during the 2022 postseason. The Celtics were taking on the Miami Heat in the Conference Finals, and the series went all the way to Game 7. Knowing there would be no reply from the other side, Tatum played the game in honor of the Mamba. The Celtics went on to win the game and advance to the NBA Finals.
Kobe Bryant had an ambitious idea for when to retire
Coming into the league at just 17, Bryant had the drive in him. Inspired by the great Michael Jordan, the Mamba was the most competitive player the league had ever seen. Bryant worked extremely hard, as veterans and retired players today have many stories of the same. For Kobe, his goals were quite simple. Bryant would only stop after winning seven championships.
MJ won three titles in a row twice in his 14-year career. By Bryant’s 14th year in the league, he had won five championships and was still young. Unfortunately, the next six seasons didn’t go as planned for the Mamba, though he did manage to hang five banners for the Lakers.
Going into his retirement, Bryant spent his last season being more of a mentor and friend to his teammates and players around the league. Out of his competitive nature, Kobe Bryant was a great sportsman and human being.
More must-reads: