Angel Reese says holding Larry O'Brien Trophy reminds her of Kobe Bryant

Bill Russell is the winningest NBA superstar in history with a whopping 11 championships to his name, but Kobe Bryant still ranks among the greatest winners ever. During his glory days with Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe won three titles in three straight years and dominated the league in a way that hasn't been replicated since.

In the latter years of his career, Bryant won two more championships with Pau Gasol as his co-star and it put him just one ring behind Michael Jordan, who is widely considered the greatest player of all time.

Reese, who is still trying to make a name for herself in the WNBA, clearly grew up with some level of appreciation for Bryant and it's likely what fuels her fiery competitive spirit both on and off the court. While her season with the Chicago Sky is only just beginning, there is a lot of optimism about what she can do.

At the very least, we can take it as a good sign that she's followed Kobe's career because he's exactly the type of player that any athlete should aspire to be if they want to win at the highest level.

Kobe Bryant Is The Ultimate Winner

Kobe Bryant was a divisive figure during his day, but his status as an NBA legend and an all-time great is inarguable. Over 20 years in the NBA, Bryant averaged 25.0 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game on 44.7% shooting. He retired in 2016 as a 5x champion, 18x All-Star, 15x All-NBA player, and 2x scoring leader.

During his stint with the Lakers, Kobe had the ultimate work ethic and he never let anyone out-work or out-hustle him on the court. It was Kobe who popularized the term "Mamba Mentality" and it's he who helped keep an entire franchise amid constantly changing circumstances.

Today, while Kobe is no longer around to share his own legacy, there are more than enough stories to keep it alive anyway. From coaches to players and fans, Kobe's fearlessness, grit, and determination helped defined his career and it inspired a whole generation to go out and work for their dreams.

Angel Reese is now in a position to follow a similar path in the WNBA and if she can find success like Kobe did, many young athletes around the world will come to look up to her just like they did with Bryant. It's obviously much easier said than done, but Reese seems more than confident that she can pull it off.