This year marks the fourth anniversary of Kobe's death in a *** accident, and many NBA stars still miss him and express their thoughts in their own ways. On January 22, Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers set his own career record of 70 points in a single game on the same day that Kobe Bryant's 81-point record was recorded. After the game, he said, "I started playing basketball relatively late, but from the moment I started playing basketball, Kobe Bryant was my idol. He's the reason I play basketball. On the same day, Towns, the Minnesota Timberwolves' main billboard figure, also scored 62 points to pay homage to the legend in the same way.
Coincidentally, on Bryant's death day on January 26, Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks scored 73 points in a single game, expressing his nostalgia for the legend in his own way. After the game, he said: "It's so special! We all love Kobe Bryant, the accident was a tragedy and I can't believe it's been four years. There was that sentiment on the same day, but obviously, I wish he could be here to witness this moment. On the other side, Booker of the Phoenix Suns also scored 62 points, and the meaning behind it is thought-provoking. Two days, four top NBA stars high-scoring performances, I think only Kobe Bryant has such a big impact.
LaMelo Ball, who now plays for the Charlotte Hornets, looked up at the sky and waved his shooting wrist and smiled when answering a question about Kobe, which is his way of paying tribute to Kobe. In the world of basketball, Kobe Bryant still lives on in the hearts of many players. Ball said he had many similarities with the late Kobe Bryant, including being drafted by the Hornets and having just one day to his birthday. As a basketball kid growing up in Southern California, he grew up with Kobe Bryant.
When asked what the Mamba spirit is, Ball said: "Unwavering self-confidence, we don't want to admit that others exist, especially when it comes to basketball. Trust me, everyone loves Kobe Bryant, he's a legend to be respected. Despite his passing, fans still inadvertently express their love for the legend, such as the occasional professional wrestler undertaker who crumples a ball of paper and shouts, "Kobe," as he throws it into the trash. ”
Arenas, a retired NBA player who is now a podcaster, said that a new generation of players think Kobe Bryant is better than Jordan, the "god of basketball." "Kobe Bryant's talent isn't high, but he plays to his full potential," he said. "With his extraordinary diligence, he became the closest player to Jordan. Arenas explained, "Jordan has bigger palms, a vertical jump height of 48 inches, almost insane speed, and a long arm span. The gap between him and Kobe Bryant is like that of supercars Bugatti and Honda. Bryant, who is 6 feet 6 inches tall, is more like a regular car than Jordan, but he can do more with fewer resources, which means he faces greater challenges on the court, including improving his left-hand skills and perfecting some details to compete with the players on the court. Arenas even believes that if Kobe Bryant had played for the Chicago Bulls in the '90s, he might have surpassed Jordan because of the loose defense in the '90s, Kobe's personal skill and variety of means, and players in that period couldn't stop Kobe from scoring, and an average of 40 to 50 points per game was commonplace.
Los Angeles Lakers star James also mentioned Kobe Bryant in an interview. "The night before Kobe's accident, I was playing on the road in his hometown of Philadelphia and a layup in the third quarter surpassed his all-time scoring record," he said. That night, Bryant sent me a text message congratulating me. We played at the Olympics together in 2008 and 2012 and he is a monumental figure. "Now, fewer and fewer people have ever played with Kobe, and both Durant and Curry have become veterans. However, some of the up-and-coming stars are lamenting that they can't get Bryant's guidance and learn from his approach to the game.
Edwards of the Minnesota Timberwolves, who entered the NBA 10 months after Kobe's death, said, "I want Kobe to be my mentor, he's so unique, so crazy!" No one is as focused on playing as he is, and there will never be another Kobe Bryant. For example, Edwards said that in the 2009 NBA Finals, the Lakers won two wins to lead the Orlando Magic, but at the press conference, Kobe Bryant was expressionless. When a reporter asked him why he was unhappy, he said: "The championship is not there yet. "It shows Bryant's dedication to victory, and he won't let up until he completely defeats his opponent.
Tatum of the Boston Celtics is the league's number one star, and he is in awe of Kobe. He said on the podcast "Old Man and Three-Pointer": "I reached the Eastern Conference Finals in 2018, and ESPN approached Kobe Bryant to comment, and I watched that clip more than 20 times. One day, Kobe Bryant sent me a message inviting me to practice with him in the summer. I'll tell you, aside from the birth of my son, practicing with Kobe Bryant was the best day of my life. I will never forget training with him on the pitch and learning the technique. That's the coolest thing for me. ”
Bucks star Antetokounmpo also mentioned Kobe's influence on him. "In 2017, Bryant tweeted me a message with just three words: MVP," he said. It gives me confidence that I have what it takes to fight for this position. He's a guy to be respected, and I play with the mindset of challenging the world. In 2019, he won his first MVP, in 2020 he won this award again, and in 2021 he won the Finals MVP. He still plays with the spirit of Mamba, he said.