After Kobe Bryant retired from the NBA, he made it a point to pass on his knowledge to the up and coming players in the game today.
In an interview with SiriusXM last March, Bryant recalled the time Irving called Bryant via FaceTime after the Cleveland Cavaliers overcame a 3-1 deficit and won the 2016 NBA Finals in Game 7 against the Warriors. He was sitting on the couch with Gianna when his phone rang.
“Kyrie’s in the locker room celebrating on Facetime like, ‘Dude, it worked! Your advice worked!,’” Bryant said. “I was really, really proud of him. So I’d say Kyrie is the one I’m closest to.”
Tragedy struck this year when Kobe Bryant, Gianna Bryant, & the 7 others were all killed in a helicopter crash in Calabasas. Kyrie decided to honor his mentor by including them in a lyrics of his song. Here is the line:
"I'm doing what I'm supposed to do. I'm painting lifes canvas, I'm moving like an artist. Similar to my to my progress, I'm on a team full of martyrs. Paradise is Mamba, throwing peace to Gianna."
Photo: Getty Images