Kobe Bryant is the epitome of a competitor in the sport of basketball. But, keeping his ego aside, he always sought advice from the league’s most incredible and veteran players to improve his play. Days before joining the Lakers, in 2003, Gary Payton was impressed by Kobe’s humility when the Mamba sought defensive advice. Payton fondly remembers this as one of his most significant memories of Kobe, while speaking to Kevin Garnett in an episode of KG Certified.
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Kobe Bryant knew that the insights from the league veterans were vital in becoming better in the game. He regarded Michael Jordan as his idol and was never reluctant to text His Airness regarding any advice. Similarly, Bryant showed no hesitance in asking Payton to improve his defensive prowess.
Gary Payton fondly remembers Kobe Bryant’s egoless approach
Gary Payton is a well-known veteran of the league, having played with the erstwhile Seattle SuperSonics and Milwaukee Bucks before joining the Lakers in 2003. Payton also played one season with the Boston Celtics, ahead of winning his first NBA championship with the Miami Heat in 2006.
Happy Birthday, Bean. Mamba Forever ♾️@GaryPayton shares how Kobe had a relentless hunger to learn, even at the height of his fame.
Watch all episodes of #KGCertified on our YouTube. pic.twitter.com/mymP2NvoTk
— SHOWTIME Basketball (@shobasketball) August 23, 2023
Before joining the Lakers, Gary Payton was impressed by Kobe seeking advice from him, despite having established himself as a young NBA champion. It showed Kobe’s resilience as a student of the game and eagerness to learn from the veterans and his contemporaries. Recalling the same, here is what Payton fondly told Kevin Garnett.
“Kobe didn’t have a fear of nothing to ask nobody to get better. So he came by me and he was like ‘Big bro, man, you be doing this and that and that, I really want to learn this, man. I really want to learn it because of you.’ And when he said that, that took something out of me, took something in my heart that a kid with his ability and knowing where he was going, wants to really learn. And, he doesn’t have an ego. He doesn’t have an ego. And I don’t mind that. I don’t care about him knowing how to do it and stop it, because if he knows it, it makes me better too, KG. Because I got to learn how to stop him now. Because I gave him the game. So I got to learn how to be somewhere else doing- That show something else. And it didn’t really bother me. And me and him got so tight- we got really tight. And especially me going to the Lakers and mentoring him and what he was going through during the time. We got like this.”
During the peak of his career, Kobe was quite weary of people around him and didn’t trust anyone as easily. However, basketball and the game’s beautiful aspects brought him and Gary Payton together. Payton and Kobe were in touch until Kobe’s untimely demise, with Payton revealing how Kobe would seek advice from him even after retirement. The Mamba greatly respected the veterans around him, quite understandable from his attitude towards Michael Jordan and Gary Paytoṇ.
Gary Payton shunned all claims of Kobe Bryant being a selfish player
With Kobe’s attitude to strive for greatness, many might mistake him as a selfish player. But that was far from what Kobe was. The Mamba, though pushing for individual glory, was cognizant of his team’s needs and the insights of the veterans around him.
Gary Payton shunned all allegations of Kobe being a selfish player with one question- “How come Kobe Bryant always came to talk to the veterans if he was selfish?” From Payton’s words, it’s evident that Kobe was rather on the lookout to establish his individual greatness as a player. This, alongside the Mamba’s relentless work ethic and passion, distinguished him as a winner rather than a selfish star.
