One of the hardest working athletes in sports history, Kobe Bryant is one of the most influential players ever. The Los Angeles Lakers superstar stood for relentless dedication and had completely committed himself to the game of basketball. Parting his “Mamba Mentality” ideology to his millions of fans around the world, Kobe inspired an entire generation of athletes. Neymar Jr. was one of the many budding sporting stars who had been deeply impacted by Bryant’s influence. Being unable to witness Michael Jordan play, the soccer sensation recently revealed falling in love with the Black Mamba.
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Widely regarded as one of the best soccer stars of this generation, Neymar is also an avid fan of the NBA. Over the past few years, we have seen the Brazilian closely follow the league. Neymar has been present courtside to watch a number of games, and has hung out with the likes of Jimmy Butler, Stephen Curry, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and LeBron James, among others.
Despite meeting some of the game’s best, it was Kobe Bryant who became his greatest inspiration.
Neymar Jr. reveals his admiration for Kobe Bryant
During the NBA Finals, the Paris Saint-Germain star sat down for an interview with NBA Brasil. During the near-12 minute must-see interview, the 2015 UCL winner spoke about missing out on the chance of watching Michael Jordan play. Of course, born in 1992, the left winger was too young to follow the sport closely during Jordan’s heydays in the 90s.
“Growing up, I constantly heard people talking about Jordan. Unfortunately, I never had the chance to witness his greatness on the court,” Neymar told NBA Brasil.
But as he grew up, Bryant instantly became his favorite. Watching the five-time NBA Champion dominate the hardwood was the chief reason behind his growing affinity toward the NBA. “But one player who truly inspired me was Kobe Bryant,” he disclosed. “Kobe was someone I used to watch, and he played for the most renowned team[Lakers].”
Already a huge Kobe supporter, Ney became even more attached to the 6-foot-6 shooting guard after meeting him in person. “I had the opportunity to meet Kobe. I had the opportunity to talk to him. I was already a fan of his, and that meeting made me an even bigger fan,” the 31-year-old said.
Such was the aura of the late Hall-Of-Famer. People from different walks of life would be inspired by his greatness and dedication.
Neymar met Michael Jordan during a visit to Las Vegas
By the time Neymar grew up to completely understand the intricacies of the sport, His Airness had already retired for the third and final time.
Despite never watching the six-time NBA Champion play basketball, Neymar has a spot for MJ on his all-time top 5 list. Back in 2015, the football prodigy visited Las Vegas to watch UFC 189, where he would meet the Bulls legend. Like any other fan, Neymar was starstruck and posted a selfie with MJ on his Instagram account. Only a year after, Neymar would become the first soccer star to collaborate with the Jordan brand.
