Kobe Bryant is an inspiration for young athletes in NBA and beyond. His fierce competitiveness, unparalleled work ethic, and winning mentality were qualities that separated him from the rest of the league.
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Kobe entered the league in 1996 and played for 20 seasons, representing the LA Lakers franchise for the entirety of his career. He won 5 NBA championships and the coveted MVP award in 2008. A member of the Redeem Team, Bryant also won 2 Olympic gold medals for the USA.
Known for his killer mentality and unfazed persona, he was often referred to as ‘Mamba’ by colleagues and fans alike. It was his ‘Mamba Mentality’ that pushed generations of players to strive for excellence. One such player who considered him his favorite was Isaiah Thomas.
Isaiah Thomas was happy to touch the jersey of Kobe Bean Bryant
In a conversation with Stephen Jackson and Matt Barnes on All the Smoke podcast, former Celtics All-Star Isaiah Thomas was asked about his ‘Welcome to the NBA’ moment. Describing the situation, Isaiah talked about his first game when the coach asked him to guard Kobe Bryant.
“So the first three possessions, they are doing iso and I am behind Kobe just smiling trying to guard him knowing he’s about to fade away. He hits 2 out of 3 shots.The first shot he hit I am sprinting down like – Damn! I’m here. That was my favorite player so even touching his jersey, I was like -Damn! I made it.”
Kobe was not known to show emotion during the game and welcomed the challenges of his opponents. Experts have considered him the closest a player has ever come to Michael Jordan. It’s no surprise that players would have the type of reaction that Thomas did when playing against him.
Isaiah Thomas’ playing career
Isaiah Thomas, one of the shortest players to enter the league at 5ft 9in, was drafted by the Sacramento Kings in 2011. Since then, he has moved around the NBA, playing for multiple teams before being bounced around via 10-day contracts.
His most notable stint came with the Boston Celtics, where he played for 2 seasons and was named an All-Star. During the 2017 season, Isaiah averaged an unprecedented 28.9 PPG shooting a field goal percentage of 46.9%. He also was named Eastern Conference Player of the Week on multiple occasions.
