(Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
During his historic NBA playing career, Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant left quite an impression on the players he played against and the players who watched him win five NBA titles while growing up.
One of those players that Bryant left a profound impression on is current Dallas Mavericks superstar guard Kyrie Irving, who picked the brain of the Hall of Famer every chance he got and openly called him his mentor and someone he went to regularly for guidance.
Even after hitting a game-winning three-pointer over fellow superstar Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors while with the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Finals to win his first title, Irving’s first move after the game was over was to FaceTime Bryant in the locker room to thank him for all his advice.
With Irving heading into another Finals appearance this week, with the Mavericks taking on the Boston Celtics starting June 6 at TD Garden, Irving has been asked about Bryant’s guidance and the impact he had on him, via Complex Sports.
“I don’t know if anyone here has ever lost a mentor… I miss him [Kobe Bryant] every single day,” Irving said.
“I don’t know if anyone here has ever lost a mentor… I miss him [Kobe Bryant] every single day.”
Kyrie Irving reflects on the impact Kobe had on him ahead of the Finals.
(via: @_abigaiiiil) pic.twitter.com/olzSBOH5UA
— Complex Sports (@ComplexSports) June 3, 2024
Much like when the Cavaliers defied the odds in 2016 to beat the Warriors, the Mavericks will head into the Finals as the underdogs against the Celtics.
However, the Mavericks have been incredibly resilient throughout the NBA playoffs thus far, with Irving and Luka Doncic playing at a very high level, which may give Dallas a good chance of pulling off the upset against a talented Boston squad led by Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
The post Kyrie Irving Gets Honest About How Kobe Bryant Impacted Him appeared first on The Cold Wire.