Back In The Day NBA

NBA Superstar Gives Heartfelt Speech About Kobe Bryant's Impact On His Life

Shandel Richardson

Feb 1, 2020; Sacramento, California, USA; Fans line up to take photos on an art wall in remembrance of Kobe Bryant and Gianna Bryant before the game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-Imagn Images
Feb 1, 2020; Sacramento, California, USA; Fans line up to take photos on an art wall in remembrance of Kobe Bryant and Gianna Bryant before the game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-Imagn Images / Sergio Estrada-Imagn Images

NBA legend Kobe Bryant inspired plenty of younger players during playing days.

One of them was All-Star Kyrie Irving, who shared a heartfelt story about Bryant on Thanksgiving. Irving talked about his conversation with Bryant after the Cleveland Cavaliers won the title in 2016.

"When somebody tells you to do something for the good of the team, it's not always going to sound like the best thing," Irving said. "You've got to know how to take that advice and apply it. For him, in 2016, he told me to really start isolating myself a little bit more to get a greater sense of who I am and how you have to approach every day."

Bryant, who was killed in a helicopter crash in 2020, was one of Irving's biggest influences. Bryant was known for the "Mamba Mentality" because of his willingness to never accept losing. He won five titles with the Los Angeles Lakers during his Hall of Fame career.

"It gave us a hero to look up to," Irving said. "But also, he didn't want to be look up to as a hero. He wanted to always let you know, `You want to be better than me. Don't strive to be where I'm at. Try to strive to get past me. If you can't get past me, keep striving for your own goals."'

Shandel Richardson is the publisher of Back In The Day Hoops On SI. He can be reached at shandelrich@gmail.com

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Shandel Richardson
SHANDEL RICHARDSON

Shandel has covered the NBA since 2010, with previous stops at The Athletic and South Florida Sun-Sentinel.  He has covered six NBA Finals, one Super Bowl, the NCAA basketball tournament. He has also been a beat writer for the Miami Hurricanes and contributed on every major beat in South Florida since 2003, including the Miami Dolphins and Miami Marlins. He can also be read in the Sportsbook Review for gambling coverage from around the NBA. A native of Bloomington, Illinois, Shandel attended Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. He's also worked for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and Kansas City Star.  TWITTER: @ShandelRich EMAIL: shandelrich@gmail.com