Lakers News: How Kobe Bryant Inspired All-Star On Current LA Play-In Rival

The Lakers legend still looms large in the hearts and minds of a new generation.

Los Angeles Lakers superstar swingman Kobe Bryant may be gone, but his game remains immortal.

While interviewing Utah Jazz point guard Collin Sexton during All-Star Weekend festivities in Salt Lake City, Brandon "Scoop B" Robinson of Bally Sports recalled a conversation with Utah's lone All-Star this season, forward Lauri Markkanen, who revealed that he looked up to some surprising NBA influences -- a pair of Hall of Fame shooting guards and Shaquille O'Neal running mates with particularly lethal finishing abilities around the rack.

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A post shared by 👑Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson (@scoopb)

"When Lauri Markkanen was going through his draft process, he told me how much Kobe and Dwyane Wade videos he watched -- particularly when the Miami Heat were in the Finals," Robinson revealed while in conversation with Markkanen's teammate Sexton.

The seven-foot Markkanen is the best player for the 31-34 Jazz, who number among the main rivals the current iteration of your Los Angeles Lakers will have to fend off teams of Utah's ilk if they hope to make some noise in the play-in tournament, which at best seems to be where the team is headed so long as LeBron James remains on the shelf.

This season, his first for Utah, has been totally unleashed. He has become a focal point of the Jazz's offense, while averaging a career-best 25.2 points on .510/.405/.875 shooting splits. He's also chipping in 8.6 rebounds and 1.8 assists.

Bryant, an 18-time All-Star, enjoyed a 20-year career with LA from 1996-2016, leading the team to seven NBA Finals appearances, including two wins.

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