‘Mamba Knight’: Fans React to Jayson Tatum’s Beautiful Tribute for Idol Kobe Bryant

Kobe Bryant might be the greatest Laker of all time. With his incredible shot making ability from the mid-range or even the three point line, and his ability to lock in other top guards, Bryant made a name for himself as a two-way beast.

His game was pretty reminiscent of another legendary player, Michael Jordan. While the likes of Jordan and Magic Johnson inspired Kobe’s generation, ‘the Mamba’ became a source of inspiration for many current superstars.

Be it star guards like Bradley Beal and Devin Booker or even big men like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bryant has had a major influence on multiple stars’ lives with his incredible play and his ‘Mamba mentality’ towards the game.

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Jayson Tatum re-creates iconic Kobe Bryant shot

While the likes of Booker have been pretty vocal about their admiration to Kobe, perhaps the most well-known Bryant disciple is Jayson Tatum. Despite donning fierce rivals’ Celtics’ jersey, Tatum credits ‘Mamba’ for inspiring him.

In celebration of the 75th year of the NBA, the 2-time All-Star stepped up to the plate to pay a special tribute to his idol. Donning the vintage Lakers’ jersey with Bryant’s iconic 24, Tatum re-created one of Kobe’s most influential game winners.

Back in 2009, with a single possession left to play, Kobe and the Lakers were down 107-105. In an inbound pass, Bryant dribbled around with the ball and was guarded by Dwyane Wade.

In possibly the most dramatic fashion, the 2-time scoring champion drained the three-pointer and won the game for the Lakers. Given how insane the shot was, this arguably one of the best buzzer beaters Kobe has had in his career. There couldn’t have been a better tribute to the ‘Mamba’ than one of his biggest fans re-creating his iconic winner.

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NBA fans reacts to Tatum’s tribute to Kobe

Fans all around the world had some interesting reactions to Tatum’s tribute for the ‘Mamba’. While Kobe fans were fired up with the Celtics’ forward donning a Kobe jersey, others speculated a possible switch to the Lakers to JT in the near future.

While we may have lost Bryant to a tragic accident, his legacy lives through players like Tatum and Booker. Not only these are the players who are destined to become superstars, they have the capability to become the face of the league very soon. What do you think about Tatum’s latest gesture? Let us know in the comments section down below.