16 Months After Expressing Distaste Toward Kobe Bryant?s Arrogance, Miami Heat Legend Steps Into Pool of Contradiction

The world of NBA is a dynamic one. Aside from the sport, the opinions of players about each other are subject to change as well. Even though the duo of Shaquille O?Neal and Charles Barkley are known for their close friendship, fans still remember that moment when they couldn?t stop throwing hands at each other.

A former NBA legend recently spoke about a heartwarming moment he shared with the late Los Angeles Lakers icon Kobe Bryant. This was in complete contraction to the opinions he shared about the Black Mamba a little more than a year ago.

NBA veterans discuss Kobe Bryant

Former Boston Celtics player Kevin Garnett and former Miami Heat player Gary Payton reunited after the latter appeared on Garnett?s Showtime Basketball series: ?KG Certified?.

During the segment, the duo took up various topics to discuss, including Payton?s son and his rise in the NBA, him winning a title for the Heat in 2006, etc. Amongst the topics discussed, the duo also talked about a few stories featuring legend Kobe Bryant.

Kevin Garnett recalled how the Miami Heat player once took Kobe on two three-minute tutorials of “some denial s**t”. Since Garnett wasn?t that enthusiastic during that time to teach his “whole slate of ABC” to the newcomers, he wanted to know what made Payton take Kobe under his wing for those few minutes and teach him some new things, knowing that what he taught could one day be turned around against himself.

Payton responded by saying that from the very start, Kobe was already different. During his 10-11 year in the League, when he spent time with Kobe, he saw the young player not having a fear of asking another individual to teach him how to get better.

?GP? recounted how the to-be-Lakers icon approached him and asked him to teach some of his techniques. ?So he came by me and he was like: ?Big bro man, you be doing this and that and that. I really want to learn this man I really want to learn it because of you.??

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This touched something in Payton?s heart, knowing that someone of Kobe?s ability also feels the need to want to learn and isn?t too egocentric to ask. ?He doesn?t have an ego,? said Payton.

Payton?s remarks come a mere 16 months after he gave an interview for Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson?s show. When talking about Kobe, Payton recalled how he thought the kid was full of arrogance.

‘Kobe came in real arrogant,’ said Payton 16 months ago

?Kobe came in real arrogant. He was a high school kid coming in there, talking about he gonna be the greatest,? recalled Payton. ?Them OGs was like, ?Man, who does this kid think he is, making people do this and that.??

Payton admitted that he didn?t mind Kobe?s attitude and respected him all the more for it. It is, however, completely different from Kobe?s ?non-egoistic? personality the player would later go on to talk about.

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What is your favorite Kobe Bryant moment? Do you agree with Gary Payton about the Mamba? Share your thoughts in the comments below!