Picture this: It’s the 2nd annual Mamba League Invitational tournament and Bryce James walks onto the court rocking the Kobe 4 Protro “Philly”. Well, that’s exactly what the younger James did a couple of weeks ago as a tribute to one of his favorite players, Kobe Bryant. Sure enough, Bryce’s love for the Lakers legend is no secret, as he even ranks him above his father’s good pal Stephen Curry! And his fandom became even more evident with his latest confession on social media.

As a sneaker reseller announced a massive drop of multiple iconic Kobe signature shoes, Bryce was hyped and shared the post on his Instagram story saying, “My Kobe plug going stupid,” followed by a crying emoji. Well, we finally know where the 17-year-old gets his retro hoop shoes from!

But that’s not all! Just a few days ago, Bryce even listed Kobe as one of his five favorite players of all time, “LeBron, MJ, Kobe, Russell Westbrook, Carmelo Anthony.” Yes, in an era where most kids idolize Stephen Curry and aspire to have unlimited shooting range just like him, Bron’s younger son ranks Black Mamba above the Warriors star. And it should not come as a surprise considering King James plays for the Lakers, and living in LA for the past few years has Bryce understand what Kobe means to the City of Angels.

Moreover, Bryce makes sure that he is always hooping on Mamba Day to honor the legend, as he recently participated in the Mamba League Invitational Tournament for the second consecutive year. And he even had some memorable moments playing alongside top High School prospects, including Jason Crowe Jr. and Tyran Stokes. However, that’s not where Bryce’s fandom for Kobe ends.

Bryce James paid tribute to Kobe Bryant with a unique look

As it turns out, Bryce is not just a fan of Kobe’s signature sneaker line. Just last year, he took over the internet when he posted an image of himself on Instagram wearing a hoodie with the Lakers legend’s face printed on it. Boasting the unique look, he captioned it, “If looks could kill.” As expected, the kid got the adoration of Lakers Nation for paying homage to the five-time champion.

Even his older brother, Bronny is a massive Kobe fan and once picked him over the great Michael Jordan in a game of ‘Start, Bench, Cut.’ Yes, with choices between LeBron, Kobe, and MJ, obviously the kid first chose to start his father. Then, he said, “I’m gonna bench Kobe, then cut MJ.” And that just goes to show how much the two siblings love Black Mamba’s game.

Moreover, the admiration was not just one-sided as Kobe even offered to coach LeBron’s two sons back in 2016 claiming that “they pass too much.” “Send them my way, and I’ll fix that.” He told LBJ’s mom when they ran into each other, realizing the two kids’ potential. And it’s great to see Bronny and Bryce frequently paying tribute to the Hall of Famer and keeping his legacy alive.

Thoughts? Let us know in the comments below.

Before you go, do not forget to check out this crossover between BG12 and Georgia Bulldogs star Asia Avinger.