“Like He Was Playing in the Finals…”: 3x NBA All Star Ponders on Kobe Bryant’s Impact on Him With Trae Young

In a constantly changing world, there remain only a few individuals whose influence endures. Even after his tragic passing in 2020, Kobe Bryant still remains one of those icons whose influence continues to be felt deeply. Five NBA titles and a 20-year career with the  Los Angeles Lakers are just a few of his on-court accomplishments. But his influence goes far beyond the world of athletics. And many looked up to him because of his ‘Mamba Mindset.’

And most recently, a 3x NBA All-Star sat along with Trae Young and looked back at how Kobe Bryant’s Mamba mindset inspired him.

3X NBA All-Star reveals an anecdote about Kobe Bryant

What Kobe Bryant dubbed the ‘Mamba Mentality’ epitomizes his remarkable work ethic. This way of thinking emphasized unwavering hard work, ongoing self-improvement, and the pursuit of excellence in all spheres of life. Kobe’s dedication to pushing himself to the edge has inspired many people to strive for their own best; whether it was while honing his jump shot, recovering from injuries, or leading his team through challenging times.

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The Mamba mindset also managed to inspire Gilbert Arenas, who recently appeared in an episode of ‘From The Point‘ podcast by Trae Young. He sat down with Young and revealed an inspiring anecdote about Kobe.

Gilbert Arenas said, “So I go to the gym, game day three o’clock,  Kobe’s working out right like seriously. So I go there and just sit sit in the stands and just sit in pre-game like I ain’t playing shit. And the man was going through workouts… pregame workouts like he was playing in the Finals. Like he was playing against a championship team. He played us. Yeah, we damn near last place.”

Gil continued, “He’s sitting there going hard like he’s really about that. I’m like dang this is… Now I can see the difference between what this is and what I’m watching every day in practice. I don’t want to be like that. And that’s what changed me.”

Kobe’s impact continues to be felt. When he was only in his second NBA season, Trae Young had started to develop a special bond with Bryant before the latter’s untimely passing. Even Bryant’s daughter Gianna regarded Young in great regard and considered him to be her favorite player.

Trae Young reveals Kobe’s last words to him

The bond that Young shared with Kobe became apparent during the 2020 NBA season. The Lakers legend, who was present at three games during the season and was a frequent spectator, witnessed two of those games in which Young played. Young had the honor of meeting Gianna after one game.

After he found out about Kobe’s untimely passing, Trae Young, following a game, attended an emotionally packed press conference.  Young spoke candidly about one of the final conversations he had with his idol while fighting back tears.

He said, “One of the last conversations we had, man, he was just telling me how much he’s seen my game progress,” Young revealed. “Just been happy for me, just saying how proud he was of me and how he wants me to continue to be a role model for kids growing up and just for Gigi and all the kids looking up to me; just continue to inspire these kids and continue to play my heart out. And that’s one of the last things he said to me.”

As Young continues to rise to prominence, Bryant is undoubtedly looking down with immense pride.

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