The sign of true athletes lies in their ability to gain knowledge in the midst of adversity. As they refuse to back down and choose to push through in their times of misery, they create bonds for life. Something similar happened in Novak Djokovic‘s life as he got close to Kobe Bryant during the tough times.

The duo bonded for life over their willingness to become successful as the Serbian paid tribute to the NBA legend recently. After an exhausting US Open win, the tennis star shared a Kobe story that won the sports world over.

What did Novak Djokovic say?

Djokovic defeated the World No. 3 Daniil Medvedev in a long-stretched US Open 2023 men’s singles finals in New York. It was Novak’s fourth US Open win as he beat the Russian to clinch a 6-3, 7-6(5), 6-3 victory in a tiring 3hr 17min long fight. The 36-year-old secured his 24th Grand Slam, matching the record of Margaret Court.

Following his win, in the post-match interview, he shared a heart-warming Black Mamba story in the latter’s home soil. Displaying a ‘MAMBA’ shirt to the audience, the World No. 2 talked about how the Los Angeles Lakers legend helped him in his difficult times. “Kobe was a close friend,” said an emotional Novak.

The 5-time NBA champion stood by Djokovic and kept him focused on winning while he was recovering from an injury.“We chatted a lot about a winner’s mentality,” Djoker mentioned before adding, “He was 1 of the people I rely on the most”. Talking about the closeness, he highlighted, “He was always there for any kind of counsel, advice,” showcasing their faith in one another.

As Novak won his 24th Grand Slam, the jersey number Bryant used to wear in his playing days, he decided to pay respect to the late great. His shirt underneath was a gesture of tribute to Kobe and his daughter, Gianna. “A symbolic thing to acknowledge him for all the things he has done,” Novak mentioned with watery eyes.

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This proves one thing.

The legacy of Kobe Bryant lives on

After his sudden death more than three years ago, the world was left shocked. Despite that, his legacy seems to transcend all fields and generations.

Success means nothing without a successor. Taking that into consideration, Kobe remains to date one of the most successful stars of all time. His actions still inspire millions, as his mentality provides hope to the helpless.

An impact that can never be written off. An influence that can never be overestimated. That’s the legacy of Kobe Bryant.

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