Year 21 LeBron James Looks Back at Personal Kobe Bryant Moment Before NBA Career Even Began: “Soaked It All In”

The year was 2001. Kobe Bryant was riding high after hitting the winning shot that brought the Los Angeles Lakers the championship in the 1999-2000 season. But that wasn’t the only highlight. Recently, LeBron James shared an Instagram story that transports fans back to that time, featuring a young Kobe addressing an even younger James at the Academic Betterment and Career Development Camp (ABCD Camp) on Backstage Lakers. King James captioned the video, “Didn’t say a word, I just sat there and soaked in every word.”

In the background of the story, James can be heard reminiscing, “Went to the ABCD camp on Backstage Lakers and he came and talked to all the kids that were there. I was just listening.”

So, what pearls of baller wisdom did Bryant drop on the youngins?

The legend encouraged them by stating, “Just do your thing and go for what you know, man. Go for your dreams. Maybe I’ll see you in the league one of these days. Maybe I’ll be one of those young cats thinking that you can take our championship away and it’s not happening.”

James ends the background audio by remembering Bryant’s famous rule, “If you wanna be one of the greats, you gotta put the work in.”

Passing the Torch

Kobe Bryant came in hot to the NBA after being picked 13th in the 1996 NBA Draft while LeBron James was the 1st overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft.

Read more: “My Brother’s Keeper”: Kobe Bryant’s Daughter’s Wholesome Moment With Dad’s Former Teammate Leaves Fans Emotional

Long before Kobe hung up his shoes in 2016, heavy comparisons were already underway as both of them individually had smashing careers, consistently creating NBA history. While the GOAT debate continues even today, James has got nothing but love for his fellow Lakers teammate who also happens to be the all-time leading scorer for the Lakers.

The bond between these two legends solidified in another way. In a twist, Kobe Bryant’s last tweet was a congratulatory message to James after surpassing Bryant’s record of 33,643 points against the Philadelphia 76ers on January 25, 2020.

While they never played on the same team outside of representing their country in the Olympics, their 2007 collaboration on “The Redeem Team” marked the beginning of their relationship. That year, alongside Bryant, James helped the USA win the gold medal, ending an eight-year drought for the nation.

Now that King James is in his 21st year in the NBA, one can see the undeniable impact of the Black Mamba on a young James and helped build the mindset: “If you wanna be one of the greats, you gotta put the work in.”

Watch the story: $2.7 Billion Worth Brand Gifts Shaquille O’Neal’s Son Custom Kobe Bryant Tribute