Kobe Bryant is one of the most decorated names in the NBA. Mamba’s swagger and his will to win are LA folklore. While he carbon-copied a lot of moves from Michael Jordan, the Lakers icon also built a niche of his own. Bryant eventually became an idol for several players, many of whom are currently in the league. Kobe’s impact as a shot-creator can be seen in the way many scorers approach their game today. 

Mamba, however, wasn’t just a shot-creator, but he also put a lot of emphasis on defending. An all-around threat on the hardwood floor, Bryant’s skill and persona were recently demystified by a fellow Lakers legend.

The mesmerizing presence of Kobe Bryant

Black Mamba’s work ethic is Day 1 of basketball fandom. Bryant wanted to be the best, he didn’t want to be just Like Mike, but he wanted to surpass the Bulls legend. Basketball was more than just a game for him. He breathed and exuded basketball every moment. Practises were like the real game for him, and he would get in the face of defenders and offensive players alike. He had a drive that could overwhelm people around him. This is why NBA icon, Jerry West, has lofty adulation for the Hall-of-Famer.

He went to Podcast P with Paul George, and his admiration for Kobe Bean Bryant leaked from every orifice. When he witnessed Bryant in the predraft workout in 1996, he noticed that the young and hungry Lower Marion guard played like a “man among kindergarten people”. The former Lakers point guard acknowledged that the shooting guard was “versatile, unbelievably skilled, and a ferocious defender. “

Bryant’s work ethic touched the Logo. West states, ”His work ethic, second to none. He wasn’t afraid of anything and it was genuine. It’s not verbiage. You go around training camp and you watch him, you almost felt you have to strap him down. He could not sit down. He was just a natural player when he was born, there was a heck of a lot of gold dust sprinkled on this kind. A lot”. Additionally, Jerry West played a significant role in helping the Lakers land Kobe Bryant.

READ More: “From One Mamba to Another”: Late Kobe Bryant’s Gratifying Gesture Once Won the Heart of NBA Broadcaster Mike Breen

Jerry West takes a bet on Kobe

Jerry West was a pioneer of the NBA during his time. His ability to hit pull-up jumpers, create off-the-dribble, and score close to the basket made him one of the best players during his time. He was a 14-time All-Star and won a championship too alongside Wilt the Stilt Chamberlain.

Jerry West identified Bryant’s Hall-of-Fame potential quite early. The predraft workout had such an effect that West prompted the Lakers’ organization to roll the dice on a player coming out of school.

During his retirement ceremony in 2016, Magic Johnson, yet another Lakers legend, called Bryant the greatest Lakers of all time. Right from the retired Heat guard, Dwyane Wade, to the current isolation phenom Jayson Tatum, Kobe has been revered across the board, inspiring many generations and also the street-basketball scene.

Watch This Story: ChatGPT Angers NBA World; Ranks Charles Barkley Above Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan is at Number 2