Sabrina Ionescu, A Close Friend Of Vanessa and Kobe Bryant, Admits Why The Mamba And Steve Nash Were Her Childhood Role Models

The Los Angeles Lakers fanbase can boast of having some of the biggest stars in the NBA play for their team. Whether it is Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal, Magic Johnson, or LeBron James, they have all represented the purple and gold.

Kobe Bryant is definitely one of the greatest players in the NBA and he held a special place in the hearts of all Lakers fans. His overall impact on the game and the accolades he won with the franchise made him one of the most likable players in the world.

Many stars in the NBA and beyond have credited The Mamba for being their inspiration in starting out basketball. The latest player to add their name to that list is WNBA Star, Sabrina Ionescu.

The New York Liberty star talks about the influence Kobe had on her. According to Ionescu, Kobe was her Michael Jordan.

Sabrina Ionescu on Kobe Bryant

Ionescu is not the first player to credit Kobe Bryant as their inspiration. Whether it is Devin Booker, Jayson Tatum, or DeMar DeRozan, Kobe has played a part in all of their lives. 

In a recent interview, Sabrina Ionescu talks about her inspirations. She said, ” Kobe with the Lakers for sure. I mean, that was our Michael Jordan. Steve Nash at the point guard position.”

She adds, ” I watched the NBA growing up with brothers so that was really who I watched and idolized.” Interestingly enough, Ionescu and the late Bryant had a great relationship.

Bryant, accompanied by his daughter Gianna, once attended a game in which the WNBA star played. The two shared a master and apprentice relationship after that, and Kobe reportedly texted her after each game. The cycle continued. As Kobe became the mentor of Sabrina, she started mentoring Gianna Bryant.

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Ionescu honors The Mamba

Ionescu was the number 1 overall pick in the WNBA for the 2020 season. During the season opener for the 2021 season, the WNBA star got her dreams to come true.

Prior to the game, Sabrina honored Kobe Bryant by wearing his #24 Lakers jersey. During the dying moments of the game, she hit a game-winning three-pointer which helped the New York Liberty edge past the Indiana Fever.

After the game, she revealed how she had dreamed about this moment the previous night. “I actually, not going to lie at all, dreamt about it last night,” she told the reporters.

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What is your favorite memory of Kobe Bryant? Let us know in the comments below.