Over the past few years, players have entered and exited the league at breakneck pace. Out of all of that crowd, there are a few handpicked individuals that live on as legends for years. One of those legends is Golden State Warriors‘ Stephen Curry. In the 14 years since he started playing professional basketball, Curry has dominated the league. He has been named an All-Star nine times, won four NBA Championships, and holds the record for the most three-pointers made in a regular NBA season.

These acts of wonder have earned him the respect of players and other celebrities alike. A month after an old video featuring the legend and the late player Kobe Bryant resurfaced, a famous rapper recalled how Kobe once gave Curry his seal of approval.

After Kobe made a few remarks, Stephen Curry surprises the player

A video was recently uploaded on Instagram, captioned ?Steph shocked Kobe?. The video showed footage taken during the 2016 All-Star Game held in Toronto. Since 2016 marked Kobe?s final year in the NBA, it was also his final All-Star game.

The clip showed Bryant giving an answer to a question asked by the late reporter Craig Sager, during which he turned his attention toward Stephen Curry.

?By the way, I actually wanna see him shoot the ball and be on my team,? said Kobe as Stephen chuckled. ?Shooters shoot man. I didn?t come here to watch him pass the ball all the damn time.?

?Shoot the ball. I wanna see it, you know, on my side for once,??said the?Mamba?to a then 28-year-old Steph.

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The clip then transitioned to Stephen Curry standing on the court with the ball in his hand. He took his shot and the ball went through the hoop. As Curry celebrated with his hands raised in the air, Kobe was seen to be all smiles, with his arms raised as well in salute to the player.

Kobe Bryant recommended Curry to Killer Mike

One month after the clip went viral online, American Rapper Michael Render, also known as Killer Mike, gave an interview for UNINTERRUPTED. During the same, the rapper talked about the time he met Kobe Bryant.

When he asked the Los Angeles Lakers legend about the player to look out for once the Mamba retires, Kobe talked about a ?kid? who he?s watching. If he stays healthy, said Kobe, he?s the one you should follow. That ?kid? turned out to be Stephen Curry.

During his 20-year career with the NBA, Kobe and Steph have faced off fifteen times during the regular season. Mutual respect has always run rampant between the two players. Curry himself once recalled a moment when Kobe showed him respect for his basketball skills.

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Placing himself on the same pedestal, the 18x NBA All-Star not only affirmed Curry as a great player. But also as the future of the NBA.