“Me and Steph’s relationship is ultra-competitive. That’s where it started from. Just because we didn’t really know each other coming into the league… I’m on record saying that he’s been the guy for our generation for a while…” Recently, Kyrie Irving spoke about his relationship with Stephen Curry. Both have fought against each other three times in the NBA finals. But were teammates during the 2025 All-Star game. Seeing them on the same side, Kevin Garnett shared a similar experience relating to Kobe Bryant.

He recalled on his Instagram story, “I remember when GP took Bean nIn gave is a lesson n shared some knowledge 🫡💯 ..love this great for the game 💯🫡💯.” The Celtics legend spoke about his former teammate Gary Payton and the knowledge 9x All-Star shared with Kobe. Payton appreciated KG for giving him flowers and wrote,  “🫡” on his story.

Since Irving and Curry are guards similar to Kobe and Payton, Kevin Garnett drew the similarities. Irving later touched upon the conversation he had with the Warriors superstar. “Just having that moment was special because we’re always competing against each other. I know it’s not normal that you usually see us talking about moves. I think you’ll probably see more of that in the future. You just never know, man…”

Payton too, is considered one of the most skilled guards to grace the court. In fact, he became the first-ever point guard to win the DPOY and revolutionized guards’ contribution to the defensive end. He only played with Kobe for one season but forged a bond of a lifetime.

After Kevin Garnett’s story, let’s deep dive into GP’s relationship with Black Mamba

Post one season with the Lakers, the DPOY played for the Celtics for a season and then ended his career with the Heat. There he won his first and only championship of his career. However, that bond with the Purple and Gold legend extended to Gary Payton II, receiving advice from Kobe Bryant. But before his son asked for guidance, it was the Lakers legend who once asked for help.

Payton revealed that Kobe approached him during an All-Star Game. “I sat there at center court and taught him a lot of things and he made the First Team All-Defense with me that year, I said ‘This kid has a lot of different things in him, a different mentality.'”Further, Payton commented about how Kobe never shied away from asking for help to get better. “Kobe was just a little different. He didn’t have no ego. He did have an ego, but I’m saying an ego in asking OG’s what to do. And how to become better.”

Maybe it’s the same All-Star game interaction that Kevin Garnett saw Gary Payton advising Kobe. That is why the latest All-Star game triggered the same reaction as he saw two guards share the court and give each other flowers.