Kobe Bryant was an idol for many and Sabrina Ionescu was no exception. The New York Liberty star has, on multiple occasions, spoken highly of the 5x NBA champ. This includes detailing how the Black Mamba was a mentor to her. However, in a more recent instance, Sabrina shared a Kobe moment that left her surprised.

In her appearance on All the Smoke podcast, Sab spoke of her first interaction with Kobe. She recalled Bryant, along with Gigi and some of her teammates, were in attendance at her USC game. “Ever since then, it was like, workouts, you know, I helped coach, you know, Gigi’s team with him… We just clicked,” she added. In the bond that continued for years next, there was one piece of advice from the LA Lakers star that stayed with Ionescu. 

“Real sharpness comes without effort,” he told her. And it was the instance around the quote that Sab reminisces about. “We were like walking out of the gym. He had the little bag on his back with the balls that he carried… and just told me that, and then, like, walked away. I was like…” she recalled with a stunned expression on her face.

The Liberty star has carried the quote with her.  In a collaborative post with the WME Basketball page, the quote was even added as a caption to Ionescu’s 2022 recap, when she recorded the first 30-point triple-double in WNBA history, while also being named to the 2024 Olympic team.

She has iterated the advice time and again, thanking Kobe for giving her a blueprint. “He didn’t just show up in my life… he stayed,” she said during his memorial for all the teachings he had lent.

Thanks to that, the 3x WNBA All-Star didn’t just share a close bond just with the 18x All Star, but also with his family. As stated by Ionescu herself, she has been a mentor to Gigi and helped coach her team, the Mamba Ballers. Now, Vanessa Bryant has also never failed to reciprocate the love Sabrina holds for the Bryant family.

While Vanessa has time and again shown her affection for Ionescu, she was also present at the WNBA star’s wedding. The ‘Triple Double Queen’ got married to NFL star Hroniss Grasu in March this year. “Congratulations to Sabrina and Hronnis!’Such a beautiful couple. Wishing you both the very best, always!” Vanessa captioned her IG post for the couple.

Sabrina Ionescu continues her mentor-mentee bond with the Kobe Bryant family

In a 2024 interview with The US Sun, Sab stated she has always carried Mamba Mentality ever since she started playing. “And I haven’t really changed any of that…” she added. So it’s clear that even with the Black Mamba gone, Ionescu has remained connected to her mentor.

And as aforementioned, Sab was herself a mentor to Gigi Bryant, until her unfortunate passing away. But it seems this mentor-mentee bond between the 3x WNBA All Star and the Bryant family is meant to last. Notably, Sabrina was spotted in a basketball session with the 5x NBA champ’s youngest daughter, Bianca, in May this year.

“Had a fun time in NYC w/my babies this weekend… So glad we got to see “Beana” @sabrina_i…” Vanessa captioned the IG post featuring highlights of her trip to New York City. While this was just one session, the possibility that Sabrina could take Bianca under her wings if she ever decides to make a career in basketball is quite real .

Stay tuned for more such updates and join us for the exciting pilot episode of the “Dual Threat Show” as our host BG12 sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and SEC All-Freshman Team Selection, Silas Demary Jr.