Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and LeBron James — the three names that come to your mind ahead of everyone else in the Basketball GOAT debate. However, WNBA star Sabrina Ionesco has a completely different answer from the majority opinion. This was despite the fact the 26-year-old shared a close bond with Bryant that has continued with his family.

During an interview with GQ Sports, the New York Liberty star chose the 4x NBA champ from Golden State Warriors over the Black Mamba. “My Basketball GOAT is Steph Curry,” she said. It is worth mentioning Sabrina shares a close bond with the Warriors star as well. Both players are well known for their efficiency in shooting from beyond the arc. The two gained major media attention when they came against each other for a 3-point contest.

Despite Ionescu sinking 7 shots and closing with 26 points, she lost to Curry (29 points) in the first-ever WNBA v NBA 3-point contest. As for her bond with Steph, Ionescu had once told ESPN’s Maria Taylor that her friendship with Curry has evolved from watching him as a kid to the point she can call or text him any time she needs help with something. “I love having a relationship with [Curry], just being able to remember when I was little… And kind of emulating my game after him,” she added.

And the 4x NBA champ has also quite often praised the 26-year-old WNBA star. During a press conference in 2020, Curry termed Sabrina as an unbelievable talent on New York Liberty. “She’s a legend in her own right, that’s for sure,” he added. Now, as close as the two stars may seem, Ionescu’s bond with Kobe Bryant seemed to have much more depth. During the time Liberty drafted her in the league, the ‘Triple-Double Queen’ stated she grew up watching the Black Mamba — game after game and ring after ring.

“I wanted to be just like him, to love every part of the competition, to be the first to show up and the last to leave… And make other people around you the best version of themselves,” she said. Considering the amount of admiration she had for Kobe, most fans would’ve expected her to name him the GOAT. Although it’s not as if Ionescu’s connection with the 5x NBA champ faded with his passing away.

Sabrina Ionescu’s bond with Kobe Bryant and the family still runs deep

Notably, the LA Lakers icon and his daughter Gigi met the WNBA star while attending an Oregon game at USC. As per the reports, Ionescu helped the Black Mamba coach Gigi’s team, the Mamba Ballers, that summer. This is the point the three are said to have become friends.

And the 3x WNBA All Star has a similar amount of respect for Kobe and affection for his family. In an interview with The US Sun in May this year, ‘Triple-Double Queen’ stated Mamba Mentality is just who she is and who she has been ever since she started playing. “And I haven’t really changed any of that…” she added. 

Apart from this, her bond with the Bryant family still seems to be as strong as ever. Whether it be Vanessa extending her support for the Liberty star or the instance of Ionescu playing basketball with Bianka. So what could it be that prompted her to choose Steph Curry as her GOAT instead of Kobe Bryant? For now, let’s just say the 3-point shooting efficiency for both and the role it plays in their gameplay could have been a factor.