The late-great Kobe Bryant had a profound impact on just about every current NBA star and Steph Curry had an awesome story about The Black Mamba from his early playing days.
During his recent appearance on Hot Ones, Curry recalled back during his rookie season when he saw Bryant try to get the cameras to pan to him while he was sitting on the sideline. Curry said he could see Bryant complimenting him on his play.
The four-time NBA champion also recalled another time during the preseason when Kobe was guarding him as though it were a proper NBA game. When Curry hit a 30-point shot, he felt Bryant tap him from behind but was trying so hard not to look starstruck that he had to hold back reacting to it.
“We were playing in a preseason game. He’s doing that mamba mentality thing, where he’s picking me up full court in a preseason game,” Curry said.
“In the first quarter, I’m like, you turn around and he’s like this — like standing there and like doing defensive slides like staying in front of me like, ‘Yo! What is happening right now? This is freaking Kobe Bryant.'”
“So he stays with me for like four or five slides, and then he bumps me, and I kind of like fall off balance. So I’m actually gassed at this point. I’m tired of just trying to get in shape in the preseason game, and he’s just going, you know, all out on the defensive pressure. He’s way bigger and stronger than me. He’s bumping me and doing all that.
“After I fall, I got no option. I’m like I’m just gonna shoot it and live with it, and I shot it from probably 30 feet, and I made it, and then I act like nothing happened.
“It’s like the biggest ‘keep your cool’ kind of moment in your life because, you know, it’s freaking Kobe. You’re trying to be super chill about it, but I just, you know, drain one from 30 on it.”
“Afterward, he picked me up and he gave me like the little-ass tap on the way back, and I couldn’t even acknowledge that either. I kinda just like knocked him off and like act like I was playing on defense,” Curry said.
“I went right back in at halftime. I was like, I need that clip like bring me that back. I gotta save that on my phone.”
Stephen Curry's story about Kobe Bryant is awesome.
Interview by @seanseaevans on Hot Ones: https://t.co/dULXXTO5og pic.twitter.com/mtHXGA70mc
— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) July 27, 2023
Truly some incredible stuff from both Curry and The Black Mamba.
Stay connected with us on social media platform for instant update click here to join our Twitter, & Facebook
We are now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel (@TechiUpdate) and stay updated with the latest Technology headlines.
For all the latest Basketball News Click Here
