This is Kobe Bean Bryant’s NBA.
The way Kobe came up watching Michael Jordan dominate the league, studying his game and attempting to recreate it on the court, is the way the current crop of young stars grew up emulating him. From Trae Young, to Devin Booker, to Jayson Tatum — they’re all Kobe guys. His influence is palpable. His fingerprint is inescapable. This is the most skilled basketball we’ve ever seen, and Kobe’s impact is everywhere.
The wide-eyed, overconfident, 17-year-old who hadn’t fully yet grown into his body or his potential, but yet exuded a sense of purpose and determination that belied his young age evolved into a five-time champ and all-time great.