Almost five years after his passing, Kobe Bryant’s legacy and influence continues to be felt.

The Los Angeles Lakers great wasn’t just a legend on the court – he was a mentor and a leader to all those who tried to follow in his footsteps.

One of those who tried to emulate Kobe was Kyrie Irving, and during a heartfelt Thanksgiving moment, the Dallas Mavericks star looked back on his memoirs of the Black Mamba.

Surrounded by Kai Cenat and others close to him, Irving talked about the bond he had with Bryant and the impact he has had on his career.

“I remember during the season when we won the championship, he told me to do a few crazy things, bro…I will tell y’all off stream because some of the things are not meant for kids,” said Irving.

“The best Kobe story I could give is his approach to life. His approach to the game of basketball was something that was transformative.

“He gave us a hero to look up to, but he didn’t want to be seen as a hero. He wanted us to strive to be better than him.” 

Irving and the lessons he learned from Kobe

Irving has had his fair share of ups and downs since being drafted first overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2021 NBA Draft.

Nevertheless, Irving has persevered and continues to shine in the league thanks to his dedication on the court and preparedness off it.

His mentality was no doubt helped by learning from Kobe, who told Kyrie to expand his horizons and look at life outside of just being a basketball player: “Don’t let this sport define you, bro.

“I feel his presence every day. He showed me there’s so much more than just the game of basketball.

“He helped out a lot of people that no one really knows about. “I try to follow in that same lineage and create my own path,”