Top 5 Kobe Bryant stories narrated by NBA stars

The late great Kobe Bryant has been one of the most influential players to play in the NBA.

He was an inspiration to many even after he retired. Since the mid-2000s, several stars who have made their mark in the league, were inspired to play the game because of the LA Lakers legend.

Kobe Bryant wanted to be the best at whatever he was into throughout his life. His competitive nature and passion to be a legend saw him win five NBA championships and become a record 18-time NBA All-Star.

Throughout his NBA career, Bryant played at a very high level. He was a nightmare to face for all his opponents because of his killer instinct and ability to deliver when the stakes were high.

Kobe Bryant gave the NBA fraternity some invaluable memories to reminisce about. Almost every player has their own version of a 'Kobe story' to share in the NBA, which only shows how much his greatness rubbed off on every player he was around.

Bryant, who tragically passed away in a helicopter crash in 2020, would have turned 43 today. On the occasion of his 43rd birthday, here's a look at the top five 'Kobe stories' shared and narrated by NBA stars.

#5 "Big dog, I got you, just sit back and enjoy the show" - Shaquille O'Neal on what Kobe Bryant told him before taking over Game 4 of 2000 NBA Finals

Kobe Bryant (left) and Shaquille O'Neal greet each other before an NBA game.

Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant formed one of the most dominant duos in the NBA when the two led the LA Lakers between 1996 and 2004. They ended up winning three back-to-back championships, and made four consecutive NBA Finals appearances between 2000 and 2004.

During their first NBA Finals appearance in 2000, the LA Lakers were in deep trouble in Game 4 of the series against the Indiana Pacers. The Lakers were leading the Pacers 2-1 and had a chance to go 3-1 up. They almost squandered that chance after O'Neal was fouled out towards the end of the game.

Many felt that could have swung the Finals series the Pacers' way, as winning Game 4 had become relatively easier for the Pacers with O'Neal out of the game. However, Kobe Bryant had different ideas as he told O'Neale:

"Big dog, I got you, just sit back and enjoy the show."

Bryant went on to produce one of the best NBA Finals clutch performances in the remaining 5-6 minutes of the game. The LA Lakers, against all odds, ended up winning that game, as Bryant ended the night with 28 points.

#4 Dwyane Wade narrates an iconic Kobe Bryant story from the 2008 Olympics camp

Dwyane Wade and Kobe Bryant playing against each other during an NBA All-Star game.

The level Kobe Bryant was playing at was the benchmark in the NBA when players like Dwyane Wade debuted in the league. Everyone wanted to emulate the greatness of the 'Black Mamba' who had won three championships by the time he turned 24.

Wade and Bryant never played for the same team in the NBA, so they never got much chance to interact for a long time. It was only when they played for team USA together at the 2008 Olympics that they built a relationship. Wade shared a great story on veteran NBA player JJ Redick's podcast about a year ago regarding Kobe Bryant's unbeatable work ethic.

Wade spoke about one incident when Bryant had already finished one workout, while the rest of the team had just woken up after working out really late the previous day during the Olympics camp.

"Let me share this story with you... We were in Olympics, and this is when I knew Kobe was a f***ing monster, you hear about it, but if you don't see it, you really don't know. So we get into one of the city's very late, and immediately we go to the gym....After we get done working out, me and my guys we say, hey, let's meet for breakfast in the morning... So we do that, we get three hours of sleep... We go down to where the food is, as we were walking down.. with sleep in our eyes, we see Kobe Bryant sitting with ice on his knees already"

"We walk to Kob and ask him like Kob what's up? And he was like, oh yeah man I finished a workout, and I am about to go do another one."

It was the first time the Miami Heat star realized how much work the LA Lakers legend was putting in compared to the rest of the lot, which was one of the key reasons behind Kobe Bryant's success.

#3 Iman Shumpert remembers one of Kobe Bryant's best games at Madison Square Garden

Kobe Bryant (#24) of the LA Lakers on the court against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on February 11, 2011

Kobe Bryant was one of the few opposition players to dominate the New York Knicks at the Madison Square Garden during the prime of his career.

Veteran Iman Shumpert was at the receiving end of one of Bryant's most stellar games at the MSG. In a matchup that took place in 2012, Bryant had a mediocre game throughout the first three quarters, but turned the switch in the last quarter.

Shumpert had a couple of steals against Kobe Bryant, and did a great job of limiting him. However, according to Shumpert, Bryant went up to him before the start of the fourth quarter and told him that he had a great game, hinting that he was going to dominate the last quarter.

Speaking in an interview on 'Ebro in the Morning,' Shumpert said:

"I guarded Kobe in the Garden, which I can't remember how much he had, but I know I had multiple steals against him... In my head I am thinking of a conversation with my brother after the end of the game, Imma tell him I stole the ball from Kobe, how I stripped Kobe before he was going to take a shot, how I drove by Kobe and got a dunk, I am thinking about all these things in my head. The fourth quarter starts...and Kobe said you had a great game young fella..."

Shumpert couldn't stop Kobe Bryant after that. Bryant pulled out all his moves to help his team get the win, but it wasn't enough as the Knicks eventually claimed a 92-85 win.

#2 "Tell Dre 50 tonight" - Kobe Bryant vows to dominate Andre Iguodala after getting outplayed in their previous meeting

Kobe Bryant prepares to take a free-throw shot during an NBA game.

Kobe Bryant is widely regarded as the next Michael Jordan as he had emulated the former Chicago Bulls star's moves throughout his career. Bryant idolized MJ growing up, and picked up several on and off-court traits from his idol.

One thing that was heavily common between the two was their ability to deliver on what they promised. Kobe Bryant was once outplayed by veteran Andre Iguodala in a matchup between the LA Lakers and the Philadelphia 76ers. The latter held the former to only seven of 20 shooting.

Bryant had marked the calendar for the next matchup between the two players, as he wanted to make a comeback against him. In an old interview, Iguodala narrated the incident and said:

"So he (Kobe) came to our locker room, and he was like "where's Dre?" And I was on the court working out, getting ready for the game. So he (Kobe) told Louis Williams: "tell Dre 50 tonight. So six minutes to go in the fourth quarter, uh he (Kobe) had 49 (points)"

This was one of the most vintage Kobe Bryant stories ever, as he did exactly what he said he was going to do. There were multiple times Bryant achieved that kind of a feat in his career.

#1 Kobe Bryant doesn't speak to his teammates after Michael Jordan taunts him that he can't fill his shoes

Kobe Bryant idolized Michael Jordan like no one else. He copied all of his moves, and looked at him as a mentor since day one of their first interaction. Many touted Bryant to take over from Jordan after the latter would call time on his career in the early 2000s.

However, during one of the matchups between Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan, the latter taunted the former that he could never fill his shoes despite emulating him. That did not sit well with Kobe Bryant, though, and as per a story narrated by former NBA player Gilbert Arenas, the 'Black Mamba' did not speak to his teammates for two whole weeks.

Arenas said:

"So in Washington, Jordan gets that win. Jordan hits him (Kobe) on the b*** and says "you can put the shoes on, but ain't never gonna fill them." So they say Kobe didn't talk to the team for two weeks."

Kobe Bryant went silent for two weeks, but exploded the next time the LA Lakers played the Washington Wizards. He scored 55 points to lead the Lakers to a win, completely dominating his idol and making a statement that he was ready to take Jordan's place in the league as the best player.