Kobe Bryant, the late Los Angeles Lakers star is fondly remembered on what would have been his 43rd birthday. Even after his unexpected passing, the legendary basketball player is still known as one of the all time greatest in the history of the NBA.
Undoubtedly, Bryant has left a legacy that will be remembered for years to come. An illustrious career spanning over decades, the NBA star was the Charlotte Hornets Round 1 No.13 pick back in the year 1996.
But despite the initial selection, Kobe Bryant was made to switch to the Lakers where he won several accolades. During his time with the Lakers, the NBA legend also bagged five championship titles to his name.
Widely regarded as the “Black Mamba,” Kobe Bryant died in a tragic helicopter crash in Calabasas, California. His then 13-year-old daughter Gianna had also passed away in the accident. The helicopter ended up crashing into the mountains and all passengers were declared dead.
On his 43rd birthday, the iconic Kobe Bryant was remembered by family, fans, and celebrities alike. One such example was Carmelo Anthony, who recollected memories about his “war” with the star at the Western Conference Finals in 2009.
While speaking of “the greatest” basketball player, 37-year-old Anthony looked back on an incident where the two got along well but bonded on questionable grounds. According to him, Bryant’s demeanor was disrespectful at the minimum.
But regardless of their questionable banter, the two got along well for the most part.
“He’s smirking. He’s throwing his little s—t elbows, and ’09 came, and it was like, I remember we hugged before the game, and he was like, ‘It’s war.’ I said, ‘It’s war. Let’s get it. It ain’t gonna be nothing easy,’”
claimed Anthony.
