If a player played in the NBA during the 2000s or the 2010s, they likely have a story of Kobe Bryant being incredibly nice to them or inspiring them. Before his tragic accident in 2020, Kobe was one of the most active individuals in motivating those that came after him to carry on honing their craft, and this also sometimes extended to his peers.
Kendrick Perkins, who played for the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Boston Celtics, had quite a few battles against Kobe at the highest level. And while Perk was never quite near the same level as Bryant when it came to individual talent, the latter had a fair bit of respect for the big man.
After Kobe’s passing, Perkins shared a few stories on ESPN about his favorite Kobe moments, and one of them was when Bryant paid him a compliment and made him feel like he was on top of the world.
“I remember when we had beat them in the Finals, and I’m in Las Vegas… And I’m sitting outside this spot I’m getting ready to go to and I see three guys walk by me in suits and ear plugs or whatever and they walking fast and I’m like, ‘Dang that’s Secret Service, is the President here?’ And I feel somebody come from behind and bearhug me.
“And I’m like ‘Hold on, man, what’s going on?’ And I’m thinking I’m about to go sit down it the County or something for a little bit. But it was Kobe Bryant, man. And he like, ‘Perk, what’s up boy?’ And I’m telling you, this is my first time ever having a conversation with Kobe. And he like, ‘Man I just want to tell you man, it’s all respect. And I tell people this all the time, you one of the best post defenders I ever played against.’
“And I’m like, what? I’m sitting back like, ‘Dang, Kobe gave me a compliment?’ I walked up in the club like, Ayy man, I was that dude. I was that dude, you heard him.”
Kobe’s love for basketball transcended the rivalries that he was a part of, and it’s wholesome to recognize what that moment must have meant to Perkins, even as an NBA player himself. Stories like these are a fun reminder of the man Kobe was, but also a bit saddening when people realize that he is not around anymore and was taken from the world way before his time.
