Many of the basketball players who played with or against Kobe Bryant during his career have been speaking out since the Lakers legend’s tragic death on Sunday.
One of them is former NBA all-star Tracy McGrady, who revealed to ESPN’s Rachel Nichols something interesting that Kobe once told him when they were young.
“He used to say all the time, ‘I want to die young,'” McGrady said, fighting through tears. “I thought he was crazy- … he used to say “I want to die young. I want to be immortalized. I want to have my career be better than Michael Jordan’s, and I want to die young.
“I just thought he was so crazy. Clearly that statement was way before kids,” McGrady went on to explain while talking about how much Bryant loved his daughters. “I’m sure that when he had kids, he didn’t have the mindset.”
Tracy McGrady was in tears recalling young Kobe's words:
"I thought he was crazy. He used to say, 'I wanna die young. I wanna be immortalized.'" (via @Rachel__Nichols) pic.twitter.com/7XrVnde9TV
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 27, 2020
“Like millions of others, I can relate to what McGrady is conveying here about Kobe. Still hard to accept that he’s gone, and his beautiful daughter Gigi appeared to be an angel and a positive light for the future,” one fan replied on SportsCenter’s Twitter feed.
“This is crazy. I saw another video where he talks about his relationship with Kobe, and how as players, they drifted apart bc Kobe was playing for championships and he wasn’t, but how they reconnected because they were parents. Emotional stuff” another said.
“That’s hard to believe then again he was young and didn’t know he would have a young family later in life,” someone else replied.
“Words are powerful. Be careful what you say people. Such a tragedy. Praying for all the families. God bless them,” another pointed out.
Another fellow basketball great who paid tribute to Bryant was Michael Jordan, who released a touching statement about the news on Sunday:
“I am in shock over the tragic news of Kobe’s and Gianna’s passing. Words can’t describe the pain I’m feeling. I loved Kobe – he was like a little brother to me. We used to talk often, and I will miss those conversations very much.
“He was a fierce competitor, one of the greats of the game and a creative force. Kobe was also an amazing dad who loved his family deeply – and took great pride in his daughter’s love for the game of basketball. Yvette joins me in sending my deepest condolences to Vanessa, the Lakers organization and basketball fans around the world.”
