The connection between LeBron James and Kobe Bryant has always been there.
But the connection in terms of basketball heritage only really came to fruition at the end of the 2019-20 season, when LeBron led the Los Angeles Lakers to their first NBA Finals appearance since Kobe Bryant led LA to the championship.
Standing in a very special position with the most traditional purple and yellow jersey in the NBA, LeBron James decided to share what he feels most regretful about when thinking about the name Kobe “Bean” Bryant.
Leaving the NBA East to join the Los Angeles Lakers, LeBron James says he planned a cozy dinner with Kobe Bryant.
They planned to discuss the purple and gold team, the city of Los Angeles, and their hopes for the future. However, the busy travel and work schedules of both Kobe and LeBron prevented the two superstars from meeting.
“ I think there will definitely be a time for us to meet and I understand that in life there will always be regrets. But I really wish I could have spent that time with Kobe ,” LeBron shared before adding about the support Kobe Bryant gave him.
“I remember very clearly the moment I decided to move here, he texted me right away and said, ‘Welcome brother. Welcome to the family.’
It was a very special moment because at that moment, I still didn’t fully understand my love for the Lakers. A lot of people were asking whether the Lakers needed LeBron at this time, especially when LeBron was at this age. Or questions like whether LeBron could bring LA back to the NBA Finals?
There were so many questions, so many doubts, so hearing Kobe say that, it meant so much to my confidence. Even though I never questioned myself, Kobe’s words of encouragement really meant a lot,” LeBron James continued.
Sharing more about the story, LeBron James revealed the things he intended to ask Kobe Bryant during that meeting that never had the chance to happen:
“When I played in Cleveland, I was born and raised 35 minutes away, so I knew everything there. When I moved to Miami, Dwyane Wade showed me the way to do the same.
But I’ve never played for a team with as much history as the Los Angeles Lakers. I don’t know what LA is like. I would love to hear from someone like Kobe about how to win over the Los Angeles fans, or at least how to make them love me.
“And then I’ll also talk about the 2009 NBA Finals, about the story of us never meeting in the finals. That year, I lost to Dwight and that will be a very telling story between me and Kobe.”
“It’s like we never gave the fans what they wanted to see (Kobe and LeBron facing off in the NBA Finals),” LeBron concluded.
