Watch: LeBron Can’t Hide His Tears In Emotional Video While Arriving In L.A. Hours After Bryant’s Death

Lakers legend Kobe Bryant lost his life in a tragic helicopter crash along with his daughter Gianna and three others. His death shocked every member of the NBA family, and the sports world grieves. Lakers superstar LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers arrived in Los Angeles to pay tribute to the legend. King James couldn’t hide his tears, and athletes can’t find words to describe the sadness.

LeBron passed Bryant for third on the NBA’s all-time scoring list. It’s sad how he didn’t even get the chance to meet Bryant and discuss his achievement.

Hours before Bryant’s death, LeBron shared some of his greatest moments with the basketball legend. According to LeBron, Bryant inspired him to become an excellent player. In a four-minute video shared on ESPN’s “SportsCenter” on Sunday, LeBron discussed their relationship and Bryant’s great impact on his career.

“I went to ABCD camp, and he came and talked to all the kids that were there. I happened to be one of the kids that was there and I was just listening,” LeBron said. “Was just trying to soak up everything that I could and I remember one thing that he said. He was, like, ‘If you want to try to be great at it, or want to be one of the greats you have to put the work in. There’s no substitution for work.'”

Tears for the legend

LeBron also talked about his early interaction with Kobe. The Black Mamba gave LeBron a too-small pair of his shoes at a hotel in Philadelphia.

“He gave me a pair of shoes that I ended up wearing the following night,” James told ESPN. “It was the red-white-and-blue Kobes,” LeBron said. “I was a 15 and he was a 14, and I wore them anyway, and I sat and just talked to him for a bit. He gave me the shoes and I rocked them in the game.”

LeBron was drafted in 2003, and he continued to admire Bryant. He accomplished a lot, and won a lot of championship. LeBron admired Bryant throughout his high school rank. They became competitors, and LeBron praised Bryant’s work ethic. Bryant had zero flaws offensively, and LeBron knows it.