Watch: Allen Iverson Gets Emotional When Talking About Spending Time With Kobe Bryant

Allen Iverson and Kobe Bryant had an, well, interesting relationship. The Los Angeles Lakers and Kobe Bryant go way back. There is a new king in LA for now, though. LeBron James and the Lakers are currently taking on the Houston Rockets in the Western Conference Semifinals. So far, the Lakers are looking like the better team. But they will have to keep their foot on the gas in order to win the series for good.

One thing that Kobe has that LeBron does not, though, is a championship for the city of Los Angeles. This could change this year, of course. But for now, Kobe remains the GOAT. That is one of the reasons it was so shocking to find out about his death back in January.

Kobe was one of the best to ever play the game. Fans and his fellow players all had to admit that his work ethic was unmatched. He was not perfect but that that does not really matter. He died when a helicopter that he was end crashed back in January.

Watch: Allen Iverson Gets Emotional When Talking About Spending Time With Kobe Bryant

One former NBA great recently talked about his time playing against Kobe Bryant. Allen Iverson has come out with some of the memories that he has playing against number 8.

“It was always a battle between me and him,” Iverson said. “And then, having the chance to be on the same team with him, looking back on it, like, that was it. You know what I mean? I mean, looking back on like, that was it. …That was it. Just having the chance to play with my guy. Not knowing that would be the only time that I had a chance to play with him.”

“He was younger than me, but I actually looked up to him and his greatness.”

“Me and you, every single time we stepped on that floor, we were going to war. But it wasn’t an animosity thing. There was never any beef,” Iverson wrote. “It was like heavyweight fighters beating the hell out of one another. And then at the bell, it’s nothing but love and respect. Greatness needs company, and we needed each other. Mike needed Prince like Prince needed Mike. Tyson needed Holyfield like Holyfield needed Tyson.”

The two definitely had a battle mentality. Iverson was picked up as the number 1 pick in the 1996 NBA draft. Kobe was picked up 12 spots later and then their story began.