Gary Payton Discusses Being Kobe Bryant’s Big Brother

Hall of Famer Gary Payton talked about his great friendship with Kobe Bryant. He was Kobe’s “big brother.” He was there when the Black Mamba tried to defend himself in the incident.

“I caught Kobe when he was going through a lot with what happened in Denver,” Payton said in an interview with Bleacher Report. “I got a chance to be his big brother. Got to know him as Kobe and not as what people were talking about with what him and Shaq (Shaquille O’Neal) were doing. Shaq is my brother and I love him to death. That’s the reason I went to the Lakers. To get to know Kobe the way I did was a pleasure.

“I hate that he’s gone and I hate that he’s not here. Miss him so much and talking to him and my kids talking to him. I love him because he’s a warrior too. He wanted things on his own and he wanted to do things on his own. When he decided to go and say he wanted the team on his own I said congratulations, beautiful. That’s what you’re supposed to do if you want to be a great and he was a great. He didn’t act like he was bigger than anyone. He asked me questions all the time and I gave him answers. It was my duty to tell him the right way to do things and it was a pleasure for me to be in his life and know him the way I did for the forty years he was on this Earth.”

Gary Payton loved Kobe Bryant

Kobe died in a helicopter crash in January 2020. His death shocked the entire nation and people can’t get over the loss. Former and current basketball players paid tribute to the Black Mamba. LeBron James and Anthony Davis got tattoos. Handling Kobe’s death is impossible.

Kobe was a student of the game and became a five-time NBA champion. He entered the Hall of Fame for a reason.

The 18-time All-Star spent his basketball career with the Los Angeles Lakers. The world of basketball will remember him as one of the best basketball players of all time. Kobe was a true legend and everyone loved him. He was the best mentor basketball players ever had.