Many of today's NBA players cite Kobe Bryant as a major influence on their game. Some, such as Kyrie Irving and Jayson Tatum, even consider him a legitimate mentor.
There's no doubt the late Los Angeles Lakers legend left a humongous imprint, not just on the game of basketball but also its culture. At some point, he became an icon that transcended his physical body, and his influence continues to live on today.
Many cite his "Mamba Mentality" as the biggest facet of his game they look to emulate. Former NBA guard Isaiah Thomas recently talked about how Bryant helped mentor and mold him into the player he became.
"Every night, I knew I was getting 30 [points]," said Thomas. "I knew it cuz I just figured it out. I figured the game out inside and out. I watched film every day. I prepared on some Kobe [expletive]. Like I really did. And he was able to mentor me and really mold me all year. I used to call Kobe at night. We used to watch film, he used to really take his time and watch film with me. My skills were always there, but my mental just took it to a different level."
The work Thomas put in with Bryant's help worked. He made the All-Star team in the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons, and in the latter campaign, he averaged 28.9 points and 5.9 assists a game while getting some MVP votes. Despite being 5-foot-9, he found a way to traverse defenses and put up points in bunches.
Unfortunately, injuries took a toll on Thomas beginning in the 2017-18 season. He sat out the entire 2022-23 season and finally caught on with the Phoenix Suns near the end of this past season.
But for a minute several years ago, he was one of the more electrifying players in the NBA, and the Black Mamba had a hand in making it happen.
This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Isaiah Thomas recalls how Kobe Bryant helped mold him into an All-Star
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