Kobe Bryant was the touchstone and the icon for so many stars of the game today, kids who grew up idolizing him and mimicking him and wanting to be like him. “Words cannot express his impact on our players, the NBA and the game of basketball,” the National Basketball Players Association said in a statement. The Spurs’ DeMar DeRozan became an NBA star because he grew up idolizing the Los Angeles Lakers great. There is not a level of the game today, or a player in the NBA, untouched by Bryant and his career. He is the reason why many of the best in the game today started playing.

Source: thestar January 26, 2020 23:15 UTC