There is a lot of vitriol between the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics. This hatred has outlasted lives and has gone on for generations. It will probably stay that way but a lot of players leave it to their performance on the court to speak for themselves. But, regardless of enemy lines and countless jeers against one another, greatness will always be appreciated. Kobe Bryant's legacy has affected a lot of players, even those men who represent the green team with 18 banners. Both of their stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown have been impacted by the Black Mamba at certain points in their lives. This led them to give back to his legacy despite his untimely passing.
Jaylen Brown may be the longest-tenured Celtics player but he sure has a soft spot for the Lakers legend. He was instrumental in strengthening the appreciation for Kobe Bryant's legacy in Boston. Brown spearheaded a basketball court project that had a Kobe and Gianna Bryant mural. This can be found at the Roxbury Boys & Girls Club in Bean Town.
Brown has spoken about how he uses his Mamba Mentality quite a lot during the 2019-20 season. The Celtics star draws inspiration from multiple other greats that came before him. But, Bryant stands out in his eyes. This is the same way that Jayson Tatum appreciates the late Lakers legend. Tatum was taken under the Mamba's wing and it has been paying dividends in these last few years. The rivalry between the gold and green teams might live on forever but transcendental legacies surely cross enemy lines.