Kobe Bryant is one of the most legendary and beloved sports figures of all time, and it’s not surprising to see why. His notorious competitive nature and “Mamba Mentality” have become infamous across all walks of life and has even affected younger athletes. New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley recently took to social media to share a message to Bryant, thanking him for having such an effect on him.

In the message, Barkley recounts the poem of Ozymandias, a story about a traveler who comes across a statue showing off nothing but sand. According to Barkley, the story reminds him of what it takes to leave a legacy that will last, and he notes that Bryant has inspired him to do so.

According to Barkley, Bryant was a huge inspiration to him growing up, and that through the way Kobe has inspired others, he hopes to do to a younger generation. Barkley notes that Kobe’s legacy won’t be remembered by trophies or championships, but by how he acted and is thought of by future athletes. From the sounds of it, Saquon is hoping to leave an equally strong impression on the future running backs of the world.

It’s a beautiful message by Barkley and one that shows just how hard he’s willing to work to become great. When the running back was initially drafted by the New York Giants, many wondered if taking a running back was smart. To his credit, Barkley quickly proved many wrong, immediately showing how talented he was en route to capturing the NFL Rookie of the Year award. Now in his second season, Barkley will be looking to take that Mamba Mentality and make it his own, and help lead the Giants back to a winning season.