Lakers news: James Harden's 1-emoji tribute post for Kobe Bryant

When it came to Kobe Bryant, The Beard wasn't hesitant in speaking out. James Harden never hid the fact that his admiration for Kobe through the years.

James Harden has always been a man of few words. The Brooklyn Nets star would often let his game do the talking, something he learned from his Los Angeles Lakers idol Kobe Bryant.

But when it came to Kobe Bryant, The Beard wasn't hesitant in speaking out. Harden never hid the fact that his admiration for Kobe through the years. In fact, it was a sense of pride for him to have such a mentor to emulate.

“As a kid, I looked up to Kobe Bryant,” Harden said in a 2018 interview.

The thing I could take away from [Kobe] was that he was passionate. He didn’t care what people said about him. He was just a winner. He did whatever it took to win games, to win championships, and that’s why he’s a legend.”

Just like Lakers fans everywhere, Harden grieved openly when the tragic news of Kobe Bryant's passing came to be known in January of 2020. The often stoic and sarcastic Harden wore his raw emotions on his sleeve during the games and weeks that followed.

“Kobe’s death cut Harden deeply,” The Athletic's Kelly Iko wrote on Thursday. “[Harden] cried before the Jazz game, as did other players. Everyone grieves differently, so listening to Harden summarize the week and the ones to come, it was clear to see the pain still on his face, his sarcastic grin non-existent.”

But in this moment of celebration of Kobe Bryant's life and career, Harden kept it simple in his dedication to the Mamba.