Kobe Bryant spent his entire 20-season career with the Los Angeles Lakers, and fans have former general manager and star Jerry West to thank for that.

Besides being drafted by the Charlotte Hornets in 1996, the late NBA superstar has always been known as a Laker. However, there have been multiple times throughout his career when Bryant was fed up with the Lakers organization.

In 2004, the disgruntled star even planned to sign with the Lakers' same-city rival. Fortunately, West convinced him otherwise.

In a tearful interview with TNT, West remembered the time when Bryant had made a commitment to go and play for the Los Angeles Clippers after being upset with the team, coaches and management. West and Bryant had two conversations about the topic, with West urging Bryant to not go play for Donald Sterling, the Clips owner at the time.

Bryant passed away this weekend after the Lakers legend was involved in a helicopter accident that took the lives of Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter Gigi and seven other passengers.

With 18 All-Star games, 15 All-NBA teams and five NBA championships to his name, Bryant will undoubtedly go down as one of the best and most influential players in NBA history.

Coincidentally, Jerry West now works as an executive board member for the Clippers — a role he has held since 2017. Like Kobe Bryant, The Logo is also considered one of the best players in Lakers franchise history.