Brooklyn Nets point guard Kyrie Irving has spoken numerous times about the impact of the late Kobe Bryant on his life after his tragic passing in January.

Ahead of a new season, the six-time All Star continues to pay tribute to Bryant, who he has said was one of his idols and a mentor to him:

Kyrie Irving has reportedly been practicing with the Nets while wearing this Kobe-inspired Nike shirt.

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Throughout last season, the 28-year old point guard paid tribute to the five-time champion and longtime Los Angeles Lakers guard in interviews, video tributes, and on his social media accounts. In an Instagram Live session in October, Irving referred to Bryant as an “artist, teacher, philosopher, hooper, and a cultural icon.”

Back in January, Irving revealed that he first asked for Bryant’s help to improve his game around four or five years ago. The longtime Lakers guard was not just a mentor to him, but also a close friend as he evolved into one of the NBA’s best guards and Bryant finished his 20-year career with Los Angeles.

The Nets are preparing for their first season with both Irving and fellow All-Star Kevin Durant in the lineup under new head coach Steve Nash, and they are expected to be one of the favorites in a more competitive Eastern Conference.

The two former champions led Brooklyn to two victories in the preseason and showed a glimpse of what their talented lineup would look like during the regular season. The Nets play their season opener on Tuesday against Durant’s former team, the Golden State Warriors.