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Marc Spears of The Undefeated told a humorous tale of when Kobe Bryant first learned LeBron James began passing him in jersey sales during an appearance on The Woj Pod.
Spears told ESPN NBA Insider Adrian Wojnarowski he spoke to Kobe about “King James” passing him in sales and possibly becoming the next face of the league.
Bryant responded by saying the reason James' jersey sold more was simple: everyone already had his threads.
This Kobe story from @MarcJSpears on The @wojespn Pod is everything 😄
🎧 : https://t.co/JzcYs8GuyX pic.twitter.com/X9TlLpVVF2
— ESPN (@espn) October 8, 2020
It goes without saying this is vintage “Black Mamba.” Not to mention, it is probably mostly true.
Kobe Bryant was one of the seminal stars in the NBA during the 2000s, the Michael Jordan heir apparent who–along with Shaquille O'Neal–helped create a new dynasty with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Even after O'Neal was traded to the Miami Heat, Bryant dazzled with his individual brilliance and dragged subpar Lakers teams to the playoff. Kobe then reclaimed his spot at the top with back-to-back titles in 2009 and 2010.
All the while, James was hot on Kobe Bryant's heels.
LeBron was another anointed “Chosen One” when he came out of high school in 2003, and he quickly cemented himself as one of the best players in the league. In fact, while Bryant captured the team accolades, James was awarded league MVP in 2009 and 2010.
There was no denying LeBron had next as the league's top icon, though Kobe clearly knew his own worth and the influence he had on generations of NBA stars.
James and Bryant developed quite the relationship, one that continued until Bryant's tragic death in January.
Now, LeBron and the Lakers will hope to honor Kobe's legacy with a championship.
