Tony Allen, currently of the Memphis Grizzlies, was gifted a pair of signed shoes by Kobe Bryant earlier this season. The signature hailed Allen as the “best defender” Kobe ever faced, and the Mamba had previously even gone on record hailing Allen as the only player to be the “Kobe stopper”.

When Allen received the signed shoes, via a Lakers ball boy who came into the Grizzlies' locker room, he was stunned. Via Chris Palmer of Bleacher Report's The Lab, Allen said of receiving the sneakers:

“I had to keep my composure. I damn near teared up. I had to fight it. It meant everything.”

Why you might ask? Because Allen was obsessed with stopping Bryant on the floor his entire career:

“I would wake up in the morning thinking about guarding Kobe. I dreamed about guarding Kobe. I’d eat breakfast thinking about Kobe. Drive to the game thinking about Kobe. I'd watch a hundred isos of Kobe. I'd watch a hundred plays in the post. I would never stop thinking about guarding him. And this was him showing respect. I couldn't believe it.”

RELATED: Kobe Bryant Reveals The Deep Impact Having Other Players Wear, Love His Shoes Has Had On Him

Karen Pulfer Focht / Associated Press
Karen Pulfer Focht / Associated Press

According to Palmer's account, Kobe had never spoken one word to Allen until last season when the Lakers legend told him not to argue a call to the referee. And now not only did Allen have Kobe's conversation, but also his clear and deep respect for his game.

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In their last meeting, Allen made sure to hug Kobe when the final whistle sounded, despite admitting “I don't hug anybody” rather just “shake people's hands then be on my way.” But with Kobe, it was different this time.

Allen summed up what it meant to be honored for his defensive prowess by one of the game's all-time great scorers:

“I ain’t gonna score 40 points. I don't have the best fancy crossover. I can't hit a step-back three. I play defense. That's what I do. When he gave me those shoes, I realized something. All the hard work, all the film sessions, all the sleepless nights, everything I gave to this game…that moment made it all worth it.”