Nick Kyrgios Reminisces Emotional Tribute to Kobe Bryant Against Rafael Nadal

Published 10/21/2021, 8:00 AM EDT

The world has still not forgotten the tragic death of NBA legend, Kobe Bryant. He was not just an inspiration to millions of youngsters but also to many athletes, including Rafael Nadal and Nick Kyrgios.

Every sports fan was stunned after hearing the terrible news about Kobe’s demise in January 2020. Almost every single athlete gave a tribute to the phenomenal basketball player for his great contribution to the sport.

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Nick Kyrgios shares a picture of himself with Rafael Nadal

Recently, Kyrgios shared a picture of his match that he and Nadal played right after the demise of Kobe Bryant. Before going down to play and during the post match interview, the Australian player even wore a Los Angeles Lakers jersey – the NBA team Bryant used to play for.

Moments pic.twitter.com/ZbjRYhP8Hw
— Nicholas Kyrgios (@NickKyrgios) October 21, 2021

“Moments,” tweeted Kyrgios.

Kyrgios is a huge fan of basketball and loves to play the sport whenever he gets some free time. Just like all others, the sad news about Kobe also astonished him and he decided to give him a tribute right after his match at the Australian Open 2020 against Rafa.

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When Kyrgios and Nadal hailed Bryant’s legacy

It was Nadal who emerged victorious in that match at the Australian Open 2020 as he defeated Kyrgios in four sets. However, both of them talked about Bryant’s legacy after the match.

“It’s super sad. He was one of the greatest sportsmen in history. He deserves a big round of applause. It’s one of these days that you want to forget but of course Kobe Bryant will be in our hearts and in our minds for the rest of our lives,” said Rafa in the post-match interview.

Just like the Spaniard, Kyrgios also hailed Bryant. He stated that even though he never met him personally, it was the NBA great who always used to motivate him.

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“I never met Kobe but basketball’s practically my life, I watch it every day and I’ve been following it for as long as I remember … it’s tough, it’s horrible news. If anything it motivated me (during the game). If you look at the things he stood for and what he wanted to be remembered by I felt like if anything it helped me tonight,” mentioned Kyrgios.

Even today, not just basketball fans but fans of the entire sports fraternity miss Kobe Bryant. He continues to hold a special place in their hearts.

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Written by:

Anshul Singh is a Tennis author at EssentiallySports, currently pursuing Journalism Honors from Delhi University. Having significant experience with content, Anshul has authored over 1000 tennis articles. He has previously worked as a writer and an editor for DU Express, penning riveting articles on sports, politics, and culture.

Nick Kyrgios Reminisces Emotional Tribute to Kobe Bryant Against Rafael Nadal

Nick Kyrgios shares a picture of himself with Rafael Nadal

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When Kyrgios and Nadal hailed Bryant’s legacy