In 21 years in the league, LeBron James has come across several legends of the game. Over the years, The Chosen One has most certainly become one of them too. However, he may have never encountered a legend much like the late Kobe Bryant. The King and The Mamba shared a beautiful relationship during their day, and James has kept Bryant in his thoughts alive to this date.

Coming into the league, the basketball world touted LeBron James as a generational talent and “The Chosen One”. However, Kobe Bryant had already established his legacy, winning 3 championships by the time James arrived. The Los Angeles Lakers forward recently reminisced a moment where it seemed like 24-year-old Bryant made 19-year-old James feel he belonged in the NBA.

LeBron James recounts an iconic moment with Kobe Bryant

LeBron James’ entry into the league defied every standard set by his predecessors. The Kid From Akron attracted a generational amount of buzz around his NBA entry, skyrocketing expectations too. To live up to these expectations, James was required to feel “Chosen”. Seems like he received Kobe Bryant’s help to do so.

The Lakers forward recently shared a story on his Instagram, looking into one such moment where Bryant made him feel “belonged”. He shared a clip of the two legends’ first-ever duel when James represented the Cleveland Cavaliers as a mere 19-year-old rookie. Bryant, on the other hand, led the Los Angeles Lakers as their star player.

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In the story, James revealed that it was that moment where he felt “belonged” and “chosen” at 19 years old, thanks to the late Lakers guard. “The help off the floor let me know I belonged and was chosen even at 19 in the league,” he wrote. Bryant has had an immeasurable influence on James’ career over the years. Hence, the Lakers forward has kept Bryant in his thoughts and prayers, even 3 years after his shocking death.

James and Bryant shared a fierce rivalry

Since his arrival, LeBron James quickly emerged as the most skilled and nuanced player in the entire league. Leading the Cavaliers to the NBA Finals at the mere age of 23 was no joke. However, until the retirement of The Mamba, The King found his fiercest rival in him.

LeBron James and Kobe Bryant proved to the world that they were the most skilled players in the entire league during their time which forced the fans to pit them against each other. They dueled it out on the court on multiple occasions, raising eyebrows every time they took the court together. In fact, fans were left in dismay when they could not see a Finals battle between the duo in 2009, thanks to Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic.

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Despite their rivalry, the two were the closest of friends off the court. Bryant’s death may have shocked the entire world but it left a permanent scar on James. The King also got a tattoo inked on him in memory of The Mamba after his sudden passing. This gives a picture of how close the two legends were.