Kobe Bryant was a nightmare for the opposing defenders. Mamba’s overwhelming confidence, incomparable panache, and offensive brilliance annihilated opponents night after night. His diverse repertoire gave him the liberty to be more deadly and adventurous on the court.

On the NBA floor, opponents giving Kobe a run for his money was an uncommon sight. There were no tactics that could have intimidated him once the Mamba mentality kicked in. The opponents could only wish for Kobe to turn the switch off, which he never did. However, in the few instances when they were able to get the better of him, they were certain to gain his respect.

Former NBA player Kendrick Perkins had his fair share of encounters against the Lakers legend. While he was nothing near Kobe’s godlike skill set, he certainly earned his admiration for his individual talent.

The Boston Celtics defeated the LA Lakers in the 2008 NBA Finals. Perkins traveled to Vegas to celebrate his first and only championship. As stated by the center, Kobe saw him outside a bar and bearhugged him. And it was on this occasion that the Lakers’ star showered praises on Perkins for his post defense.

“Man, I just want to tell you, man, it’s all respect. And I tell people this all the time, you one of the best post defenders I ever played against,” Kobe said as per Perkins.

Many people think that the Celtics were armed with the big four of Rajon Rondo, Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, and Kevin Garnett. Even then, Kobe Bryant decided to praise Perkins. Many people, though, forget how exceptional a post defender he was. He understood his role and executed it flawlessly, eventually earning the respect of one of the greatest players in history.

Kobe Bryant got his revenge on the Boston Celtics two years later

If you’re familiar with NBA history, you’re probably aware of the intense rivalry between the Lakers and the Celtics. These are two of the most storied franchises in the league’s history. When the two square off, it’s all about bragging rights.

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In the 2008 NBA Finals, Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers played the Boston Celtics. They did, however, leave the TD Garden in tears after falling to them in six games.

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However, Kobe and the franchise were given the opportunity to complete the vengeance arc when they met the Celtics in the 2010 NBA Finals.

The Lakers came off a championship season in which they defeated the Orlando Magic in the 2009 NBA Finals. And now they had the chance to not only win back-to-back NBA titles, but also exact revenge on their arch-rivals.

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The Lakers welcomed the Celtics to the Staple Center for Game 7 with the series deadlocked at 3-3. The game was tightly contested throughout, but the Lakers’ supporting cast came up massive in the final minutes. Ron Artest, a.k.a. Metta World Peace, hit a clutch three-pointer in the closing minutes to give the Lakers the momentum.

Following that, Sasha Vujacic hit two critical free throws to put his side up by four points with 11.7 seconds remaining and to seal the victory for his side.

Kobe Bryant won his fifth title and was named Finals MVP for the second time in a row. He cemented himself as one of the greatest players of all time.