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‘Memories I’ll Never Forget’ MLB Superstar Details the First Time He Met Idol Kobe Bryant

Published 04/26/2021, 3:30 PM EDT

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Los Angeles Lakers’ legend, the late Kobe Bryant, was arguably one of the best to ever to play the game of basketball. While he might have dominated the game with his skills, it was his dedication and demeanor towards the game, which was rather commendable.

Playing with his heart upon his sleeve, Kobe never gave up and fought till the very end of the game. His attitude towards the game left a resounding impact not only towards basketball but to other sports as well.

MLB superstar Manny Machado opens up about meeting Kobe Bryant

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San Diego Padres third baseman Manny Machado is one of the biggest stars in the Major League baseball. A young Machado idolized Kobe and was certainly intrigued by Black Mamba’s approach to the game.

Machado recently made an appearance at ESPN’s baseball tonight. There, the 28-year-old described the first time he met his idol.

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“Meeting Kobe, I was nervous getting ready for the World Series game. I was doing some stuff in the gym and all I hear is, ‘Hey, Kobe’s here, you want to go take a picture?’….. I’m like, ‘Let me just finish right quick and you know try to get it done as fast as I could’ and suddenly he just walks into the gym and as soon as I look over I was actually on the ground, I look over and um you know I see six foot six guard and I mean my mind was just blown.”

“It was it was one of the most incredible moments of I would think of my entire life just uh you know finally just having him up close and you know hearing him say, ‘okay I see you, I see you kid, I see you working’ you know.”

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He added, “Now I have Kobe Bryant in front of me, one of the guys I admire the most on this planet, and you know it was just mind-blowing. It’s one of those memories that you know the more you say, the more you smile, the more you think about it and um you know the better you feel.”

Machado is one of many premium athletes who Kobe inspired. The Mamba‘s legacy continues with the numerous people he inspired and the impact he left on everyone.

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Written by:

Aditya Mohapatra

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Aditya Mohapatra is a sports enthusiast who primarily covers the NBA for EssentiallySports. Having graduated in Mass Communication, he has prior experience in writing for ABP News, and has been writing for EssentiallySports since November 2020. This die-hard Los Angeles Lakers fan feels that LeBron James is the best thing to have ever happened to the NBA, and will hold a healthy debate with anyone suggesting otherwise.
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