The GOAT debate in basketball is as timeless as the game itself. And the court has witnessed countless legends staking their claim to the title. But one thing is synonymous with all the greatest of all times in between the lines: their victory gestures. From Michael Jordan’s air-punching gesture after iconic playoff moments to LeBron James’ chest pound and skyward salute after big plays, victory gestures are part of the basketball lore. However, for another NBA legend, Kobe Bryant’s victory gesture was somewhat not acceptable.

During a recent episode of the ‘The Big Shaq‘ podcast, Iman Shumpert admitted that seeing Kobe replicate Jordan’s fist gesture left him frustrated. “It used to p-ss me off when Kobe used to do this [Fist Pump gesture]. And now I just be like ‘It ain’t now one on the Earth allowed to do nothing like Mike except Kobe’ right… I’m like if you really go back and look, Kobe did it exactly, that’s what made you mad,” said Shumpert during the podcast.

This came right after Shaquille O’Neal and Shumpert were discussing how the world doesn’t include Bryant in the GOAT debate, where Shumpert said, “Shame on them.”

The ‘fist pump‘ gesture that Bryant used to do was actually taken from Jordan as the Los Angeles Lakers great famously idolized the Windy City legend. From their similar mid-range fadeaways to their intense on-court demeanor, Bryant’s game was often seen as an extension of Jordan’s legacy. Now we know it wasn’t just the technical aspects that Black Mamba mimicked but also the celebratory pose.

“What you get from me is from him. I don’t get five championships here without him,” said Bryant about Jordan in ‘The Last Dance’ documentary.

Now coming to Shumpert, he and Kobe have faced numerous times during Shumpert’s stint with the New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers. One of their most notable encounters came in February 2012, when the Lakers clashed with the Knicks at Madison Square Garden. In that game, Shumpert was put on Bryant, who was held to 34 points but the Knicks prevailed 92-85. Yet Shumpert—who prided himself on his defensive tenacity—pulled down a fine 12 points.

“You ain’t never hit the game winner and got to do the Mike. You never get to do it. And if you did hit the shot, you forgot to do the Mike, you forgot. He (Kobe) was too happy, he did it [fist pump gesture]. Every time,” added Shumpert in the podcast.

However, we must not forget that Kobe’s celebratory gestures went beyond mimicking Jordan. From his animated jersey tug after game-winners to his stoic, finger-pointing acknowledgment of teammates, his celebrations became synonymous with his legacy. Whether it’s through iconic gestures or unparalleled skill, Bryant remains a central figure in the GOAT debate, proving that imitation, when done with excellence, is the sincerest form of flattery—and greatness. Moreover, this isn’t the only time that Shumpert has shared a story about Bryant.

Iman Shumpert was once a victim of Kobe Bryant’s trash talk

Shumpert was the 17th overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft by the New York Knicks, known as largely a gritty, defensive-minded guard who battled hard. On more than one occasion, he was tasked with guarding the league’s best scorers. But nothing could have prepared the rookie from the verbal barrage by one of basketball’s all-time greats, Kobe Bryant.

During an interview with Hot 97, Shumpert shared about a game between the Knicks and Lakers that had left him confused.

“When I was about to start the fourth quarter, Kobe came up to me and said: ‘You played a great game, young man’… He attacked me again and again, he threatened me here, there, passed it to the sides, braked at ten meters and threw at me like Steph Curry… I had been having a normal game and suddenly, boom,” said Shumpert during the interview.

Soon after a time-out was requested and the then-coach of the Knicks, Mike D’Antoni, looked at Shumpert just to make him realize that he was facing no one but ‘Black Mamba’. For Shumpert, it was a humbling moment, a vivid reminder of why Kobe Bryant was not just a player, but a legend.