Jalen Brunson was named NBA Cup MVP after leading the New York Knicks to a win over the San Antonio Spurs. Brunson had 25 points and eight assists during the game. It seems this time of the year has always been special for JB, who shared a lovely Kobe Bryant story from his high school days.
The Knicks’ man’s father, Rick Brunson, also played in the NBA. His mother, Sandra, was teammates and friends with Kobe’s sister Sharia. In 2014, Sandra took an 18-year-old Brunson to watch the Lakers play the Bulls in Chicago. And that’s when he met Bryant, which netted him some shoes and some inspiration.
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Jalen and his mom shared the story of how Kobe didn’t play, but took the time to meet them after the game. Bryant gave Brunson a pair of his Kobe 9s, which the young star immediately wore in his game the next day. It worked like a charm, too. He had 16 points, seven assists, and six rebounds that game.
Los Angeles Lakers forward Kobe Bryant reacts to the crowd. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images
Players around the NBA affectionately refer to the late Bryant as ‘your favorite player’s favorite player.’ And while a lot of that came from his incredible basketball abilities, it’s these stories that really make the point. Brunson says he’ll never forget the advice Kobe gave, and he’s not the only young star the Mamba inspired.
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