Teammate Kobe Bryant during the 2003-04 season, Gary Payton regrets that the Lakers legend didn’t have time to show more people who he really is before he tragically passed away.
“(What did I see about Kobe in 2003 that people didn’t see until after?) Kind Kobe. Everyone thought he was selfish, that he was just a talented guy. No one knew Kobe. I got to know Kobe the person. The young man. He had feelings, emotions, but he was just a guy who did what he had to do to win, because he had that determination, that rage to win, that’s all. And I had no problem with that. It was the same for me, I didn’t care what people thought of me on the pitch. It was like that. But off the pitch, I’m a cream. And Kobe was the same. People didn’t know it. They did not have the opportunity to get to know him. But they were about to get to know him, as he had just gotten involved in women’s basketball, along with his daughter Gigi. It could not be done. I think there would be a big difference in women’s basketball today because he would have led the charge. He was going to start it all. Gary Payton
via Nothing Personal via David Samson
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