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NBA superstar LeBron James helped the Los Angeles Lakers return to the Finals with their 4-1 series over the Denver Nuggets. His friend Kobe Bryant was the last player to lead the Lakers there, and with his passing earlier this year, the team, the city of Los Angeles and the basketball world as a whole are reflecting on past memories of Bryant.
LeBron and Kobe are among the biggest names in the league in recent decades and they were both friends and competitors who respected each other as people and as players. James says he’s had one regret, and that’s not spending more time with Bryant and he wishes his busy schedules hadn’t gotten in the way of the final dinner.
When James first signed on with the team, he says the two talked about dinner so Bryant could give him an overview of Los Angeles, but they never ended up having dinner together.
“Of course you think there will be time for us to get together and I understand there are regrets in life, but I definitely wish I had that moment with him,” James told Yahoo Sports’ Chris Haynes.
After proving skeptics wrong that, at 35, he could make another Finals appearance as a member of the Lakers, he reflects on Kobe’s reaction when he joined the team and how Bryant never questioned whether he fit in. team. That confidence made James feel even better about the move.
“I remember when I decided to come here, he immediately texted me and said, ‘Welcome, bro. Welcome to the family.’ That was a special moment because at the time, the Lakers faithful didn’t [fully in on me]”James said.
“A lot of people would say, ‘Well, we may not like LeBron at this point in his career,’ and, ‘Is he right? [to the Finals]? ‘So hearing from him and getting his stamp of approval, it meant a lot. I never question myself, but when it comes from Kobe, it definitely meant a lot. “
James is chasing his fourth ring as he faces the Miami Heat, while Bryant has five rings.
Game 1 of the NBA Finals is Wednesday at 9 pm ET.
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