Kobe Bryant Names Kyrie Irving And Russell Westbrook As Favourite Players

Injured Los Angeles Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant selected Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook and Cleveland Cavaliers slasher Kyrie Irving as his favourite players to follow in the league because of their approach to the game. Both players are currently making waves in the league with Westbrook recording his nightly threat of triple doubles and Irving owning this year’s two top scoring performances.

“He sniffed it out early with Westbrook (his favorite current star) in 2012 and — to my surprise — he’s sniffing it with Kyrie now and said as much. He loves Kyrie,” Bill Simmons of Grantland revealed Bryant’s personal choices in his latest article.

Not to be outdone, Irving quickly returned the favour by pointing out that the game-tying three point basket he made in Thursday thrilling overtime win over the reigning NBA champions San Antonio Spurs was largely due to his constant observation of Bryant’s shooting form. It can be recalled that during the former Rookie of the Year’s stint in the 2012 Olympic team, he often figured in one-on-one matches with Bryant during practices, and those stints are finally paying off, the latest of which is a 57-point explosion wherein Irving was a perfect 7-for-7 from beyond the arc.

Kyrie on his buzzer beater: "As long as my elbow's pointed at the rim, I feel like it has a great chance to go in. I learned that from Kobe"
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) March 13, 2015

With Irving’s revelation, Bryant, despite approaching the tail-end of his career, continues to be emulated by the younger generation and the up and coming players of the league. Detroit Pistons guard Brandon Jennings has long been a self-confessed Bryant fan while Rajon Rondo has often talked fondly about joining Bryant in a Lakers uniform. Even Rookie of the Year and new Orleans Pelicans power forward Anthony Davis once worked under the tutelage of Bryant just adding him to the growing list of players who have been inspired by the league’s number 3 all-time scoring great.

Westbrook, the other player that Bryant is following is also tearing up the league with his nightly triple double threat. The Thunder starting guard secured his 6th triple double in the last 8 games in the team’s win over the Minnesota Timberwolevs last Friday. While the Thunder is in the outside looking in the 8th and final playoff spot in the talented Western Conference, Westbrook is making a case for the Most Valuable Player award with his steady and explosive play in Kevin Durant’s absence.

Watch Bryant talk about his recovery and his future in the NBA below: