James Edwards shares Saddiq Bey idolizing Kobe Bryant: “He’s got the Mamba logo tattooed on his upper arm"
Kobe Bryant's presence remains a constant force in the NBA for both aspiring young players and the greatest of veterans. As someone who touched the game as more than just a player, but as a leader and then a mentor, Bryant's death completely rattled the NBA community to its core.
Throughout his storied career, young players continued to look up to Bryant. From the time he was just a kid coming out of high school, Bryant had the eyes of the sporting world. Since retiring, his presence never felt diminished. He was frequently seen courtside alongside his daughter, teaching her the game and chatting with players.
Now, players who grew up watching Kobe Bryant and emulating his signature style are reaching the pinnacle of the sport. Just recently, James L. Edwards III of The Athletic wrote about how much Bryant means to young Detroit Pistons star Saddiq Bey.
“Bey is a Kobe Bryant stan. Most 20-and-30-somethings who grew up watching the prime years of the late, great Lakers star are. However, Bey takes it to another level. He’s got the Mamba logo tattooed on his upper arm. If you ask him privately, he’ll tell you that he believes Kobe is the greatest player of all time.”
Bey has been the subject of trade talks throughout this season. According to reports, the Washington Wizards, LA Clippers, and Dallas Mavericks have all expressed interest in the third-year forward.
Above, you can see footage of him hitting a big game-winning 3-pointer against the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night.
Kobe Bryant's lasting impact on the game of basketball
Of course, it isn't just Saddiq Bey who has been inspired by Kobe Bryant. Although few people are dedicated enough to get the Black Mamba logo, it's no secret that both Devin Booker and Jayson Tatum admire Bryant.
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Before his tragic death, Bryant offered some words of advice to Booker that have continued to remain fixtures of his career: Be Legendary. In the NBA's 75th anniversary commercial, it was Booker who paid tribute to Bryant by driving past a mural of him, stopping for a moment to pay homage.
As Booker explained to Sports Illustrated this offseason, Bryant made an impact on both him and Tatum.
"We both love him a lot. The thing about that, I’ll elaborate on that. I see (Tatum) getting hate just representing Kobe and being inspired by him. But Kobe always said his one job is to inspire the next generation — that’s what he’s done for us,"
With Bey currently averaging 13.8 points and 4.2 rebounds for the Pistons, it will be interesting to see whether he can find more success if he gets traded. Although there has been no official word on whether or not the team will ship him before the trade deadline, the move would be pretty shocking.
Although his 3-point shot hasn't been hitting like it did in his rookie season, he's without a doubt still a talent. Whether or not he just needs a new opportunity to shine, only time will tell.