“Kobe, you just feared him right when you stepped on the court” – Isaiah Thomas lists Kobe Bryant as the best player to ever play against in his career

Free agent Isaiah Thomas encountered many players in his NBA career, but according to him, no one came close to the greatness of Kobe Bryant. The LA Lakers legend struck fear in his competition, and Thomas was no exception.

There was a time when Thomas was a young rookie trying to find his stride in the NBA. Back then, Bryant was still at his athletic peak, making the impossible seem possible. According to Thomas, the Black Mamba is the most feared NBA player he ever faced.

On the "Ball Don't Stop" podcast, the two-time All-Star shared what separated Bryant from the others.

"Kobe. You just feared him right when you stepped on the court. His energy was for you to fear," Thomas said. "When I seen him ... everything he did was so strategic. I've never seen somebody that sharp.

"When I got to build a friendship with him and hear him talk about the game, a level that I've never heard before. Nobody comes close."

“Kobe Bryant. Nobody comes close”

- Isaiah Thomas on the best player he’s ever played against in his career

📺 FULL EP: youtu.be/pHnFvA2HCj0 https://t.co/tEQvPmkoSm

This isn't the first time players have shared how Bryant inflicted fear on his opponents. It's just additional proof of his passion and competitiveness for the game of basketball.

Both Thomas and Bryant played for the LA Lakers during their NBA careers. The 5-foot-9 point guard had two separate stints with the Lakers. Bryant, on the other hand, spent all 20 seasons as the face of the famed franchise and helped the organization win five championships.

Also read: 5’9” Isaiah Thomas defies narratives of him being a defensive burden: “I’ve never been a defensive liability”

The possibility of Isaiah Thomas playing overseas is highly likely

Former Boston Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas

In recent basketball-related news, free agent center Dwight Howard reached a deal to play in Taiwan. Howard recently signed with the Taoyuan Leopards and is expected to play sometime soon. With this, there have been reports that the Taiwanese basketball league that pursued the veteran center could go after other NBA free agents.

One of the players that the Taiwanese league could possibly go after is Isaiah Thomas. Thomas has a massive following just from his All-Star years as a member of the Boston Celtics. Signing him could increase the league's revenue due to his scoring mentality on every trip down the court.

Thomas isn't the only player that the Taiwanese league has shown interest in. Free-agent center Enes Freedom could also see himself playing in Taiwan. Before he became a free agent, his outspoken protests against China led to him being traded to the Houston Rockets, before eventually getting waived.

According to Marc Stein, both players could see themselves playing in Asia this year.

"Keep an eye on Taiwan as an emerging option for NBA players looking to continue (or revive) their careers in Asia. Dwight Howard stunningly signed earlier this month for a reported seven figures with the Taoyuan Leopards."

Isaiah Thomas last played for the Charlotte Hornets last season and is still waiting on NBA teams to offer him a roster spot.

Also read: Reports: Isaiah Thomas & Enes Kanter receiving interest from Taiwanese League soon after Dwight Howard joins the league