Trinity Rodman reveals Kobe Bryant's life-altering advice: “He'll always be a GOAT for me"
Along with being one of the greatest players ever, Kobe Bryant was also a mentor to the next generation. Since his tragic death, many young stars have spoken out about how he helped them navigate life.
During a recent interview with People magazine, Trinity Rodman opened up on some advice Kobe Bryant had given her. Growing up, the daughter of NBA Hall of Famer Dennis Rodman played soccer with Kobe's daughter Natalia.
For Trinity, the "Mamba Mentality" on and off the court is why Kobe Bryant will always be the greatest of all time in her eyes:
“I think his mentality was the difference in how he was as an athlete, but his mentality on and off the field as well as creating connections and being humble within,” she says. “I think he was very humble about the fact that he was a GOAT — and he'll always be a GOAT for me.”
Kobe Bryant's inspiration has undoubtedly done well for Rodman as she is currently playing for the United States women's national team in the women's World Cup.
Kobe Bryant continues to inspire the next generation
Three years after his tragic death, Bryant continues to be an inspiration to the next generation. Countless NBA players still idolize and look up to the LA Lakers legend today. Two of the most notable are Devin Booker and Jayson Tatum, who got the chance to train with Bryant early on in their careers.
As a "Girl Dad," Kobe was also incredibly invested in women's sports as well. Along with inspiring athletes like Trinity Rodman, he shared a close bond with current WNBA superstar Sabrina Ionescu.
Along with spending time in the gym together, Kobe looked out for Ionescu. She once talked about how they constantly kept in touch and that he gave her words of encouragement during a rough patch:
“I felt some pressure early on in the season, and he wrote to me, 'Be you, it’s been good enough, and that will continue to be good enough,'" Ionescu told the Times. "He taught me his stepback; he told me that if I could bring that to my game, it’d be over for any defender trying to guard me.
"We kept in touch, always texting, calls, game visits. I’d drop a triple-double and have a text from him, 'Another double triple-double I see you' with a flex emoji," Ionescu told the Times. "Another game, another text. 'Yo, Beast Mode,' or 'Easy money.'"
Even after his death, Kobe Bryant's legacy lives on through the players he inspired.