Many of the current superstars have watched Kobe grow up playing basketball, which has affected their growth

On May 13, Kobe Bryant, one of the greatest players in NBA history, has long surpassed the basketball court itself and became the spiritual totem of generations of young players. Many of the current superstars, such as James Harden, Jason Tatum, have grown up watching Kobe's game. His Mamba spirit is deeply imprinted in the growth trajectory of these players, inspiring them to constantly break through themselves and eventually step on the NBA stage.

Harden has mentioned in many interviews that Kobe is one of his most important idols in his growth process. He recalled that when he was a child, he would watch Kobe's game video repeatedly to learn his back jump shot and his footsteps. Kobe's killer instinct that never retreated at critical moments made Harden understand what the true competitive spirit is. In 2012, when Harden was still with the Thunder, he played against Kobe-led Lakers in the Western Conference Finals, and that round of the series became a turning point in his career. The huge pressure Kobe put on Harden on the defensive end made him realize that he still has a long way to go. It is this attitude of facing challenges that has allowed Harden to constantly polish his skills in the days that followed and eventually become a player at the league's MVP level.

Tatum's relationship with Kobe is more direct. As a loyal fan of Kobe, Tatum has imitated Kobe's playing style since he was a child. He once revealed in an interview that he would study Kobe's game video repeatedly, and even deliberately imitate Kobe's movements during training. In 2018, Tatum was lucky enough to train with Kobe, and that experience benefited him a lot. Kobe not only guided him in technical details, but also taught him how to maintain concentration and professional attitude. Tatum said: "Bryant told me that greatness is not accidental, but persistence and hard work day after day. " This sentence became his career motto and also allowed him to grow into an All-Star player with the Celtics.

Devin Booker is another active star who is deeply influenced by Kobe. As a shooting guard, Kobe's shadow can be seen everywhere in Booker's game style. He once said after scoring 70 points in a single game that this is a way to pay tribute to Kobe. Booker said: "What Kobe taught me is not only the scoring skills, but also a mentality. No matter what kind of defense you face, you must maintain confidence and aggressiveness. "This mentality makes Booker the star of the Suns and lead the team to the finals.

Kobe's Mamba spirit not only influenced local American players, but also inspired basketball teenagers from all over the world. Greek star Giannis Antetokounmpo once said that Kobe is one of the important reasons why he chose basketball. Antetokounmpo recalled that when he was a child, he was shocked by the momentum of seeing Kobe playing for the American team at the Olympics. He said: "Bryant made me believe that no matter where you come from, you can achieve your dreams as long as you work hard enough. "This belief supports Antetokounmpo from the Greek secondary league to the NBA and won the regular season MVP twice.

In addition to technical influence, the most valuable asset that Kobe left to these players is his attitude towards the game. DeMar DeRozan once said: "Bryant treats every game as hard as the last one. This professional spirit is the common memory of our generation of players. " DeRozan often played against Kobe during the Raptors, and those matches made him understand the standards that top players should have. Even after Kobe retired, DeRozan still maintained the habit of training at four in the morning, which is a way to pay tribute to his idol.

Kobe's sudden death put the entire basketball world in sorrow, but it also allowed Mamba's spirit to be spread more widely. At the 2020 All-Star Game, the NBA specially set up the "Kobe Cup" to commemorate the legend, and the participating players also paid tribute to their idols with Kobe-like performances. In the fourth quarter of that All-Star Game, the players showed the most competitive intensity in recent years, which is exactly the basketball that Kobe hopes to see the most.

Now, when Harden hits a three-pointer at a critical moment, when Tatum shakes away the defender with gorgeous steps, and when Booker still makes decisive moves under double teams, we can all see Kobe's shadow. These players not only inherit Kobe's skills, but also inherit his spirit. Many of them have become mainstays of the league and they will pass on the Mamba spirit to the next generation of players.

Kobe once said: "The most important thing is not how much you can score, but how many people you can motivate." Now it seems that this sentence has been best confirmed. From the streets of Philadelphia to the courts in Greece, countless children fell in love with basketball because of Kobe, and the best of them have stood on the NBA stage and continued the legend. This may be the most precious legacy left by Kobe to the basketball world - not the championship ring or the scoring record, but a fire of competition that will never be extinguished.

When Tatum made a Kobe-style celebration after hitting a key goal in the Eastern Conference Finals, and when Harden quoted Kobe's quotes in a post-match interview, we understand that Mamba's spirit never left. It lives in the hearts of every player inspired by Kobe, and continues to influence the game through their performance. In this sense, Kobe remains an integral part of the NBA, and his spirit will be passed down from generation to generation as these players grow.