Kobe Bryant was my Michael Jordan, says Paul George

NBA players continue to grieve over the loss of Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant, who died with eight others, including his daughter, Gianna, in a helicopter crash on Sunday. While speaking with media members on Wednesday, Clippers star forward Paul George, an L.A. native who grew up idolizing Bryant, said that Kobe was the reason that he started playing basketball in the first place.

“He was my Michael Jordan. He was what every kid wanted to be here [in L.A.],” George said. “I started playing basketball because of Kobe. I attacked the game the way he played both ends. I took so many things away from him. He made a big impression on me as a kid, just about how to go about playing the game. Aside from God-given talent, I credit everything else from him.

“It just touches and hits me at all angles,” George continued. “From idolizing him as a kid to developing friendship and brotherhood to now having conversations with him this summer at his Mamba Academy and talking about fatherhood. It’s just some shit you can’t get over.”

George isn’t the only player that credits Bryant with inspiring them to pick up a basketball, as 76ers All-Star center Joel Embiid said something similar on Tuesday night; after he wore a No. 24 jersey and scored 24 points to honor Bryant.

source: CBSsports