FILE–Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates with Jordan Clarkson #6. J Pat Carter/Getty Images/AFP
MANILA, Philippines—Despite being busy with Gilas Pilipinas’ training sessions, Jordan Clarkson took a little while to commemorate the late Kobe Bryant on his birthday.
In a video posted by Fiba on Thursday (Aug. 23, US time), Clarkson explained how much Bryant meant to him while the Los Angeles legend was still living.
Bryant would’ve turned 45 year this. In January 2023, he perished in a helicopter crash along with his young daughter Gianna.
Clarkson, being a former Laker himself, considered Bryant to be his own personal “G.O.A.T.” or “Greatest of all Time.”
“It meant a lot being around him in my earlier years. [He’s] definitely my GOAT, a guy that I learned a lot from,” said the Utah Jazz star, who has a tattoo of an image of him and Kobe on his thigh.
“He taught me so much. He means a lot to my career and the game of basketball, period.”
Jordan Clarkson on Kobe and his influence on the game 🐍 ♾️#FIBAWC pic.twitter.com/4lsOkg0dkO
— FIBA (@FIBA) August 23, 2023
Originally drafted by the Washington Wizards with the 46th pick in the 2014 draft, Clarkson was quickly traded to Los Angeles for cash considerations.
Upon his arrival in Tinseltown, he was greeted by a grizzled veteran in the form of Bryant, who he would be teammates with until 2016, the year of Bryant’s retirement.
Clarkson, indeed, flourished with Bryant mentoring him as he averaged 11.9 points, 3.5 assists and 3.2 rebounds per game in his rookie year.
The Filipino-American player is in the Philippines to play in the Fiba World Cup.