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EL SEGUNDO, CA OCT. 1, 2012. Lakers star player Kobe Bryant is all smiles during the teams’ media day at their El Segundo training facility on Monday, Oct. 1, 2012. (Photo by Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
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EL SEGUNDO, CA OCT. 1, 2012. Lakers star player Kobe Bryant is all smiles during the teams’ media day at their El Segundo training facility on Monday, Oct. 1, 2012. (Photo by Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Kobe Bryant is a legend of the game and has millions of fans worldwide. Ice Cube’s Oldest Son O’Shea Jackson Jr is a longtime Lakers and Kobe fan. He has mentioned repeatedly how he looks up to Kobe as his idol. The actor was recently on the Ellen DeGeneres Show where he talked about a very interesting story about Kobe Bryant.
O’Shea Jackson on Kobe Bryant
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O’Shea talked about the time he met his idol, Kobe Bryant. He talks about the first time he met Kobe, which was on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. Jackson tells the people on the show; he messaged Kobe once while he was a ‘little intoxicated’.
Thank you @kobebryant https://t.co/VEvMmHwSQ0
— O’Shea Jack(Nichol)son (@OsheaJacksonJr) December 11, 2021
Jackson asked Kobe how he does it every day and asked for some books, movies, or quote recommendations. Kobe replied by giving him his number and Jackson waited for the call for days.
“I was coming back from a table read, sitting in the Uber. The phone rang, and it says GOAT.” O’Shea describes when Kobe Bryant called him.
“Kobe talked about work ethic, not feeling content, not feeling like he’s done enough even still. He had just won the Academy Award. He still had that feeling and it was something that I’ll always hold dear that the first phone call with my hero was also the last.” O’Shea Jackson talks about the experience of speaking with his idol.
The actor then adds that his performance in “Swagger” is dedicated to Kobe.
O’Shea Jackson’s tribute to Kobe
The world received the terrible news of the passing away of Kobe Bryant on 26 January 2020. The world mourned the loss of a sporting legend and icon and Jackson wrote a heartfelt message for his hero.
The actor wrote a long message on Instagram for Kobe after hearing about the tragic news. “ I didn’t feel like going to work today but what kinda Kobe fan would I be if I didn’t get up and go to work.” were his first words.
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LOS ANGELES, CA. JAN. 04, 2015. Lakers’ #24 Kobe Bryant all smiles after an assist from teammate Carlos Boozer in a game vs the Pacers’ in the 1st half of the game at Staple Center in Los Angeles on Jan. 04, 2015. LA Lakers play the Indiana Pacers in a regular NBA season game. (Photo by Lawrence K. Ho/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
This shows how influential Kobe Bryant was for Jackson that the first thought he had was to get up and go to work. In the letter, Jackson mentioned how Kobe’s games, numbers, and championships didn’t matter. The only thing which mattered was the influence. The influence Kobe had on his fans helped them strive for more, build a good work ethic and always push themselves beyond the limit.
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