A lot of young players that come into the NBA today grew up watching and idolizing Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant, who won five NBA titles during his two decades with the storied franchise.
Only a few of those players actually get the chance to wear the same uniform as the Hall of Famer, which is an honor that rookie guard Jalen Hood-Schifino now has after being selected by the team with the No. 17 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft.
As an avid fan of the former superstar guard, Hood-Schifino said the first thing that came to mind after being drafted by the Lakers was the former face of the iconic franchise, via NBA on ESPN.
Jalen Hood-Schifino thought of Kobe 💜 💛 pic.twitter.com/TKY0qqGE0x
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) July 13, 2023
Even though there will never be another Kobe Bryant, the legendary figure remains and likely always will be a constant source of inspiration for basketball players, as his legacy and impact have only grown since his tragic passing in 2020.
As for Hood-Schifino, he has the tall task of proving himself to head coach Darvin Ham and company in order to carve out a role on this Lakers team that is determined to contend for a title during the 2023-24 NBA season.
Hood-Schifino will definitely have his work cut out for him when training camp and preseason roll around while sharing the floor with Lakers stars like Austin Reaves, D’Angelo Russell, Anthony Davis, and LeBron James.
Only time will tell if Hood-Schifino can take a bit of that Mamba mentality and make a name for himself in Purple and Gold.
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LeBron James Gives Major Shoutout To New Lakers Addition
