Let’s go back to 2019.
It was in that year that Giannis Antetokounmpo won NBA MVP. He had fulfilled a challenge given to him by Kobe Bryant on Twitter back in 2017 to win the award.
So Bryant tweeted, “My man … M.V.P. Greatness. Next up: Championship #MambaMentality.”
And now, it’s 2021. The Greek Freak is a champion.
Antetokounmpo reflected on those exchanges with Bryant on Tuesday night after the Milwaukee Bucks won Game 6 and the title over the Phoenix Suns, saying that it made him believe he could lead his team.
Check out this awesome moment and reflection, and the tweets from Bryant are below:
"Kobe Bryant thinks I can do this… I had to do it."
Giannis on Kobe challenging him to win MVP back in 2017, and then to win an NBA Championship in 2019. pic.twitter.com/MVXbuuTIah
— NBA (@NBA) July 21, 2021
— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) August 27, 2017
My man….M.V.P. Greatness. 🙌🏾💪🏾 Next up: Championship. #MambaMentality https://t.co/dhZTFI1Aam
— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) June 25, 2019
Bryant’s former teammate Pau Gasol addressed the tweets after the Bucks’ win:
He did it, brother ❤️ #MambaMentality #KobesLegacy https://t.co/yEHmpuMpw4
— Pau Gasol (@paugasol) July 21, 2021
Just wonderful all around.
