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Kobe Bryant was so focused on achieving basketball immortality that he had little time to pay attention to other players or offer them any praise. Besides, the man was such a competitive freak who wanted nothing more than to defeat an opponent to the point of humiliation, so why would he bother to boost their egos and confidence with compliments?
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However, Kobe softened his approach toward fellow prep-to-pro superstar Kevin Garnett. This was evident before their first-round clash in the 2003 NBA Playoffs, when the 6’6″ wingman felt sorry that one of them had to go home when the series was over.
Kobe had mad respect for KG
The mid-1990s saw the 6’11” Garnett redefine the NBA’s landscape when he proved that high school players can make the jump to the big leagues and make an impact.
While most teams were skeptical of giving a roster spot and minutes to a teenager who had yet to fully grow into their body, much less develop the mindset and maturity to thrive in the pros, Garnett quieted the naysayers by finishing sixth in the Rookie of the Year race and earning All-Star honors in his second year in the league.
The Kid’s success opened the floodgates for more high school superstars to make the leap to the NBA, including Kobe, who joined the league in 1996. Time and again, the two battled in the West, giving the Lower Merion High standout a firsthand look at what made KG tick. And he absolutely loved what he saw.
“One of the players that I respect the most is Kevin Garnett,” Bryant stated. “That’s my man right there. It’s a shame that it has to come down to us battling in the first round. I just have a lot of love for that dude.”
Bryant’s admiration for Garnett, though, did not get in the way of his tearing the Minnesota Timberwolves’ defense apart. He averaged 31.8 points and 6.7 assists per game in that series, which the Los Angeles Lakers won, 4-2.
Related: Kevin Garnett found out he rejected a $122 million offer by opening a newspaper in Jamaica: “I zoomed home”
Calmed Kobe down
A significant reason Kobe held KG in such high regard was the way KG treated him during his first All-Star Game in 1998. At Madison Square Garden in New York, all eyes were on the young shooting guard, whom many believed would become the next Michael Jordan. The problem was that MJ was still around, and he wasn’t willing to give up his crown so easily.
“I was a little nervous,” Bryant recalled. “Kevin came up to me and said, ‘Hey, run with me, young fella, I’m gonna get you involved here. Just go out there, relax, and have a good time.’”
“That’s when he threw me a lob on the fast break. I dunked it, and he patted me on the butt real hard and started screaming. That just relaxed me so much. Since that day, man, I’ve just had so much love for him,” Kobe continued.
Kobe Bryant & Kevin Garnett turned the 1998 All-Star Game into a preview of the next era of NBA basketball 😮💨 🍿
The crowd certainly got their money’s worth that night at the Garden. Some moments just hit different ♾️ pic.twitter.com/Ijz185R0Ce
— KG: Certified (@kg_certified) July 30, 2026
Although the two superstars would go on to battle in two epic NBA Finals showdowns, Garnett moved on to the Boston Celtics, and the level of respect remained as high as ever. Yes, elbows were thrown, combative words were exchanged, but when the dust settled, much love remained.
Related: “Kobe’s the greatest player on the planet” – Gregg Popovich held Kobe Bryant in high regard ahead of their 2008 WCF matchup
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This story was originally published September 16, 2026 at 4:20 AM.