Kyrie Irving expressed his deep admiration and respect for Kobe Bryant during his trip to Los Angeles, where the Dallas Mavericks faced the Lakers in the 2024-25 NBA season.

© Elsa/Getty ImagesKyrie Irving #11 of the Dallas Mavericks looks on during Game Five of the 2024 NBA Finals against the Boston Celtics.

The Dallas Mavericks traveled to California this week to take on the Los Angeles Lakers, in a game filled with numerous storylines, including the trade involving Luka Doncic and Anthony Davis.

However, one of the more poignant moments came with Kyrie Irving’s remembrance of Kobe Bryant.

The Dallas Mavericks guard took advantage of his time in Los Angeles to visit the statue honoring Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna, which was erected outside Crypto.com Arena.

 “I needed that before the game… It meant everything to me,” Irving said in an interview shared by journalist Joey Mistretta on X.

“I don’t know if anybody in here has dealt with that avoiding feeling, avoiding things that you know are gonna be painful or hurt you, and it’s gonna be best for you at the same time,” Kyrie continued. 

“That was one of those things, I hadn’t been to the statue just because I was all in my head, all in my emotions the last few times we’ve come here.”

The statue, located outside Crypto.com Arena, stands as one of the many tributes the Los Angeles Lakers have dedicated to the legendary guard, who played 20 seasons with the franchise.

It depicts Kobe next to his daughter Gianna, who tragically passed away with him in a helicopter crash in 2020.

Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant.

Kyrie was truly moved

Irving further reflected on what the visit to the statue meant to him. “I paid my respects to his family, always try to… sitting in front of that statue just felt different,” he said.

“I’m grateful, man, especially as God watches over me, and Gigi, Kobe and a lot of my ancestors are watching over me so I’m just grateful. I don’t take those moments for granted.”

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The 32-year-old guard also shared: “I needed that before the game just for my own peace of mind as I move forward in my own healing journey.”

While acknowledging that “probably wasn’t ideal timing,” the emotional moment didn’t seem to affect his performance on the court. Irving led the game in scoring with 35 points, though the Dallas Mavericks ultimately lost 107-99.

Irving’s admiration for Kobe

This wasn’t the first time Kyrie Irving has shared his thoughts on what Kobe Bryant meant to him not only as an NBA star.

“He was a genuine friend, a genuine big brother, and losing someone like that was one of the hardest things to deal with, to grieve over it,” Irving said during an interview on Kai Cenat’s Thanksgiving Special stream last year.

He also reflected on the lessons Bryant imparted to him. “I use the craft of basketball to get me into rooms, but it’s not defining me at all,” Irving said. “That’s what Kobe taught me. ‘Don’t let this sport define you, bro.’”