Kobe Bryant was one of the greatest tough-shot makers in NBA history who would often put up attempts over a number of defenders. One famous picture has Kobe trying to shoot over basically the entire Chicago Bulls lineup during a Christmas Day game at Staples Center.
And New York Knicks big man Enes Kanter apparently drew some inspiration from it. In the Knicks game this week against the Philadelphia 76ers, Kanter tried to get a shot up despite being surrounded by all five Sixers.
Like with Bryant, his attempt was captured perfectly by photographers. Kanter, always one to have fun even at the expense of himself, took to Twitter with both pictures side by side and a simple hashtag comparing himself to Kobe:
#TurkishMamba ???????????????????? pic.twitter.com/19NKTgP2Bm
— Enes Kanter (@Enes_Kanter) February 13, 2018
This will likely be the only time anyone ever compares Kanter to Kobe, but it is always great when players have a good sense of humor about themselves.
The picture of Bryant surrounded by Bulls was used by many as a microcosm of Kobe’s career. The idea that he was always going to shoot no matter how many players a team threw at him was finally captured perfectly.
Kanter one-upped Kobe by actually having all five defenders surrounding him as opposed to the four Bulls who defended in the original setting.
Nonetheless the Kobe mindset was certainly there and someone has to carry on the legacy of the great Black Mamba, but no one would have predicted it would be a 6’10, 250-pound Turkish center.
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