Even though Kobe Bryant has bid farewell to the game of basketball, fans are still finding ways to pay their respects to the five-time champ. That includes Indiana Pacers forward Paul George, who recently posted this video on Instagram of his newly-acquired pitbull, which he named “Kobe” to honor the Lakers legend.
Growing up in Palmdale, George lived in up in a household that was full of Lakers fans and even witnessed a young Bryant win his first championships. It was then that George decided that he wanted to model his game after Bryant.
George even talked about some of the things he would do to imitate his idol, via Kevin Ding on NBA.com
“I was the whole nine, anything you can think of. I had the Kobe Jersey. I would do the Kobe walk. I would walk around the house doing the Kobe stare-down face. Anything you can name, I was idolizing him, trying to be like him.”
George has shown similar work ethic to Kobe’s after being able to bounce back from a gruesome injury to average 23 points, seven rebounds and two steals per game on his way to earning a third All-Star bid. With rumors swirling about the Lakers interest in pursuing George this summer, there are many fans who feel that the best way George could honor Kobe is by assuming his position as the cornerstone of this franchise.
Of course, rumors of George returning home to Los Angeles have persisted for years, and there has been no indication that the Indiana Pacers are remotely interested in parting with the young wing. Regardless, that hasn’t put a stop to the rumors, as Lakers fans are anxious to rebuild around a new star.
For now, though, George naming this beautiful pit bull after the Lakers legend will have to do.