Kobe Bryant: How Lakers Icon Inspired DeMar DeRozan’s Style

• DeMar DeRonaz recently revealed he wanted to be like Kobe Bryant
• DeRozan's game is almost very similar to Bryant's who influenced many NBA stars
• Bryant passed away three years ago today after a tragic helicopter crash

Without Kobe Bryant, there would be no DeMar DeRozan. That's according to the Chicago Bulls guard who recently said the late Lakers icon is everything to him.

On January 26th 2020, Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna and seven others perished in a helicopter crash in Calabasas. The Lakers legend remains one of the greatest basketball players of all time.

His influence goes beyond borders and sports. Sports fans from every corner of the globe knew Bryant and his accomplishments. Since his untimely demise, murals of purple and gold have been painted from Los Angeles to the Philippines.

His impact was immense. Players like DeRozan, Kyrie Irving, Kawhi Leonard, Jayson Tatum, Devin Booker and others model their game after the five-time NBA champion.

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Football

How Bryant influenced DeRozan

Speaking to the Athletic, DeRozan said the late Bryant laid the foundation for him. Everything he does in the game is because of him.

“My imagination and my foundation started from Kobe. Just watching him give me that imagination as a kid to want to shoot a fadeaway. To want to learn to pull up. To want to rock a ’fro. It started from that. That was my skeleton of a basketball player I wanted to be and things I wanted to do. Without Kobe, I wouldn’t have that imagination.”

Since he was drafted in 2009, the 33-year-old went on to become a phenomenal scorer. Alongside players like Kevin Durant, he has kept the mid-range alive after the three-point explosion in the last few seasons.

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NBA

He has now played 1,001 NBA games and scored 21,023 points.

Murals in Bryant's honor

Since his death murals have been painted all over the world to honor Bryant and his daughter who was 13 when she sadly passed away, per the Athletic.

The purple and gold murals all over the world are a testament to Bryant's everlasting and deep influence.

From LA to Indonesia, the picturesque murals keep Bryant's memory alive.

How Byrant influenced Curry

Sports Brief earlier reported how the five-time NBA champion inspired Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry.

Curry once recalled how Bryant showed respect to him during his rookie season in the NBA. The Warriors were hosting the Lakers at Oracle Arena.

"He went on to talk about that silent killer instinct. That it doesn't have to be ‘rah-rah’ talking trash in your face but it’s something you see in your eyes and the way that you move that came out and he respected that and recognized that.And that to me was the ultimate gas in the tank."