Um, tough day for finale basketball fans, but just, um, fans of Kobe, Period.

Um, it is tough ground and playing today.

I, uh we're all talking about three.

We heard the news, and, um, some people in the locker room were asking why there's still games on a day cause it was It's tough.

It's tough.

This is Ah, tough day to play basketball for sure, Trey.

Two questions.

Actually, One is Do you have, Ah, favorite game that you've seen of Kobe.

And also, will you be dedicating the rest of the year season to his member?

And also his daughter says, you were her favorite player?

Um, I don't have ah necessary favorite game.

Everybody's going to say that the 81 or the his last game, every plan, Um, I mean, you just there is a sudden moves.

I remember going okay.

See again that he was, um, we're in over 24 late in his career and just some of the moves he was making you went as athletic anymore.

But he was just so smart on just how, like, figured out ways to score.

Um, I mean, this triggering our ways and make plays even though he wasn't the most athletic anymore.

I mean, he just got in order sound.

Just something I'll always remember about him is just as he got older, he his mind got smarter.

He he learned new tricks in the game, and that's just that's was how he was built.

And and of course, I mean, I'm continue to play the rest of my career for Kobe.

That's my yes, one of my idols growing up, Me being ableto to get to know Ah, lot more recently is this stuff is tough.

And then g being on the they have a helicopter.

Is it?

Ah, makes it even words just cause, uh, man, it's his televised sisters.

I have, um I mean, my dad in this I can only I can only imagine what that family's showing right now.

And my condolences go out to them.

And, uh, of course, I'm continue play for that family try.

You just said that he was your idol growing up, and you talked about how recently he's been able to get closer with you.

How did that relationship start?

And what are some of the things that you'll take away from the conversations that you guys have had recently.

Yeah.

So it's crazy cause I went I went toe one of these camps when I was a kid in high school.

That's where you see about that old photo.

I look super young.

Um, was that one of these camps?

And, uh so his daughter, I mean, obviously was a big a big fan of mine.

And he's always trying to figure out new ways to help kids learn and says he found out that I worked with I mean, my trainer.

He thought Alex Bazelon.

So he he got in contact with him and G started working out with Alex Bazell.

Um, then that's how me and Kobe got introduced.

I was through my trainer.

He was talking about, I mean, how much your family was in my game in all of that.

So that's how we kind of got got locked in together because, um, my trainer on trade, Coates said that you guys have mama mentality on the board before the game.

What his mama mentality personally mean to you?

Um, I mean, only if you have that uhm moment mentality.

Eyes is something that just just makes you turn up to another level.

That's how it resonates with me is just It's just a switch and makes you turn it up.

And having that mob mentality is something that that's on the data from two form is just not just me.

I mean, millions and millions of kids around the world took that mentality, and, um and I made it, made it their own.

And so that's something that, uh, listen is even more special about Kobe.

How did the decision to come out on the number eight come about?

And why was that important for you to do?

Yeah, that's something that I wanted to do.

Um, a lot of things going through my mind after I heard the news and I I was just trying to think of something that I couldn't mean trying in pay arms Teoh to the legend and just didn't make it throwback Throwback number eight And I just wear, uh, and get that eight second.

Well, listen, can you describe what it was like to actually play in that game?

And do you think that the emotions and the heaviness kind of contributed to the success.

You guys did have you and your team.

Yeah, I think I said before we went out Tartine before you went on the court is, um you get 2.5 hours on Teoh escape reality and have fun and play play for him and play, um, for for that family.

So we got to escape reality for a little bit.

Have fun, enjoy it, know that we had him looking over us and just enjoy that time with each other trade dollars.

Mavericks owner Mark Cuban already let it be known that no one else ever wear the number 24 again.

His organization.

Do you think that's the stance that the NBA's to take a possibly just uniting in retiring a number 24.

The number eight?

Yeah.

I mean, I mean, nobody in this world would be mad at that was something that the, um, MBA decided to do.

I mean, you take away 24 you gotta take away eight to, um, that's something that I know it for Sure wouldn't be mad.

Uh, and nobody else in this world would be there.

So whenever they decide to do, I know they're going to do something big form.

And, um, that's it's what he deserves.

After the game, What was the message in the field?

The locker room after the wind?

Did anyone say anything or talk about doing things after that is yeah.

Nobody is hard to talk.

It is hard to talk, especially at the stretch at the meat.

A day like this.

Nobody really said too much.

Um ah.

A lot of guys.

Some of the guys spoke before, um, before the game and our team meeting, but nobody really talked too much after an, um It was more about in ages.

Just getting getting ready to go.

So, uh, yeah, no one we talked too much after.

Congratulations on the win.

Try.

Thank you.

Do.

Would you mind kind of talking about the last conversation that you had with Kobe?

And maybe even if not just some of the conversations that you know, some of the wisdom and whatnot that you kind of soaked up from him and what he shared with you?

Yeah.

So, uh, one of the last conversations we had, um, man, he was just just telling me how much, uh, how much he's You see, my get my game progress.

Um, man has been happy for me.

May I just say how proud he wasn't me and how hi wants me to continue to be a role model for for kids growing up and just for Fergie and and all the kids looking out to me to see t that inspire these kids and, um, and continue to play my heart out.

And that's that's one of the last time you said to me Was that What's that recently or in the last year or so Are what would you say It was recently in your interactions with GV If you spoken with her any time in the last.

No talk to Judy during our at our games.

Um, got to speak without here after, uh, to gay that she came to Or what were the emotions like when you made that half court heave and I saw you point up to the sky.

And as I pray that I mean, I say Kobe was with me.

Um, I mean, there's some stats that tonight is crazy.

People were telling me in the bag some of the numbers that add up um, that e mean I think I took 24 shots?

Uh, 81% from the free throw line.

Uh, this is from other stats in the in the bed that they told me that was like, Man, Kobe was close with me tonight.

Um, when you think of what Kobe meant to the game and just sport overall, what what comes to mind, You know, it's crazy cause like, there's so much like that Kobe has done in the game s so many kids he's inspired on.

They gave a basketball, but it's like this.

It's more.

He's more than just that.

I mean, there's Kobe, the basketball player, of course, but there's Kobe, the the author of this Kobe the Dad.

There's Kobe, the businessman.

Like he's he's reached so many people in touch so many people in this world that it is not just basketball.

That's why it's That's why it's a tough day not only for basketball fans were just people in general, um, because there's a lot more people that are fans of him for other reasons, too.

So that's why such a tough day when when you met up with or when Judy and you met up after games.

I think she had come to to two of your games this season.

Did she tell you?

Did she have anything to tell you?

I mean, I know she looked up to you a lot.

Yeah.

No, she just since you told me how much she loved to watch me play, um, through the big fan of mine and I yes, she she works out with my trainer, Alex all the time.

And, um, yes, it's you.

Just you just about time played and all that.

So, yeah, that's what she told me.

We saw before the game A very emotional moment with you and your mom and the embrace that you had.

Did you say, did she say anything to you before you went to the locker room?

And how did you use that?

I go into the game.

Yeah, she just She just told me to play, play my heart out and that he's always going to be watching over me pulling for me and just to go out there and play, play for him and just play my heart out, and that's what I did tonight.