And I remembersoclearlythatdayhowwewerejokingabouthavingcrossedthethresholdofhavingknowneachotherformorethanhalfourlivesandwhatthatmeantabouthowoldwehadbothgotten.
Um I gottoknowKobewhenhewas a rookie, and I gottradedtotheLakersanditwasallthishypearoundthishighschoolkid, and I'm like, Okay, I haven't seenhimplayyet, so I getintopracticeandit's a shootaroundandhe's going 1000 milesanhourand I'm looking.
Thatthatgameandall I coulddowassitbackandjustrespecthimandjustwatchhimandbelieveitornot, learnfromhimbecauseeventhoughyou'veitcomingofftwochampionships, youwatchingthisguyputtinghisworkeachandeverydayandyoulearningfromlike, Oh, I can't letthisyoungfellowoutworkYoujustwantedtogoon, Moveon.
Uh, youknow, postgames, goingout, grabbing a drinkorgrabbingsomedinnerand, like I said, gettingthechancetoreallylearneachotherasmenoutsideofoutsideofthebasketballcourt.
Eventhelastmemory I haveofhimismeetinghimatMambaAcademy a weekbeforethisthing's tragedyhappened, andjustlaughingandjokingandtalkingabouteverythingotherthanbasketball.