Their meeting in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where they both played together for Team USA and shared leadership duties, epitomized their brotherhood in basketball. Despite their rivalry in the NBA, particularly when Wade’s Miami Heat bested Kobe’s Lakers in the 2004 Finals, the two would go on to form a lasting bond, with Wade often speaking of Bryant as a mentor and an inspiration. Their connection remains one of the most enduring friendships in basketball, built on a shared love for the game and a mutual respect for each other’s greatness. Payton played with both. He saw what made them tick. The similarities were clear: the will, the big shots, the killer instinct. But Kobe’s two-way dominance stood out.Still, Payton has nothing but respect for both. “They both had the dog in ‘em,” said Payton. “They were both the same.” -via ScoopB.com / May 2, 2025