Kobe Bryant, Trae Young (Image via Getty Images)
Legendary NBA player Kobe Bryant, who tragically passed away in a helicopter crash with his daughter, has served as an inspiration for athletes across various sports. Many fans have been motivated by Bryant’s never-give-up mentality, known as the Mamba Mentality. Numerous NBA analysts, players, and fans have fondly remembered the 18-time All-Star and celebrated his exceptional professional career.

However, not all perspectives on Bryant have been positive. Kevin Sanchez, who claims to be Bryant’s old friend, recently shared a critical anecdote during an interview, expressing that Bryant did not provide help when Sanchez reached out to him while in prison. Trae Young, the Atlanta Hawks superstar, responded to these negative comments about Bryant by defending him in a social media post on X (formerly known as Twitter).

“Nah, we don’t do Kobe slander. Why even post this bs?” Young wrote in his latest post on X.

Why Kobe Bryant’s Old Friend Turned Against Him?

Kobe Bryant earned millions in his career, but Sanchez claimed that he was too cautious with his money. Sanchez said he approached Bryant, asking for a job or a connection to help him get back on his feet. When Sanchez received a phone number in response, he assumed it was Bryant’s. However, it turned out the number belonged to one of Bryant’s assistants. When Sanchez later shared the incident with one of Bryant’s friends, he described the five-time NBA champion as a terrible person who had taken money from his friends and family.

“This is when I really found out he was a piece of s***. This right here is what made me be like, ‘You know what, f*** him.’ I waited in the rain, it was freezing outside. I waited out there the whole time freezing. I saw the little tour bus that [the LA Lakers] was in. I see Shannon Brown and a bunch of the players.” Sanchez said.

Even though Bryant’s untimely death occurred four years ago, his fans and family still hold special memories of him. The NBA community was taken aback when Bryant’s family experienced yet another death.