With seemingly the entire sports world celebrating Kobe Bryant's career on social media, Hall of Famer Scottie Pippen -- who squared off with Bryant in the epic 2000 Western Conference Finals -- chimed in with a lengthy series of tweets about the retiring legend.
A few thoughts on Kobe Bean Bryant now that #MambaDay has arrived... @kobebryant pic.twitter.com/CrV5dvAh7n
— Scottie Pippen (@ScottiePippen) April 13, 2016
First things that come to mind when I think of Kobe? Fierce competitor. Relentless player. Like MJ, he always had that competitive edge.
— Scottie Pippen (@ScottiePippen) April 13, 2016
What really made Kobe great was his ability to work, even when he wasn't in front of the fans. #MambaDay
— Scottie Pippen (@ScottiePippen) April 13, 2016
Kobe spent as much time as anyone developing his game. It paid off, to me he ranks behind only MJ among all players in the last few decades.
— Scottie Pippen (@ScottiePippen) April 13, 2016
Kobe and I have never been all that close personally but we have a sense of mutual respect for each other and we talk on occasion...
— Scottie Pippen (@ScottiePippen) April 13, 2016
...And I appreciate that Kobe was a student of the game. He respected those who played before him & relied on them to help him become great.
— Scottie Pippen (@ScottiePippen) April 13, 2016
As for comparing Kobe to MJ, a lot of that has to do with the way they led. Both were the backbones of their teams and they went all out.
— Scottie Pippen (@ScottiePippen) April 13, 2016
Kobe and MJ were both capable of dominating in a lot of areas, respected on D as well as offense and had such high levels of charisma.
— Scottie Pippen (@ScottiePippen) April 13, 2016
I'll remember @kobebryant as one of the greatest @Lakers ever, right next to @MagicJohnson and among the game's all-time elite players.
— Scottie Pippen (@ScottiePippen) April 13, 2016
His legacy? A champion whose contributions to the game won't ever be forgotten. Best of luck with what's next, @kobebryant. #MambaDay
— Scottie Pippen (@ScottiePippen) April 13, 2016
Pippen, who retired in 2004, faced Bryant head-to-head 38 times in his career, mostly in his years with the Portland Trail Blazers. Bryant's Los Angeles Lakers were victorious in 13 of their 21 regular-season meetings and 13 of their 17 playoff games, with Bryant sending Pippen home for the season four consecutive years from 1999 to 2002 -- the last three en route to the first three of Bryant's five NBA championship rings.