Kobe Bryant death: Charles Oakley on 'The Wendy Williams Show' says NBA star 'had fire, desire to be great'
Charles Oakley, who played NBA against Kobe Bryant for 9 seasons was on 'The Wendy Williams Show' to speak about the late basketball player's legacy. He started by recalling that his friend Jason William texted him the news and then his wife Angela did, following which, people "just started coming in." He said he also made a few calls because he wanted to be sure.
He said, "Kobe, I mean, not just a sports guy, he an icon. My condolences go out to his wife Vanessa and the kids. Other people on the plane." When asked if he knew Kobe personally, Oakley said, "I've been in situations with Kobe, before. I was telling some people the story. When he first got in the league, Kobe loved music. I don't know if everybody know that or not. And one day, in Jersey, [Steve] Stout, I come over to the house and Kobe because he was a producer, and he (Stout) in the house." Then, Oakley asked what Stout was up to and he was told that Bryant wanted to do some music where Bryant apparently wanted to even rap. Oakley said that Bryant was "really putting down the lyrics and everything."
Oakley also said how a few days later when he visited Bryant again, he told him that there is only one other guy he knew who would do this. "His initials are MJ -- Michael Jordan," said Oakley. "He had the fire, desire to be great," he added.
Oakley also spoke about how Bryant transitioned in Lakers from the Charlotte Bobcats. He said that some people have the desire and fire in them to be great and some people work for it. He explained that Bryant worked for it and he got it. He said, "So, once the transition, when you go to LA; it's mega superstar hall of fame legends. So when you go there, your mind gotta trigger into like, 'Hey, I have to climb this ladder'. He climbed that ladder. Went all the way to the top."
Bryant and his daughter Gianni died in a helicopter crash with nine other people on Sunday and the news came as a shock to fans world over. Bryant is survived by his wife Vanessa and his three daughters Natalia, Bianca and their newborn Capri.