Jonathan Kuminga on Kobe Bryant: "I grew up watching an enormous amount of footage of him"
Kobe Bryant inspired Jonathan Kuminga. The young Congolese player remembers their first meeting very well.
Sport News Africa · Author profile ·
Listen to this story
Audio version in preparation · read aloud by your browser meanwhile
Almost every sportsperson has an idol. Someone who serves as a role model to follow, to copy, even to surpass one day. For Jonathan Kuminga, that person is Kobe Bryant. The Congolese has always admired the Lakers legend. So imagine his joy when he met Kobe for the first time. Speaking to 947 Joburg, he looks back on a day that stayed with him for ever.
"Kyrie Irving was like a mentor to me in high school (Jonathan Kuminga had left the Democratic Republic of Congo to join Huntington Prep School, a high school in West Virginia that develops very talented young prospects, such as Andrew Wiggins). I went to one of his games when I was in high school and after the game, in the tunnel, I saw Kobe. It had always been my dream to meet him. He knew who I was vaguely because I was a well-known high schooler, and I was surprised because he spoke to me and recognised me. I was blown away that Kobe knew my name. We took a photo with him and my teammates. I think we exchanged private messages a few days later and we were supposed to train together during the summer. The following week, the tragedy happened", says Jonathan Kuminga.
A childhood idol
The Warriors player also revealed how he followed Kobe Bryant's exploits with the Lakers. Back home in Congo, he had no television. "I was inspired by Kobe, I grew up watching an enormous amount of footage of him", he explains. "I didn't have access to footage at home. It was mostly on the days when my parents gave me money to go to the internet café and watch videos. They knew I loved basketball and I had pictures of Kobe all over my house."
Like many other fans, Kuminga no doubt lived through a dark night on 26 January 2020, when Kobe Bryant lost his life along with his daughter in a helicopter crash. And the finest tribute he could pay him would be to follow in his footsteps…