At his peak, Allen Iverson was among the best players in the NBA.
During the 2001 season, Iverson and the Philadelphia 76ers lost to Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals. The two were rivals, but also developed a friendship.
Allen Iverson Sends Heartfelt Message About NBA Legend Kobe Bryant
On Monday, Iverson made a heartfelt post about Bryant, who passed away six years ago today.
Iverson wrote: “6 years ago today we lost a legend”
View this post on Instagram
Many fans sent love in the comments:
@kobehighlight_: “Thanks for always honoring Kobe and making sure they don’t forget 🐍 🐐”
@mercedezuaz: “There will never be another Kobe Bean. ❤️🙏🏽”
@gs.slick7: “Damn 6 years ago. Time fly by so fast”
@slabbedupsportscards31: “Make everyday mean something. Try not to go to sleep with grudges or bad blood with the fam and friends. Never know when it’s your time. 🙏”
@alek_w_96: “What you can do tomorrow, do it today, work hard, be humble and hungry, that’s who Kobe was 😢💔”
Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul, Jamal Crawford, and Isaiah Thomas were among the NBA stars to like Iverson’s post.
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Bryant was the 13th pick in the 1996 NBA Draft out of high school, and he helped the Lakers win three titles in his first six seasons.
“Once upon a time…”#20HoopClass inductee, Kobe Bryant. pic.twitter.com/WbzQdgD2Sv
— NBA (@NBA) April 5, 2020
Bryant then went on to win two more titles with the Lakers over his final 14 seasons.
His career averages were 25.0 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 1.4 steals per contest while shooting 44.7% from the field and 32.9% from three-point range in 1,346 games.
Today marks six years since the world lost Kobe & Gigi Bryant, and their impact on the world is still felt 💜💛 pic.twitter.com/isCyDRBTqd
— REVOLT (@revolttv) January 26, 2026
As for Iverson, the former Georgetown star played 14 seasons for the Philadelphia 76ers, Denver Nuggets, Memphis Grizzlies, and Detroit Pistons.
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His career averages were 26.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, 6.2 assists, and 2.2 steals per contest while shooting 42.5% from the field and 31.3% from three-point range in 914 games.
Via @kobehighlight: “When Allen Iverson showed up at Kobe Bryant’s jerseys retirement, in a shirt of Kobe with the championship trophy he won versus the 76ers.”
Iverson won the 2001 NBA MVP Award.
Meanwhile, Bryant was named the league’s MVP during the 2008 season.
This isn’t the first time that Iverson has penned a tribute to Bryant, as he wrote a lengthy letter to Kobe for The Players’ Tribune shortly after the Lakers legend’s death in 2020.
“Nobody was tougher than you. Nobody got more out of me. We’re linked forever in this game, in this life,” Iverson wrote. “I just wish we’d had more time… We’re still gonna cry sometimes when we remember that you’re really gone. But we [are] gonna smile like a motherf***er when we think of the memories.”
