"Kobe changed who I am," said Giannis Antitokunbo, a day after Kobe Bryant's tragic death, speaking after the Milwaukee training. John's first reaction after the tragic event was to close all his social media accounts in an attempt to understand what happened.
When asked to give his first reaction in training, he said that he tries to keep private how he feels. "It's something personal. "Everyone is trying to manage this tragedy in their own way," he said, noting that a few years ago he experienced the tragedy, losing his father and did not talk about it. "I send my condolences to his family, Vanessa and his children, who were left behind. All I can do is pray for them. That's all, "he said.
Then last year's NBA MVP said of Cobby that he was great. "They were two different people, the player on the floor and the character off. He was smiling, he had this gift ", he said and added:" You can not say much about it, you just sit down, wonder and realize how important life and family are. I do not know what to say. I try to manage it. I am human".
At Cobby's last game in Milwaukee, he had told Antitokunbo that he would decide how great he wanted to be. Commenting on this, Giannis said: "I remember that conversation we had. Cobby changed who I am. It obviously helped me move forward. I will try to keep that. "
Source: KATHIMERINI