Caleb Wilson was the last one among the top-four picks in the NBA draft to make his summer league debut, and boy, oh, boy was it worth the wait.

The No. 4 overall pick in the 2026 NBA draft lit up the Las Vegas Strip with a 35-point performance against the Memphis Grizzlies. The Chicago Bulls’ 20-year-old budding superstar followed up his sensational debut with 19 points, eight rebounds, and five blocked shots against the Utah Jazz, and another 19-point, eight-rebound outing against the Washington Wizards. He capped off his Vegas one-man show with 21 points and eight rebounds against the L.A. Lakers.

Wilson was named to the all-summer league first team, along with fellow rookies Cameron Boozer (Memphis Grizzlies), Brayden Burries (Milwaukee Bucks), Maleek Thomas (Cleveland Cavaliers), and Yaxel Lindeborg (Golden State Warriors).

The Bulls fanbase hasn’t felt this good since Derrick Rose’s MVP season in 2011. Many of them came out to Thomas & Mack Arena to watch Wilson, and they certainly liked what they witnessed.

The uber-athletic 6-10 forward averaged 23.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1.3 steals, and 2.5 blocks. He shot 50% from the field, including a stunning 41.9% from behind the 3-point line. The 3-ball was supposed to be Wilson’s Achilles’ heel. He clearly worked on his long-range shooting in the months leading up to the summer season. He worked with renowned shooting coach Chris “Lethal Shooter” Matthews, and the extra reps definitely paid off.

About the only thing that went wrong for Wilson was his free throws. He would have had a higher scoring average if he made more free throws. But that was the only blemish in an otherwise impressive summer league for the former North Carolina Tar Heel.

Individual scoring stats were a bit inflated because of the new summer league rules in which one free throw was worth two points, and if a player were fouled behind the 3-point line, one free throw would be worth three points. The new free-throw rule — which was enforced until the last two minutes of a game — was adopted to speed up the game and improve game flow.

Wilson has drawn comparisons to NBA Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett for his two-way ability and defensive intensity. But the more we see Wilson’s game, from the way he handles the ball to get to his spots and the way he shoots his picture-perfect jumper, he reminds us of Kobe Bryant. Caleb is the latest in the long list of ballers who subscribe to the Mamba Mentality.

“We have some similarities, but I feel like we’re much different players,” Wilson said about the KG comparison. “Kevin Garnett’s a Hall of Famer. I don’t want to be compared to a Hall of Famer because that messes up my expectations.”

Unlike the Big Ticket, who relied heavily on post-ups and face-up mid-post moves, Wilson operates more like a big perimeter wing. Just like Kobe, Wilson has a tight handle. Just like Kobe, Wilson creates most of his shots off the bounce. More than anything, Wilson plays with an edge. Just like Kobe.

Check out this move by Wilson against the Grizzlies. Watch how he navigates around defenders to get to his spot for a 3-ball to beat the buzzer. He walks off the court dejected despite hitting a spectacular shot. The fact that he wears No. 8 seals it.

Future Hall of Famer and current Golden State Warrior Draymond Green thinks KG is Wilson’s baseline instead of his ceiling.

“Caleb Wilson is so good, and I think he’s still clumsy,” Green said on his podcast “The Draymond Green Show.”

“I think he’s so clumsy that he can’t really walk and chew gum at the same time. And yet, he’s already that good right now,” Green continued. “So, if that guy is still clumsy and he’s that good right now, man, what happens if he continues to grow into his body and he ain’t clumsy no more?

“I actually think Kevin Garnett could be his floor. That’s how special I think Caleb Wilson is,” Green concluded.

While top picks AJ Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson shut it down after two games in Vegas, Wilson pulled a Kobe-esque move by running through the tape while some of his peers were making a rest stop.

“I wanted to win a game before I stop,” Wilson said to reporters after the Bulls’ victory over the Dybantsa-less Wizards. “I don’t get to play again until October, probably, or whenever the season starts. I’m just trying to learn as much as I can, and there’s no better place to do that than Summer League.”

When asked about Peterson and Dybantsa skipping a showdown with him and the Bulls, Wilson said that he’s “different from all of them.’’

“I can’t say they don’t enjoy basketball, but I enjoy basketball,’’ he said. ‘‘I love this [expletive]. I’m going to play as much as I can, as much as my team will let me. I’m not the type to go away from a game because I don’t feel good because I know in the NBA, I’m not going to feel good some games. As long as I don’t have an injury or something wrong with me, I’m gonna play every time. People come from all over the world to see me play, so I don’t want to let them down.”

The Bulls have been searching for someone worthy of wearing Jordan’s sneakers. He wore Jordan Brand in college. Now he’ll be playing his home games at the house Jordan built.

Winning is what Cam does best

Cameron Boozer was the most consistent player throughout the summer. He was rock solid at the Salt Lake City Summer League, and he was outstanding at the Las Vegas Summer League. He made impactful plays. He did what was required for his team to succeed. That’s always been his best asset. He finds a way to win. He won at the high school level. He won a gold medal as a member of Team USA at the FIBA U17. He won at the AAU level. He led Duke to the Elite Eight.

Now, as a pro, he led the Memphis Grizzlies to the championship game of the Las Vegas Summer League. The Grizzlies ran their offense through Boozer in the fourth quarter. And Boozer got better as the stakes got higher.

Boozer recorded 19 points (7-for-17 from the field, 3-for-7 on threes), eight rebounds, four assists and two steals in 35 minutes during the Vegas Summer League championship game loss to the Golden State Warriors. Boozer appeared in all six games for the Grizzlies. He made the Vegas Summer League first team, averaging nearly a double-double (18.5 points, 8.0 rebounds) and had a top-five rating.

“He’s special, man,” Cedric Coward said of his Grizzlies teammate. “I mean, there are no other words I can use to describe it. Like I told people before, I can’t believe he’s 18, but he’s a special, special player.”

Boozer turned 19 on July 18, one night before the Vegas Summer League championship game.

Mixed reviews on point guards

If there was a rookie point guard who benefited most from the Las Vegas showcase, it was Mikel Brown Jr. The Brooklyn Nets first-round pick answered questions about his health as the back injury that shortened his lone season at the University of Louisville seemed to be a thing of the past. Brown Jr. was effective on both ends of the floor in the three games he played. Despite shooting just 39% from the field (33% on threes), there was nothing wrong mechanically with MBJ’s shooting stroke. In fact, he had one of the sweetest strokes among all the guards despite the poor shooting percentage. He has Damian Lillard-type range. He has great positional size (he’s listed at 6-5). He plays with a boatload of confidence.

Brown Jr. had a high-profile showdown with fellow lottery pick Darius Acuff Jr. Some thought Brown (No. 6 pick) won the head-to-head matchup with Sacramento’s Acuff (No. 7 pick), but in reality it was a stalemate. Both players had their moments.

Before coming to Vegas, Acuff played in the California Classic in front of Kings fans. The former Arkansas Razorback looked like he had heavy legs. Fatigue may have a lot to do with his poor shooting percentages. He shot a dreadful 26% from behind the 3-point arc and 36% from the field in three games.

Brayden Burries, the Bucks’ first-round pick and 10th overall selection, lived up to expectations. The 6-4 guard played with poise and first-class pace. They were the same attributes he displayed in his one season at Arizona. He averaged 23.5 points per game, which was second-best at the Vegas summer league based on a minimum of four games.

Keaton Wagler and Kingston Flemings may have made some L.A. Clippers and Atlanta Hawks fans a bit nervous. Wagler, the No. 5 pick overall, put up decent scoring stats (18 points per game) in four games for the Clippers, but he seemed overwhelmed by the physicality. He’ll need to add more muscle to his thin frame. He also struggled bringing up the ball as the lead guard. He may have to play more off the ball next to natural point guard Darius Garland.

Flemings averaged just 7.0 points in two games and shot 33% from the field. The struggles that Flemings dealt with during March Madness resurfaced in summer league. The eighth overall pick needs to pick up the pace because he’ll be counted on to fill the Hawks’ starting point guard spot after the departure of Trae Young. Flemings did play for Kelvin Sampson at the University of Houston. So far, Houston Cougars guards have done well at the pro level.

These 3 rookies exceeded expectations

Cameron Carr — The former Baylor Bear looks like a first-round steal for the Lakers after an impressive summer. He looked comfortable playing on the ball as well as off the ball. He does need to add more weight to his 175-pound frame, but the high-end athleticism and pro-ready skills are evident. Carr is a natural scorer, with a smooth mid-range jumper. The 24th selection in the 2026 NBA draft flashed the type of 3-point shooting that could earn him a spot in JJ Redick’s regular rotation. His perimeter shooting and athleticism are exactly what the Lakers need to help create space for Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. Carr averaged 18 points per game in Vegas, helping the Lakers win four of their first five games and earn a spot in the semifinals. The Lakers have whiffed on their last couple of first-round picks (Dalton Knecht in 2024 and Jalen Hood-Schifino in 2023), but Carr appears to be a home run. He’ll be a useful 3-and-D chess piece that Redick can use at his disposal.

Koa Peat—Peat has a frame NFL scouts love. He’s a 6-7, 235 physical specimen with solid footwork. Koa possesses a combination of size and strength that allows him to move defenders. His father, Todd Peat, played nine seasons in the NFL while his older brother, offensive lineman Andrus Peat, played for the New Orleans Saints and Pittsburgh Steelers. Koa was bigger than the average high school player, so he often overpowered opponents. His bully ball approach worked in high school and college, but some scouts didn’t think he’d be able to do it at the pro level. So far, Koa is proving some of the naysayers wrong, showing exceptional mobility for a 235-pound forward, and he moves a lot quicker than he looks. He’ll need to improve his face-up jumper and develop a perimeter shot beyond 15 feet, so he won’t feel the need to put his head down all the time.

Labaron Philon Jr. — Six years ago, the Philadelphia 76ers hit the jackpot when they selected Tyrese Maxey with the 21st overall selection. It turned out to be one of the best late-round picks. Maxey has turned into an All-NBA performer, and the Sixers have rewarded him with a $204 million max contract. Fast forward to this year, the Sixers may have found another late first-round gem in Philon Jr. The 6-4 guard from Alabama played with a chip on his shoulder and took every matchup personally. He showed up and showed out to let all the teams that passed on him know what they were missing.

Joel Huerto is editor and publisher of OneManFastBreak.net. He hosts a sports podcast on YouTube @onemanfastbreak1.

Kobe Bryant pounds his chest after the last game of his NBA career. (AP)

Remember when Kobe Bean Bryant announced he was entering the 1996 NBA draft straight out of high school? He had his shades flipped above his forehead, looking sharp in his tailored suit. Let’s be honest. He looked like a cocky teenager who feared nothing and no one.

Many thought Kobe would fall flat on his face and be humbled by the ultra-competitive world of the NBA. What those critics didn’t realize was that Kobe ended up having the last laugh.

For 20 years, the Black Mamba humbled the league.

We’re paying tribute to the Los Angeles Lakers legend, who was tragically killed in a helicopter crash on Jan. 26, 2020, by revisiting some of the greatest moments in his basketball odyssey as we celebrate his induction into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass. In honor of his first number as a pro, OneManFastBreak highlighted eight of Kobe’s greatest moments.

8. Clutch 3-pointers vs. Blazers in 2004

Kobe Bryant loved coming through in the clutch. He was arguably the greatest clutch shooter in NBA history — or at least in the conversation. Back in the 2004 regular-season finale in Portland, he delivered two of the most incredible clutch shots you’ll ever see. The first one sent the game into overtime when he found enough daylight to get an off-balance 3-pointer over self-proclaimed “Kobe Stopper” Ruben Patterson. Then with one second left in the second OT, he took a pass from Gary Payton at the left wing well behind the 3-point arc, turned and fired over the long arms of Theo Ratliff, and swished it at the buzzer while falling down. The shot gave the Lakers a 105-104 win and the Pacific Division title.

7. Game-winners vs. Suns in 2000 and 2006 playoffs

Speaking of clutch, Kobe did it twice against the Phoenix Suns in the postseason. The first notable one came in Game 2 of the 2000 Western Conference semifinals. With the Lakers down 96-95 and game clock winding down, Bryant drained a midrange jumper from the left side of the free throw line over Jason Kidd with 2.6 seconds left, jogged back to the Lakers bench cupping his ear. The second dagger against the Suns came in Game 4 of the West playoffs in 2006. The Lakers ended up losing the first-round series but Kobe gave us two memorable plays in the series. He sent the game into overtime with a ridiculous circus shot under the basket. With under five seconds left in OT, he picked up the ball at midcourt after a jump ball. Took five dribbles to get to his favorite spot on the right wing and buried the game-winner over nemesis Raja Bell and Boris Diaw with no time left.

6. 62 points in three quarters vs. Mavericks, 2005

One month before Kobe’s historic 81, he exploded for 62 points in three quarters against the Dallas Mavericks. In those same three quarters the entire Mavericks team scored just 61 points. Because the Lakers blew out the Mavs, 112-90, Kobe never touched the floor in the fourth quarter. Phil Jackson asked Kobe if he wanted to go back in the game to try to increase his point total, thinking that he may not be able to duplicate the feat. Kobe’s answer: I can do it again. He was right.

5. 45 points vs. Spurs in 2001 conference finals

The Spurs had home-court advantage entering the 2001 Western Conference finals. The Spurs had Tim Duncan and David Robinson to matchup against Shaquille O’Neal. However, they didn’t have anyone who could matchup against Kobe. Kobe put his imprint on the series right from the start, setting the tone in Game 1 by dropping 45 points on 19-of-35 shots in a Lakers road win at the Alamodome where San Antonio is nearly unbeatable. After the game, Shaq proclaimed Kobe “the best player in the league by far.” L.A. ended up sweeping the Spurs in dominating fashion, finished the postseason 15-1 and secured a second straight NBA title.

4. 8 points in OT vs. Pacers in 2000 NBA Finals

“How good is this kid?” That was the line from play-by-play announcer Bob Costas after a 21-year-old Kobe stared down Reggie Miller and dropped a cold-blooded jumper from the top of the key. As he headed toward the Lakers bench, after Shaquille O’Neal fouled out, the cameras caught Bryant pushing both hands down as if to say “I got this.” Moments later, Bryant sealed the game with a reverse put-back off a Brian Shaw miss. It was the official coming-out-party for Bryant as he led the L.A. Lakers to a crucial road victory in Game 4 of the NBA Finals against the Indiana Pacers. The main headline in the Los Angeles Times sports section read “Eight is enough.” The Lakers would eventually win the series in six games to break the franchise’s 12-year championship drought.

3. Alley-oop to Shaq vs. Blazers in 2000 conference finals

The careers of Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal are connected at the hip. Their off-the-court problems were well chronicled. But on the court, Kobe and Shaq were very much in sync. The play that defined their partnership and launched the Lakers dynasty in the 2000s was the alley-oop that capped off the epic comeback against the Portland Trail Blazers in Game 7 of the Western Conference finals. Late in the fourth with the Lakers clinging to a four-point lead with under one minute remaining, Kobe was hounded by all-time great defender Scottie Pippen in the middle of the floor. Kobe gave him a subtle wiggle going to his right, which made Pippen bite hard. Once he got Pippen to commit, Kobe crossed him over and attacked the middle of the defense. When two Blazers collapsed on him, Kobe floated a high lob toward the basket that only Shaq could reach. Shaq seemingly elevated like Superman, caught the ball with his right hand and threw it down with so much force it may have triggered a small earthquake in L.A. Fans at the brand new Staples Center erupted as they sensed something special just happened. The Kobe-to-Shaq alley-oop sent the Lakers back to the NBA Finals after a nine-year absence.

2. 81 points vs. Raptors, 2006

I was working in the L.A. Times newsroom when I witnessed one of the most amazing things I’ve ever since in my lifetime. Through most of the day on Jan. 22, 2006, the big news was about the NFL playoffs. When the Lakers-Raptors game finally got done, Kobe moved our NFL coverage below the fold. The box score read: Kobe Bryant, 46 field goal attempts, 28 field goals made, 7-for-13 from 3-point range, 18-for-20 from the free throw line, six rebounds, two assists, one block, three steals, and 81 points. Let me repeat that last line. Eighty-one points! He scored 81 of the Lakers’ 122 points. It was the second-most points scored in an NBA game. Only Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point game in 1962 tops it. But Wilt was a 7-footer playing in a era with fewer big men who could keep him out of the low block. Kobe did most of his damage from the perimeter against better athletes. And besides. We don’t have footage of Wilt’s 100-point game. We have video evidence of Kobe Bryant’s 81-point game versus the Toronto Raptors at Staples Center. We all saw it.

1. 60 points vs. Jazz in final game, 2016

Many of you would have guessed Kobe’s 81 points against Toronto would be No. 1 on this list. It would have been had the Black Mamba not pulled off the greatest drop-the-mic moment on April 13, 2016. Bryant wrapped up his 20 NBA seasons — all with the Lakers — with one last offensive showcase, scoring 60 points in leading a terrible Lakers squad to a 101-96 victory over the Utah Jazz. The game capsulized Kobe’s dynamic career. It was messy. It was ridiculous. It was magical.

Bryant played 42 minutes and took a career-high 50 shots. He was completely exhausted. Longtime Lakers TV analyst Stu Lantz pointed out that Kobe, at age 37, was so tired he could barely pick up his feet. His teammates kept setting him up for shots on nearly every possession. It was quite a remarkable scene if you know Bryant’s history with his teammates. For years and years, Kobe’s teammates have complained about his penchant for not passing the ball. On the final night of his Hall of Fame basketball career, every Laker on the court was encouraging him to shoot the ball. And he did. The Lakers started clawing their way back from a 10-point deficit with three minutes left in the fourth quarter as Kobe went on an 11-0 run to cut the lead to 96-95. He scored 23 points in the fourth quarter, including the game-winning pull-up midrange jumper from his favorite spot just above the free-throw line to make it 97-96. He extended the lead to three after two free throws to give him 60 points for the night. He exited the game with 4.1 seconds left to a rousing ovation, with chants of “Kobe! Kobe! Kobe!” ringing across Staples Center. “What else can I say?” Bryant asked fans after the game before ending with, “Mamba out!” A true Hollywood ending.

Joel Huerto is the editor and publisher of OneManFastbreak.net. Follow him on Twitter @onemanfastbreak.

Parents should be our role models without a doubt. Our superheroes, on the other hand, could be fictional comic book characters or Hollywood-inspired saviors.

Kobe Bean Bryant was a hero to many people.

He had the ability to bring people together with his incredible skills and unrelenting drive. He brought so much joy in our lives with the way he competed in the athletic arena. Was he flawed? Of course he was. That’s what made him so uniquely qualified to be a hero. All heroes have flaws. But Kobe was more than just a hero. He was a massive star. A supernova. He exploded onto the scene illuminating the entire basketball world before burning out and fading away.

Kobe’s resume reads like a Marvel Cinematic Universe script: Five-time NBA champion, two-time Finals MVP, 2008 MVP, 18-time All-Star, 11-time first-team All-NBA, two-time scoring champ, Olympic gold medalist in 2008 and 2012. His basketball legacy lives on through several Southern California-bred ballers. You see Kobe in James Harden’s footwork, Russell Westbrook’s determination, Paul George’s defense, DeMar DeRozan’s fadeaway jumper and Kawhi Leonard’s midrange pull-up. They all grew up watching Kobe. Kyrie Irving wasn’t from L.A., but he patterned his game after Kobe. Kyrie’s creativity around the basket is an homage to the man known as The Black Mamba.

On the morning of Jan. 26, 2020, Kobe Bryant and eight other people, including his 13-year-old daughter Gianna, were killed in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, Calif. They were on their way to the Mamba Sports Academy in Newbury Park for Gigi’s basketball game. TMZ, as it almost always does on terrible tragedies, broke the news to the world that Kobe Bryant, 41, died in a helicopter crash. Other media outlets later confirmed the grim news. The initial reaction was shock followed by extreme sadness and grief.

I got a text message from a friend, telling me Kobe died in a crash. I immediately turned on the TV and saw images of the crash. My first thought was “I wonder if Gigi was with him” because I had a feeling they were either coming back from an AAU game or heading to it. It turned out to be true, which made the whole thing even more tragic. I have two boys: Jorel, 19, and Miles, 16. Miles competed in the same Mamba Sports Academy for an AAU basketball tournament back in 2018. A parent’s worst nightmare is losing a child. The Kobe crash hit close to home.

My wife wondered why I wasn’t posting a lot of Kobe tributes on Facebook. My response was I didn’t need to. I have a walking, talking, breathing and living tribute in my youngest son. Miles Bryant Huerto has Kobe’s Mamba Mentality and he will continue his legacy.

Kobe’s death was felt all throughout Los Angeles like an aftershock. Random people began showing up near Staples Center to pay their respects to the man who created so many great memories in that building. The Grammy Awards were being held on the same night, but Kobe’s death definitely overshadowed music’s biggest night. Only a supernova could trump a historic night at the Grammys where 18-year-old Billie Eilish became the youngest winner of Album of the Year and swept all the major awards.

The Grammys wasn’t the only event Kobe preempted. NBA games were also affected. The Jan. 28 game between the Lakers and Clippers was postponed out of respect to the Lakers organization. Former and current NBA players were visibly shaken when they found out he’s gone. Doc Rivers was overcome with emotion during his press conference. LeBron James was seen wiping away tears at the airport. Carmelo Anthony said he had trouble staying focused. Dwyane Wade posted a tearful message on Instagram. Tracy McGrady stopped several times to wipe away tears as he talked about Kobe on ESPN’s “The Jump.”

The Toronto Raptors and San Antonio Spurs each took a 24-second violation to honor Kobe. He wore 8 and 24 with the Lakers. Other teams followed. Trae Young, the rising young star of the Atlanta Hawks, wore a Kobe’s No. 8 to start the game. In that same game, Young and Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker each took 24 shots.

Shaquille O’Neal posted messages on social media on the day of the crash. But the world didn’t really see how he was truly feeling until he made his first appearance publicly on the “NBA on TNT” show where he could barely hold it together reflecting on his complicated relationship with Kobe. We’ve never seen Big Fella hurt like this. Tears coming down his eyes as he talked about the pain he’s feeling while dealing with the loss of his former Lakers teammate.

“I haven’t felt a pain that sharp in a while.. it definitely changes me.”’@SHAQ on the loss of his brother, Kobe. pic.twitter.com/dM5i0DDgGK

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) January 29, 2020

Shaq said he considered Bryant as family. Called him his “little brother.” Sure, they had their petty squabbles but at the end of the day they respected each other and cared about each other. Shaq and Kobe will forever be connected at the hip for winning three straight NBA titles with the Lakers. They will go down in history as one of the greatest “1-2 punches” in NBA history. Just ask Shaq.

Shaq said Kobe embraced his kids like they were his. He did the same for Kobe’s daughters.

I personally didn’t know Kobe. I did get a chance to cover one of his games as a member of the working media back in 1998 when the Lakers played Michael Jordan’s Bulls at The Forum in Inglewood. The Lakers won the game. Afterwards, I went to the Lakers locker room for postgame interviews. I remember standing next to Kobe, who was sitting in his stool. He was only 19 years and still had an afro. He talked about the game and how much it meant to him to beat his idol Jordan. It was a short interview. I don’t even remember getting a chance to ask him a specific question. That was the closest I got to him.

I was in attendance when he made his NBA summer league debut in 1996 at the Long Beach Pyramid. He didn’t shoot the ball particularly well that night but the place was absolutely electric. He gave a glimpse of his immense talents. I watched Kobe’s last game in 2016 from the comforts of my living room. Both my sons was watching with me. We were all cheering him on as he got to 40 points, then 50 points, and finally 60 points.

It was the most incredible individual performance I have even seen from a pro basketball player. It took him 50 shots, but didn’t matter. Nor it should. Kobe took us for a ride that mirrored his entire career. Before he burned himself out, he exploded for 60 points in the final game of his 20-year NBA career. It was great theater. An Oscar-worthy performance.

Joel Huerto is the editor and publisher of OneManFastBreak.net and a lifelong L.A. Lakers fan.

Kobe Bryant played his last NBA game on April 13, 2016. It was the conclusion of a 20-year career — all with the Los Angeles Lakers — that included five championships, two Finals MVPs, two Olympic gold medals, 18 All-Star Game appearances, and one 81-point game.

The Black Mamba may have said goodbye to basketball, but he will always live in our consciousness. He’s certainly part of my family forever.

Yahoo Sports did a piece on the more than 14,o00 boys who were named after Kobe since he came into the Association in 1996 as an 18-year-old phenom out of Lower Marion High School (Pa.). Those namesakes are as much a part of Bryant’s legacy as his accomplishments on the basketball court.

I’m one of those parents who gave Kobe the highest compliment by naming my youngest son after him.

Miles Bryant Huerto was born days after Kobe tied Michael Jordan’s record of nine consecutive games with 40 points or more in the month of February in 2003. For me, it was an easy choice when my wife and I were compiling a list of names for our newborn. Our eldest, Jorel, was named after Superman’s father. I knew my wife wouldn’t go for another superhero name like Bruce Wayne or Tony Stark, so I had to be a little creative. That’s when I brought up Kobe’s last name as the middle name for our Miles.

Miles is now 13 years old. Of course, he plays basketball. He also plays football, soccer and runs track. But basketball is his favorite sport. He is the point guard on his middle school team. His game definitely has a little Kobe flavor. He’s also a product of the Steph Curry generation in which the 3-point shot is the weapon of choice instead of the kiss-the-rim dunk or the fadeaway, pull-up jumper from the foul line that made Kobe and Jordan great.

Miles may not have Kobe’s height but he did get some of the Black Mamba’s traits. My son is an intense competitor who rarely backs down from a challenge. He is fearless when he drives to the basket, and is not afraid of contact. And he loves taking the last shot.

Miles already has a game-winning shot at the buzzer to his resume. He did it against YMCA competition two years ago, and I have the YouTube video to prove it.

He had an opportunity for another game-winner earlier this year when his La Crescenta Holy Redeemer squad visited Los Angeles Divine Saviour in a CYO game.

I had a front-row seat to that game as the Holy Redeemer coach.

Miles was Kobe-esque. He scored 34 of his team’s 48 points and brought his team back from a 14-point deficit in the second half. Miles tied the game at 48 with two clutch free throws with under a minute remaining. Divine Saviour took a 50-48 lead when some kid threw up a prayer from near the top of the circle and swished it. I called timeout with 3 seconds left. I drew up a play to get the ball to Miles so he could have a chance at a halfcourt heave. The kids executed it to near perfection. Miles got the ball in the backcourt on the run while dribbling to his right. When he got to about the midcourt line he launched a running one-hander that looked good from my vantage point. The ball hit the top of the backboard and bounced over. Game over. We lost by two points.

Moments after the game I looked at Miles and he looked dejected. He didn’t care too much that he scored 34 points. He lost sight of the fact that he almost single-handedly brought us to that point. It didn’t matter that he just played an insane ballgame. He missed the shot that could have won the game. Winning was all that mattered to him. That’s my “Kobe Bryant.”

There are a lot of athletes that I admire. But I only have one favorite athlete. My son. Miles Bryant Huerto.

Joel Huerto is the editor and publisher of OneManFastBreak.net. Follow him on Twitter @onemanfastbreak.