Gary Payton had a special bond with Kobe even before he joined the Lak

Kobe Bryant - Wikipedia

Kobe Bryant fondly recalled in Las Vegas, Basketball

Lakers' triangle of Kobe, Shaq and Phil came together on the court, if nowhere else – Orange County Register

Gary Payton describes bonding with Kobe Bryant: “Kobe didn't have a fear of nothing to ask nobody to get better

LeBron James Would Join Warriors Over Other Playoff Teams - Inside the Warriors

Gary Payton Molded Kobe Bryant Into an Absolute Force on Defense

When Pat Riley put Tim Hardaway in his place: You just mad cause I took your raggedy-a*s out the game, Basketball Network

Shaq–Kobe feud - Wikipedia

Payton heats up

Kobe Bryant: What It Means to Me to Pass Michael Jordan on NBA's Scoring List, News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors

Kobe Bryant, the most polarizing figure in the history of L.A. sports, was always true to himself - Los Angeles Times

They just didn't have the same relationship we had with Shaq and Kobe” - Robert Horry reveals why Gary Payton and Karl Malone didn't work out for the Lakers, Basketball Network