“Whenever Novak Djokovic felt down, he would call Kobe Bryant,” Serbian’s friendship with NBA legend detailed in new book

Djokovic has been very vocal in his admiration of Bryant, especially since the NBA legend's tragic death in 2020.

“Whenever Novak Djokovic felt down, he would call Kobe Bryant,” Serbian’s friendship with NBA legend detailed in new book

Novak Djokovic wears 'Mamba Forever' shirt, Kobe Bryant and Novak Djokovic (Images via Imago, People)

Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic shared a great bond with late basketball legend Kobe Bryant. The two athletes got along well and often praised each other openly. Bryant even picked Djokovic as his favorite ahead of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. Meanwhile, the Serbian has paid multiple tributes to his friend since his death.

Last year, Djokovic wore a shirt with ‘Mamba Forever’ written on it after winning his 24th Grand Slam title. While it is known that the two were good friends, a new book has delved deeper into their friendship.

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In his new book titled ‘Searching For Novak – The Man Behind The Enigma’, renowned author Mark Hodgkinson has shed light on Djokovic’s relationship with Bryant. The London-based writer has stated that the former World No. 1 would reach out to the NBA legend whenever he needed a morale boost

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Whenever Djokovic felt down, and as though his spirits needed uplifting, he would call Bryant and he could be sure that the American would bet here for him. While Bryant wouldn’t have known all the intricacies of tennis, he understood the emotional challenges of being an elite athlete, and that was what Djokovic wanted from his friend; to talk on an emotional level.
Mark Hodgkinson writes about Novak Djokovic and Kobe Bryant’s friendship (H/T: Tennis 365)

Hodgkinson further claimed that while Bryant had given advice instantly many times, he would also take time to think about an issue and come back with a well-formed opinion on a few occasions.

Novak Djokovic paid tribute to Kobe Bryant at 2023 US Open

As mentioned earlier, Novak Djokovic never let go of a chance to show his love for Kobe Bryant. He paid tribute to the American at last year’s US Open by sporting the ‘Mamba Forever’ shirt with the number 24 imprinted on its back.

Novak Djokovic and Kobe Bryant
Novak Djokovic and Kobe Bryant (Image via Imago)

Explaining the reasons behind his tribute, the Serbian stated that whenever he was down and out, Bryant was there to help him. He also shared an anecdote about the American helping him in his comeback after surgery.

Him and I were close. He was extremely supportive and very kind and generous to me when I was down and had to undergo a surgery about six years ago, and trying to work my way up, I had a lot of doubts, mental challenges, and he was there for me.
Novak Djokovic said about Kobe Bryant

Bryant died in a helicopter crash on January 26, 2020. The accident, which took place in Calabasas, California, resulted in the death of all nine on board, including Bryant’s daughter Gianna.

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