Kobe Bryant responds to Kyrie Irving influence rumors as only Kobe can

Kyrie Irving and LeBron James might be the biggest NBA superstar breakup since Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal. Irving’s request to be shipped off of the Cleveland Cavaliers because he reportedly is over playing with LeBron has dominated the news cycle for days, and rightfully so.

Enter Kobe, who’s been a mentor to Irving. Both men have openly discussed their relationship, with Irving even admitting that he reached out to Bryant to discuss how to handle being the young superstar living in the shadow of an even bigger legend in LeBron James.

Considering Irving’s conclusion this summer was to shut it all down and request a trade, he’s decided it’s time to spread his wings somewhere where they won’t be crowded by the presence of LeBron. That idea didn’t come from Kobe, though, even if it’s a fun to imagine the Black Mamba imparting his Sith knowledge upon Irving as he pulls him to the dark side.

Kobe responded to noise that he influenced Kyrie to ask out of Cleveland as only Kobe can. Behold:

#Mambaout.