Rapper, actor, and Big3 founder Ice Cube has long been a vocal fan of the Los Angeles Lakers. Growing up in LA, he witnessed the rise of Lakers legends and developed deep admiration for the franchise’s stars.
Among them, Kobe Bryant held a special place. Ice Cube has repeatedly called Kobe a hero, something rare for someone younger than him.
Kobe Bryant’s legacy in Los Angeles is legendary. Spending his entire 20-year NBA career with the Lakers, Bryant brought home five championships, was an 18-time All-Star, and inspired a generation with his fierce competitiveness.
His influence on and off the court made him a cultural icon in the city. So, when Ice Cube left Kobe off his personal Mount Rushmore of Los Angeles athletes, fans were understandably stunned.
In an interview on the podcast Games With Names, Ice Cube revealed his Mount Rushmore: Magic Johnson (NBA), Marcus Allen (NFL), Wayne Gretzky (NHL), and Fernando Valenzuela (MLB).
While all are undeniably champions and legends in their respective sports, many expected Kobe to represent basketball, especially given Cube’s past statements about the Black Mamba.
Why Magic over Kobe?
Choosing Magic Johnson instead of Kobe wasn’t completely out of character. Magic helped launch the Showtime Lakers era in the 1980s and turned basketball into a central part of LA’s entertainment scene.
His leadership and charisma made him the face of the NBA at the time, and his contributions went far beyond the court.
Still, Ice Cube’s admiration for Kobe is well-documented. He’s said that Kobe had the drive of a genius and praised his mindset, saying that Bryant was one of the few athletes who “wanted to be greater than his talent.”
Cube even recalled reaching out to Kobe on the day of his tragic helicopter crash, hoping for a reply before realizing the gravity of the situation.
It’s clear that Ice Cube’s selections were influenced by more than just personal sentiment. His choices seemed to aim for representation across all four major American sports.
Each athlete he named brought championships to Los Angeles and had a unique cultural impact. That approach may have led to the exclusion of other deserving figures like Kobe.
However, omitting Kobe doesn’t diminish the respect and reverence Cube continues to show for him. Whenever given the chance, Cube still speaks of Bryant with deep admiration. Though not etched into Ice Cube’s Mount Rushmore, Kobe Bryant remains firmly in his heart-and in the story of LA sports greatness.
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