"It's only right" - Paul George on naming his dog after Kobe Bryant

Yahoo

28-05-2025

Some choices are especially meaningful, especially when they involve the people — or even pets — closest to us. That's true whether you're naming a child or, like Paul George, picking a name for a new family dog.
Back in 2016, when the Indiana Pacers star welcomed a pit bull into his home, he faced the important decision of what to name his new companion. Reflecting on someone who had inspired him deeply, George ultimately chose to honor basketball legend Kobe Bryant by naming the dog after him.
A pit bull called "Kobe"
During the NBA offseason, George took to social media to share the story behind naming his newly adopted pit bull.
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"Out of respect of the Mamba it's only right to name him KOBE!" he wrote alongside a video capturing the playful pup interacting with his young daughter. The post was accompanied by the hashtag #legend.
"PG-13" also gave a shoutout to his "buddies" at @bullybeachouse for the "amazing" pit bull, noting how quickly the dog had become part of the family — something, he said, was clear from the joyful energy in the clip. The 6'8" swingman added that his other dog, King, was already eager to meet the newest addition to the household.
Longtime followers of Paul's social media might remember King from a post back in 2014, when the then-Pacers player shared a short clip of them messing around on a basketball court.
In the video, King playfully "challenged" him to a one-on-one matchup, with George captioning it by writing, "When ya mans want that one on one" — followed by the hashtag #GodSpeed.
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Idolizing the "Black Mamba"
George named his dog a few months after Bryant had retired from the NBA, ending his legendary 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers. That timing was likely no coincidence.
Ultimately, this was just one of several ways "PG-13" paid tribute to his idol. Early in his NBA career, he wore the number 24 jersey, and upon joining the Sixers during the last offseason, he switched to #8 — both numbers made famous by the "Black Mamba."
Growing up in Southern California, Paul saw Kobe as his greatest inspiration.
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"Watching him win championships, I remember being at home just watching the games with my mom, my grandma, and my dad, and just idolizing him", he said in 2015, per Fox Sports.
The 2019 steals leader admired Bryant, who won five championship titles, especially for his relentless drive, often called the "Mamba Mentality."
"It always just came down to like, 'What would Kobe do in this situation? How would Kobe respond? How would Kobe act?'", recalled George, per GQ Magazine.
Their connection went beyond simple admiration. After "PG-13" suffered a serious leg injury in 2014, the "Black Mamba" reportedly reached out to support him.
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"What I learned from him was that you have to be the best teammate, be a student, and really watch the game. When you're out, you have to see it as a chance to learn and grow," the now 35-year-old said.
Related: "My way of idolizing Kobe" - Paul George explains why he chose to wear No. 8 in Philly