Kobe Bryant 'Wanted To Die Young,' Tracy McGrady Says

Kobe Bryant had wished to die at a young age, former NBA player Tracy McGrady revealed.

Speaking with Rachel Nichols of ESPN’s “The Jump”, the 40-year-old Hall of Famer recalled an old conversation between him and Bryant and bared that his close friend had desired to depart early.

“This sounds crazy, but Kobe spoke this, he spoke this,” T-Mac said while trying to contain his emotions. “He used to say all the time, ‘I want to die young,’ ” he went on as he failed to hold his tears back.

A young Kobe Bryant had always wanted to be considered the best in his craft according to McGrady. But as a highly-touted talent coming into the league of the big boys, the eventual five-time NBA champion, as T-Mac continued, was clear in his intention to achieve the pinnacle of greatness in a short lifespan.

McGrady quoted Bryant, “ ‘I want to be immortalized and, you know, have my career be better than Michael Jordan and I want to die young.’ ”

“And I just thought he was just so crazy for saying that,” the former Orlando Magic and Houston Rockets star continued.

But knowing Bryant as a kid, Nichols was anything but surprised with McGrady’s revelation, saying that the words by the Lakers great were “totally in line with young Kobe.”

That plan certainly has changed since Bryant became a husband and a father – making it more devastating that his 13-year-old daughter Gianna also died in the same accident.

McGrady said he learned about the unfortunate incident while he was with his daughter and wife at an event. “They came and told me the news and I just couldn’t believe it,” he said. “Just like everybody else. I’m devastated.”

As talents fresh from high school, both players jumped into the pro-league in 1996 where McGrady was chosen as the ninth pick by the Toronto Raptors and Bryant selected by the Charlotte Hornets at 13^th before trading him to the Lakers.