Kobe Bryant Comments on Comparisons to Kyrie Irving Amid Cavaliers Trade Rumors

Kobe Bryant seemed to scoff at the idea that he might be influencing Kyrie Irving amid reports that Irving has demanded a trade away from the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The former NBA star tweeted:

The links between Irving and Bryant haven't come out of thin air, however, as Bryant has clearly been a role model for the Cavs star.

For instance, Irving said the following upon learning Bryant would retire following the 2015-16 season, per Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com:

"I texted him, I was like, 'Man, you've allowed me to grow in my own space but having guys like you that I can idolize and look up to, I'm going to take your legacy, or try to take your legacy even further and be on the same greatness wavelength as you.' That's something we all strive to do. Whether it happens or not, who knows? But for me, idolizing somebody like that, Kobe and [LeBron James], guys that I've been watching for a long time, when Kobe leaves the game, the game will never be the same."

"Every time we played since I was a rookie, I was just trying to earn his respect," Irving added at the time. "Guys that have come before me, I never forget their groundwork. Even guys that have come before Kobe, that allowed him to leave a legacy on this game that will last forever."

And Bryant, 38, once demanded a trade himself.

In 2007, Bryant publicly said he wanted to be traded from the Los Angeles Lakers and later acknowledged he wanted to be dealt to the Chicago Bulls.

So Irving may be taking a page from Bryant's book. Ultimately, however, Bryant wasn't traded by the Lakers and would go on to win two more titles with the team.

That may not be the outcome in Cleveland, however.

On Thursday, Zach Lowe of ESPN.com reported, "The Cavaliers are projecting confidence they can snare a king's ransom for Kyrie Irving, and more than that, they are acting—for now—as if a trade is almost inevitable, and that there is little chance of salvaging their relationship with him, according to several sources familiar with the situation."

Bryant spent his entire career with the Lakers. It's becoming less likely by the day that Irving does the same with the Cavs.