Carlson is, however, a huge admirer of Kobe Bryant, so he jumped at the chance to paint a Nike-commissioned mural ...

She wore the 'Bruce Lee' colorway throughout the tournament as the team reached the national championship game, and now has a pair of Kobe 8 Protro in the Venice Beach colorway courtesy of Vanessa.

The mutual respect and admiration that Matt Barnes and the late great Kobe Bryant shared go back ... his right wrist in a pick-up game on Venice Beach before his rookie season.