ROSEMOUNT, Minnesota — As news of Kobe Bryant's death spread, a former Minneapolis Lakers player is remembering the time he met Bryant.
Bob Williams of Rosemount played for the Minneapolis Lakers back in the mid-1950s. He made history as the Lakers franchise's first black player on the team.
In 2015, Bob's wife, Marietta Williams, said the Los Angeles Lakers office reached out to them saying they were hoping Bob and Bryant could meet.
It became a reality on December 9, 2015 when the two met before the Wolves-Lakers game. It was Bryant's last season before retiring.
"As he (Bryant) turned the corner and he saw Bob, he outstretched both arms and he hugged Bob and said, 'Mr. Williams, thank you so much for paving the way,'" Marietta recalled.
Bob added, "He just said thanks for starting because there weren't that many... black players in the NBA at that time."
The couple said they were shocked by the news of Bryant's death.
Marietta continues to tell young people what Bryant told them before getting ready for the game.
"He said, 'I tell young people... if the mountain was smooth, you couldn't climb it.' In other words, you're going to go through some tough times to get to the top and if you don't climb that mountain, you're going to stay at the bottom. I tell our young people that everywhere I go. You keep climbing that mountain," Marietta said.
Both Marietta and Bob said they felt an instant connection when they first met Bryant.
"When we first met him it was almost like he was a son, an extended son," Marietta said.
Bryant signed his name over an article about Bob as a Lakers rookie that now sits framed in the couple's home.
Bob said, "I'm blessed to be the one to hear him say, 'Thanks for starting the way for all of us.' Blessed."