In a story that perfectly encapsulates Kobe Bryant’s obsessive competitiveness and relentless drive to gain any edge, Spurs legend Tony Parker recently revealed that the late Lakers icon once learned French just to trash talk him during the playoffs.
Appearing on Kai Cenat’s Twitch stream, Parker shared the anecdote while giving a tour of his home and championship memorabilia. As the conversation turned to his battles with Bryant, Parker recalled a moment that left him stunned.
“He started to trash-talk to me in French during the Playoffs,” Parker said. “So he learned the language to trash-talk me in French. Because you know Kobe used to guard me, they put Kobe on me all the time. And he would start talking in French, I was like ‘Wow!’”
When asked what exactly Kobe said, Parker laughed and declined to repeat it.
“Nah! I’m not gonna say it, it’s crazy stuff,” he said, before adding with a smile, “It didn’t work, but mad respect that he learned the language.”
Tony Parker says Kobe Bryant learned french just to talk shit to him during the playoffs
“It didn’t work, but mad respect he learned the language.” pic.twitter.com/yPQmU3Aarl
— Fullcourtpass (@Fullcourtpass) July 1, 2025
The story adds another layer to the legend of Kobe Bryant, whose “Mamba Mentality” extended far beyond the court. Already fluent in Italian and Spanish thanks to his childhood in Europe and his latina wife, Bryant reportedly took just a year to pick up enough French to get under Parker’s skin during their heated playoff matchups.
The Lakers and Spurs were fierce rivals throughout the 2000s, with Bryant and Parker facing off in 22 playoff games. While Parker’s Spurs often had the upper hand in the regular season, Kobe’s Lakers held the edge in the postseason, where Bryant’s intensity reached its peak.
