“He had that DNA that very few athletes can ever have.”

Doc Rivers on Kobe Bryant. pic.twitter.com/kSS7sjKaI1

— NBA TV (@NBATV) January 26, 2020

Many NBA coaches struggled to find the words on Sunday following the shocking news of Kobe Bryant’s death in a tragic helicopter crash that killed eight other people, including his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna.

But Clippers head coach Doc Rivers did his best ahead of his team’s matchup with the Magic.

“We’re all Lakers today,” Rivers said while holding back tears.

Rivers, who finished his playing career in the NBA the same year Bryant was drafted, faced off against the Lakers legend in some of the biggest moments of his coaching career. The 58-year-old coach faced Bryant and the Lakers in two NBA Finals when Rivers was the head coach of the Celtics, winning the first in 2008 and losing the other in 2010.

“People think because you compete against each other that you don’t have a relationship and you don’t like them,” Rivers said. “I think it’s the exact opposite. Sometimes the more you compete, the more respect you have for the opponent. That’s the way I felt with Kobe.”

Reminiscing about the last time he spoke to Bryant, at a function three to four weeks ago, Rivers said he felt lucky to coach and compete against Bryant. Rivers recalled comparing their memories of the times they faced in the finals, noting how they would laugh at how differently they viewed the games.

“The news is just devastating to everybody who knew him — have known him a long time,” Rivers said. “You know he means a lot to me, obviously. He was such a great opponent. It’s what you want in sports. He had that DNA that very few athletes can ever have — the Tiger Woods, the Michael Jordans. I was getting to know him since he retired. This is a tough one.”