“It’s war” - Kobe Bryant’s message to Carmelo Anthony before facing off in the WC Finals

Despite Kobe Bryant ’s fierce competitiveness, he maintained meaningful relationships with many players he had inspired from the next generation, including Carmelo Anthony . However, Bean’s Mamba Mentality means that he never shows mercy to his opponents.

So, before the 2009 Western Conference Finals began, the 18-time All-Star was straightforward with Melo, telling him not to expect anything easy and to set aside their brotherhood once they stepped on the court.

Kobe’s short message to Carmelo

During the 2007-08 season, the Denver Nuggets faced the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of the playoffs and were clean swept 4-0, courtesy of Bryant averaging 33.5 points and 6.3 assists per game in that series. However, the following season saw the Nuggets emerge as one of the best teams in the NBA, boasting a record of 54-28, their best since the 1975-76 season.

Their newfound form and resurgence made Kobe aware that defeating Denver would be a formidable challenge.

During his appearance on ‘All The Smoke’ podcast, Melo recounted the short yet blunt message Kobe gave him before the 2009 WC Finals began.

"We hugged before the game, and he was like, 'It's war,'" Anthony recalled. "I said, 'It's war. Let's get it. It ain't gonna be nothing easy.'"

Melo and Kobe put on a show

Throughout the series, Bryant and Anthony exchanged fierce competition and put on a brilliant display for basketball fans, with the 2008 MVP averaging 34.0 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 5.8 assists and the 10-time All-Star maintaining an average of 27.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per contest in that series.

While some credit the Lakers' ability to finish the series in six games to their fourth-quarter superiority in games 5 and 6, Melo could only gush over the intense trash-talking and aggressive play he encountered while going head-to-head with Bryant throughout that series.

"He always used to tell me, 'I'll guard you in the fourth because they ain't gonna make no calls on me. They ain't gonna call no sh*t on me in the fourth,'" Anthony said. "I was bigger than him, so I used to try to beat him up, be physical with him. He'd come back, elbow me, I'd come back, elbow him. He's laughing. Talking about, 'That's all you got?'"

Bryant's fierce competitiveness was the edge the Purple and Gold needed as they triumphed over the Denver Nuggets in the 2009 Western Conference Finals, ultimately leading them to win the championship that campaign.

Related: Carmelo Anthony agrees with Dwyane Wade that nobody can pass Michael Jordan: "He brought something different to the game of basketball"