Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist (and Lakers fan) Flea sees a kindred spirit in Kobe Bryant

Michael Balzary remembers seeing the teenage basketball player for the first time at a movie premiere in Los Angeles, red carpet and all.

Balzary had already established himself as Flea, the bass player for the Red Hot Chili Peppers, when he introduced himself to a future one-named wonder of sorts.