From NBA 2K to the Court: How Kobe Bryant Became EJ Castillo’s Idol
While many young basketball players today look up to stars of the current generation, EJ Castillo draws inspiration from a legend whose influence extends far beyond his playing days: Kobe Bryant.
From his playing style to his jersey number, the EAC Generals guard has found ways to emulate the five-time NBA champion. But his admiration for Bryant did not begin with watching games or studying highlights. It started with a video game.
Castillo recalled how his father used to download NBA 2K on their computer, where Michael Jordan was nearly impossible to stop. He and his brother would play as Jordan, eventually leading Castillo to discover another player he would come to idolize.
“Yung Papa ko, dina-downloadan niya kami dati ng NBA 2K sa computer. Si Michael Jordan, hindi siya mapigilan doon. Kaya siya yung nilalaro ko lagi. Tapos hanggang sa ginagaya na namin siya ng kapatid ko, tapos naging idol ko na rin si Kobe,” Castillo told ALL-STAR..
As he grew older, his admiration for Bryant went beyond the moves he saw on the court. Castillo made it a point to watch not only highlights but also full games, paying attention to how Bryant responded when things did not go his way.
“Si Kobe Bryant, idol ko siya. Simula bata ako, pinapanood ko yung games niya. Hindi lang highlights, full games para nakikita ko rin kung anong reaction niya kapag sumasablay siya,” Castillo said.
“Tinitingnan ko body language niya pag sablay, tapos kung ano next na gagawin niya—kung titira pa rin ba siya. Inaaral ko rin confidence niya sa court,” he added.
That attention to Bryant’s mentality reflects another side of his admiration. For Castillo, there was more to learn from the Lakers legend than how he scored or moved on the court. He also wanted to understand how Bryant handled mistakes and responded to difficult moments.
The influence also showed in Castillo’s choice of jersey numbers. During his rookie season in college, he wore No. 8, one of the two numbers Bryant used throughout his NBA career. By his second year, Castillo switched to No. 24, the other number associated with his idol.
“Last season sa college, rookie year, number 8 ako. Tapos nung second year ko, nagpalit ako ng number 24 kasi idol ko si Kobe,” Castillo said.
Among Castillo’s favorite memories of Bryant is watching him dominate the Sacramento Kings during his No. 8 era, when he still sported an afro.
“Yung number 8 pa siya, afro pa yung buhok niya. Kapag kalaba nila yung Kings, dinurog niya lahat doon, hindi siya mabantayan,” Castillo recalled.
Now a sneaker free agent after previously being an Under Armour athlete, Castillo remains open to whatever opportunity comes next. Rather than naming a preferred brand, he leaves the decision to what he believes God has planned for him.
“Kahit ano po, basta kung anong plano ni Lord, kung anong dumating,” he said.
From a childhood spent playing NBA 2K to carrying Bryant’s numbers onto the collegiate court, Castillo’s admiration for the Lakers great has grown into something deeper than imitation. It is an influence that continues to shape how he approaches the game and the player he hopes to become.
