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Lakers legend Kobe Bryant channels Steve Urkel with live poetry

By Alex Butler

April 25 (UPI) -- Future basketball Hall of Famer Kobe Bryant showed off his rhyming skills on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon."

Bryant, who retired following the 2015-16 NBA season, was a guest on the show Monday where he performed slam poetry.

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He performed the live poetry in a dimly lit room while sporting a black turtleneck. His stanzas spoke of Steve Urkel from the 1990s TV show Family Matters. Actor Jaleel White portrayed the nerdy character on the hit ABC and CBS sitcom, which officially debuted in 1989.

"Transformation," Bryant said. "Urkel to Ur-kal. Suspenders to lapels. From nerdy Steve, "got any cheese?" So puny and weak. A metamorphosis from geek to fleek. From caterpillar to butterfly. The cocoon a metal chamber. A rearranger of DNA. From naughty to hottie. Different person, same body. Using science and playing God. He became an Adonis. A charming disarmer with style and confidence. With the pull of a lever like the wave of a wand, he enters a nerd. But now he emerges: Stefan. Ha! He laughs in the face of God. Is it a sin, though. To change who you are, to win the heart of Laura Winslow. Whom he woos, as he coos. Wake me, shake me, break me, but baby don't forsake me. But this transmogrification this Stefanification of Steve. Is but a reprieve..."

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Bryant ends the poem saying Urkel's token: "Did I do that?"

"The Black Mamba" was also interviewed on the show by Sports Illustrated for Kids reporter Max Bonnsetter. He also sang "How Far I'll Go" from the movie Moana.

Bryant, 38, was a five-time NBA champion and 18-time All-Star in 20 seasons for the Lakers. He welcomed his third child in December when wife Vanessa gave birth to daughter Bianka.

Bryant has turned his focus to business during retirement. He unveiled a $100 million venture capital last August. The $100 million fund revolves around investments in technology, media, and data companies. The Los Angeles firm is called "Bryant Stibel." Bryant is also tied financially to The Players' Tribune, LegalZoom and Chinese e-commerce titan Alibaba.

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