LA Lakers retire Kobe’s two jersey numbers
LOSANGELES: Five-time NBA champion Kobe Bryant was hailed as the “greatest” Los Angeles Laker of all Monday by fellow legend Magic Johnson in a ceremony to retire Bryant’s jersey numbers.
The tribute came at halftime of the Lakers’ Staples Center matchup against the defending NBA champion Golden State Warriors, with Bryant’s Numbers 8 and 24 joining other inspirational Laker icons from the team’s 70-year history.
“We’re here to celebrate the greatest to ever wear the purple and gold. He made us rub our eyes and wonder what did we just see,” said Johnson, now Lakers president of basketball operations.
“There will never, ever be another Kobe Bryant.”
Bryant played 10 seasons in each retired number, winning three titles in the single-digit uniform top and two in the higher number jersey.
“Thank you so much for tonight,” Bryant told the crowd, which chanted his name while giving him a standing ovation.
“It’s not about my jerseys that are hanging up there for me. It’s about the jerseys that were hanging up there before.” Many of the team’s past legends were on hand to welcome Bryant, who retired after the 2015-16 campaign as an 18-time All-star, a 2008 NBA Most Valuable Player and two-time NBA Finals MVP, two-time NBA scoring champion and two-time Olympic champion.