Kyrie says Kobe ‘needs to’ be NBA logo
Kyrie Irving doubled down on his stance that Kobe Bryant should replace Jerry West as the NBA’s logo.
“Kobe Bryant. Logo. Yes. Needs to happen. I don’t care what anyone says,” Irving said after the Nets’ 12992 victory over the Orlando Magic on Thursday. “Black kings built the league. That’s exactly what I meant, that’s exactly where I stand.”
Irving’s remarks were a follow-up to a graphic he posted of Bryant photoshopped onto the NBA logo on Instagram on Feb. 24 with the caption: “Gotta Happen, idc what anyone says. BLACK KINGS BUILT THE LEAGUE.”
He further explained his thought process after the Nets’ landslide win, noting he understood the polarity of the idea, but that “as a native Black man, as a native Black king, it is part of my responsibility to continue to push our generation, our culture forward.”
“My thing is paying homage to the example that has been set by that man. Seventeen years old. We are drafting guys that are even younger now,” Irving continued. “Guys that are coming out of different places, and he was the standard for our generation, and he will continue on, and I want that to be something in history that is changed forever, that our generation was part of that change, and if that means that I have to lead that forward and get the conversation going, then great,” Irving continued. “But I think he deserves it. I think his family deserves it. I think we deserve it as seeing greatness personified as Mamba. And anyone that’s coming into the league should know that that’s the example that was set.”
Bryant tragically died with his daughter Gianna and seven others in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, Cal. on Jan. 26, 2020. The moment sparked a ripple effect of depression and sadness across the NBA, entertainment and pop culture community, as well as mounted calls for Kobe to replace West as the NBA logo.
Irving made sure not to cast any disrespect or “discredit” other NBA greats who have left their own mark in league history.
“I am not discrediting anyone when I say that Kobe should be the logo because we have so many examples of guys that did things on and off the floor that were leaps and bounds for us to be where we are now,” he said. “It’s just a refresher that this is the guy for us. This is the guy for me. He’s my mentor. More than just and inspiration. I took a lot of knowledge and wisdom from that guy, and he’s always around me, and Gigi’s always around me and I know that in the women’s game we want to continue to push things forward, but in our game, too, we want to set a standard and precedent like this is excellence.”
Ryan Strome had a goal and two assists and Chris Kreider had a goal and an assist in the Rangers’ three-goal second period, leading the them to a 6-2 win over the Boston Bruins on Friday night at the Garden.
Julian Gauthier, Colin Blackwell, Pavel Buchnevich and Jonny Brodzinski also scored to help the Rangers get their third win in four games. Adam Fox and Ryan Lindgren each had two assists, and Alexandar Georgiev stopped 31 shots to improve to 2-0-2 in his last four starts.
With fans back at the Garden for the first time this season, the Rangers beat Bruins for the first time in three meetings. Boston was 5-01 in the previous six games with the Rangers.
After the game, the Rangers gathered at center-ice to salute the 1,800 fans in attendance before skating off. Several players gave their sticks to some of the fans.
Brad Marchand had a goal and an assist, Patrice Bergeron also scored and David Pastrnak had two assists for Boston. Tuukka Rask finished with 28 saves in the Bruins’ fourth loss in five games.
The Bruins, who lost 7-2 at the Islanders on Thursday night, had not given up more than four goals in their first 16 games.
With Boston trailing 1-0, Jack Studnicka nearly tied the score early in the second period with a shot that hit off the crossbar.
The Rangers doubled the lead shortly after that. On a rush, Alexis Lafreniere sent a crossice pass to Strome, who tapped it in past Rask from the right side for his sixth at 2:32. Lafreniere, the top overall pick in the 2020 NHL draft, got his first career assist.
Bergeron pulled the Bruins to 2-1 just 90 seconds later, scoring from the right doorstep off Pastrnak’s pass from the left circle.
Charlie Coyle hit a goal post on a Bruins power play with about 6:50 left.
Blackwell tipped Adam Fox’s one-timer from the point on a power play to push the lead to 3-1 with 1:08 remaining in the second. It was Blackwell’s third goal in five games.
Kreider gave the Rangers a three-goal lead just 12 seconds later as his shot from a sharp angle deflected off Coyle’s left skate and past Rask for his ninth. Kreider, who had his third career hat trick against Philadelphia on Tuesday night, scored for the third straight game.
Buchnevich made it 5-1 on a tip-in 1:45 into the third, and Brodzinski got his first with the Rangers as he scored on a diving tip of a pass from Kevin Rooney at 3:43.
Marchand got the Bruins within four as he swooped in and knocked in the rebound of Pastrnak’s shot at 7:51 for his 10th. It was Marchand’s 300th career goal.
Gauthier got the Rangers on the scoreboard with 6:44 left in the first, firing a shot from the left circle for his second career goal.