Kobe Bryant continued his new tradition of gifting sneakers to opposing stars, this time it was Lebron James
This season being Kobe Bryant‘s last, he’s started a new tradition of giving, or exchanging, sneakers with some of his fiercest opponents. In soccer, jerseys are exchanged, but in the NBA shoes are as sentimental a gift as you can give.
Most recently giving shoes to Paul George of the Indiana Pacers, and now Lebron James, Kobe Bryant’s retirement tour is the gift that keeps on giving.
Kobe Bryant signed his shoes and gave them to LeBron. Respect. #Greatness. pic.twitter.com/ySKckVQBZt
— NBACentral (@TheNBACentral) February 11, 2016
Interestingly enough, this wasn’t the first time that Kobe has gifted a pair a sneakers to Lebron as stories recently surfaced that the Black Mamba also gave King James shoes when he was in high school.
Per ESPN, James revealed,
"I think my most fond moment is he gave me his shoes when I was in high school. I think I was playing in a tournament in Teaneck, New Jersey, and they were playing in the [2002] All-Star game in Philly. And I had an opportunity to go meet him, and he gave me a pair of his shoes, and I actually wore them in a game against Oak Hill, against Melo [Carmelo Anthony], actually. So, six degrees of separation right there."
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Imagine being a high school kid and having Kobe personally give you some of his signature shoes, sheesh.
Truly an awesome end to the final chapter of the Kobe-Lebron saga. It isn’t the first time and definitely won’t be the last, but Kobe’s sneaker giveaway is yet another side story to follow on his retirement tour.
So far, he’s has only given shoes to four players — Draymond Green, Kevin Durant, Paul George and Lebron James — making it an interesting gauge to see the players he deeply respects in this league.
Next: Kobe, Lebron Share Touching Moment in Cleveland
Who do you think is the next star that Kobe Bryant honors with his sneakers? Let us know in the comments below.