In light of Los Angeles Lakers’ legend Kobe Bryant getting his two jersey numbers retired tonight, memories galore will surely echo through the heads of many.
To say that tonight is a special one for the Los Angeles Lakers would be setting the bar too low. That is fair to assert because on this night, the team plans to commemorate someone who consistently set the bar to immeasurable heights.
Indeed, for those who have been sleeping, Kobe Bryant is getting the pair of numbers he wore during his illustrious career immortalized. It marks the first time a NBA team has ever retired more than one number.
With respect to this monumental honor, it is undeniable that the night will result in the onset of flashbacks.
In fact, Kobe himself had one such moment when he was spoken to recently. Courtesy of what the Los Angeles Times’ Tania Ganguli reproduced, the Black Mamba reflected on what the franchise meant to him when he was a wee tike.
"“It’s the organization that I grew up loving,” Bryant told The Times. “I studied the history of it ever since I was a little kid. I’m fully aware of the jerseys that get retired up there. … I’ve just been very, very fortunate to play with an organization that we’ve just been with each other for the entire ride. To have this day come, I’m just very thankful that I’ve been drafted to such a class act organization.”"
A perspective along these lines is indicative of the Lakers’ tradition. Considering the numbers of players like Elgin Baylor, Jerry West, and Magic Johnson are in the STAPLES Center rafters, the standards as a Laker are high.
Thus, to think that Bryant is getting both of his retired says something. One could draw the argument that the Lakers are the most storied franchise in league history.
However, this distinction makes logical sense when the aforementioned “standards” are perused. Before Kobe even joined the franchise, they already had collected 11 titles in all. That is what the franchise centered itself around.
With that being said, to consider that this man was instrumental in giving Los Angeles another five banners suggests that the standard was not only met, but exceeded.
To construct an argument against this would be foolish. Provided that this alpha dog of a ballplayer brought maximum effort every night, the championships could be coined as inevitable at this stage.
Due to Kobe’s ridiculous habits, it is only fitting that others would comment on them in view of what the night encompasses.
Golden State Warriors star Kevin Durant is one such talent who acknowledged the 5-time champion’s insane standards not too long back. Via an article by Kirstie Chiappelli, the nostalgia Durant feels is all too real.
"“I do miss that intensity that he brought to the court. He raised everybody’s — opponents, coaching staff, just everybody’s — level of play. That’s what great players do. You can learn a lot from watching somebody like that.”"
It is critical that Durant understands how tenacious Bryant was. On the grounds that KD is pretty darn intense himself, to echo such a statement shows that KB24’s fighting spirit was at another level.
Notwithstanding the validity of that, the next part of Durant’s comments are yet even more curious. It comes to show that Kobe’s impact extended beyond his various accomplishments.
The Lakers’ former shooting guard went on to inspire many through the way he carried himself. A lot, though, could be said about what transpired off the playing confines. That is really where words like “great” begin to sink in.
Lakers’ second year forward Brandon Ingram is not oblivious to Kobe’s greatness, granted BI did not ever play with him. In a piece by Lakers.com reporter Joey Ramirez, Ingram exhibited what Kobe should be remembered for.
"“He took every game like it was his last,” Ingram said. “He took advantage of any game or any aspect of the game. He wanted to master everything and was definitely an inspiration of our generation and, of course, many generations (before) me.”"
Although it is hard to refute any parcel of Ingram’s statement, that desire “to master everything” stands out. It is significant by virtue of what it unveils about Kobe’s noteworthy work ethic. It took everything for Kobe to become a basketball guru.
Certainly, it seems crazy to the average joe. Nevertheless, it is what set the Black Mamba apart from the rest. Putting in work was what he was all about—it was (and still is in all likelihood) a lifestyle.
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Given that truth, it makes BI’s second year numbers thought-provoking. While the 20-year-old has kinks in his game still, he has clearly improved in comparison to his rookie season. The noticeable improvement is symbolic that he, too, has put in extra work.
Of course, getting anywhere near the level of the legendary Bryant takes something more. Something that defies anything a normal human can possibly ascertain.
So, when his stints wearing numbers 8 and 24 are pored over, the memories kick in once again.
When the former number is pondered, many likely recall a flashier, flamboyant version of Kobe. The kind of player that did everything he could to be on highlight reels. It was as if he was trying to gain the respect of his peers.
On the other hand, the no. 24 rendition is a tad different. The winning and accolades sustained themselves, yes. However, many fans perhaps recollect a Kobe whose head was screwed on a bit more tightly. Alas, too, those same spectators also discern that some of those years were not the easiest to persevere through physically.
Baxter Holmes of ESPN included the following snippet from Kobe regarding the latter decade of his NBA career.
"“Then 24 is a growth from that. Physical attributes aren’t there the way they used to be, but the maturity level is greater. Marriage, kids. Start having a broader perspective being one of the older guys on the team now, as opposed to being the youngest. Things evolve. It’s not to say one is better than the other or one’s a better way to be. It’s just growth.”He adds, “It’s a new book, 24 — 24 is every day. Because when you get older, your muscles start getting sore. Body starts aching. You show up to practice that day, you have to remind yourself, ‘OK, this day is the most important day. I got to push through this soreness. My ankles are tight, they won’t get loose. I got to go through it, because this is the most important day.’ So, 24 also helped me from a motivational standpoint.”"
Accordingly, it is feasible to contend that 24 helped formulate the “Mamba mentality” idea. Because Kobe had to adjust his game as time went on (to go along with taking better care of himself), the relentless tinkering eventually took its toll on the Lakers’ all-time scoring king.
While that is true, the man surprisingly accepted the pain better than probably anyone else could have. When others may have potentially quit, the Lower Merion HS product used it all as fuel. He was not going to go down without putting up his dukes, so to speak.
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This is arguably his legacy. When his career is investigated, the 6’6” guard clearly possessed this absurd quantity of willpower. It is a trait that made it seem like he spawned from another planet (seriously).
Regardless of the specifics germane to Kobe Bryant, though, one thing is certain. Tonight will bring about some fond memories, some of which may even be tear-jerkers. At any rate, what is just as certain is that Lakers’ lovers will get to emphatically chant “MVP” one last time.