Kobe Bryant would have been 45 today. The greatest Los Angeles Lakers player of all time has left an undeniable legacy on the city of Los Angeles and the basketball world that is evident every time there is a significant date that reminds us of his legacy.
The entire world mourned Bryant’s passing in January 2020, with Lakers fans and players taking it even harder. Nine months and the start of a global pandemic later, the Lakers took care of business and did exactly what Bryant would have wanted: won the NBA Championship. In a tear-jerking moment, LeBron James dedicated the win to Bryant, saying that he hoped he made him proud.
LeBron has honored Kobe at every chance he gets since his passing. That included on his birthday as James posted a heart-wrenching photo of the two shaking hands before LeBron was even in the league.
https://twitter.com/TheLakeShowLife/status/1694435486344126935
LeBron James honors Kobe Bryant on his birthday.
It is clear that the two all-time greats had a great relationship both on and off the court. That relationship became more evident in the public eye after LeBron signed with the Lakers. Countless times Kobe would sit courtside with his daughter Gianna to watch LeBron and the Lakers go to work. LeBron never missed the opportunity to give appreciate to Kobe.
Not everyone knows what it is like to be the best basketball player on the planet and the face of the NBA. These two did. That connection is likely what fueled their friendship, which was made stronger by the respect each player had for their respective games.
That relationship really seemed to solidify during the 2008 Olympics as both players were on “The Redeem Team” that won the gold medal that year. An old clip of LeBron getting Kobe a birthday cake for his 30th birthday in 2008 has resurfaced, showing that this relationship goes back nearly two decades.
Team USA singing "Happy Birthday" to Kobe will always be special ❤️ pic.twitter.com/gI2kWxI24G
— ESPN (@espn) August 23, 2021
Kobe Bryant may no longer be with us but his legacy and impact on the world will forever live on.