The Los Angeles Lakers pulled Kobe Bryant’s jerseys under the hall ceiling in their game against the Golden State Warriors. The long-time superstar was visibly touched.
Bryant, who finished his career after the 2015/16 season, saw in the half-time break how both his number 8 and number 24 were retired from the Lakers,”It’s hard to put into words,”said the 39-year-old.
“It means everything to me to be a part of this series now because I’ve seen and learned from all these great players as an adolescent,”says Bryant,”the heritage is important in the sense that what we’ve achieved is great, but more importantly, how it affects the next generation. The real effect of this is that this moment exists today because I was influenced by the other jerseys.”
During the half-time break, which was extended from 15 to 21 minutes by the Lakers, Lakers President Magic Johnson delivered a speech in which he described Kobe as “the greatest Laker of all time”, including owner Jeanie Buss, Kobe’s long-time team mate Shaquille O’ Neal and others. Shaq also emphasized that Kobe was the greatest laker in history for him.
Bryant himself also gave a short speech during the break and thanked the fans for their support over 20 years with the Lakers. He also gave a detailed press conference before the ceremony. Among other things, he was asked which number a statue should get from him, if there is one.
“You don’t necessarily have to see the number,”Bryant said with a smile on her face.”But if she has hair, of course it’ll tell you everything. Because number eight had something the 24 never, never, never had. The ability to grow hair.”