ChristianNews
Kobe Bryant aka The Black Mamba walked back into the Staples Center Monday night to be honored by the Los Angeles Lakers.
Kobe Bryant had both of his jersey’s retired by the Lakers in front of family, fans and friends.
Kobe’s mentor, and retired Lakers player, Magic Johnson introduced Bryant to the crowd Monday night.
The event also brought out Kobe’s Lakers teammate, Shaquille O’Neal.
Bryant’s first jersey number came from the number he wore at Adidas ABCD Camp, 143, whose digits add up to eight, as well as the number he wore in Italy, according to reports.
He switched to No 24 in the 2006-07 season, the number he had in high school at Lower Merion.
‘Thank you so much for tonight. But it’s not about my jerseys that are hanging up there for me,’ Bryant told the crowd.
‘It’s about the jerseys that were hanging up there before. Without them, I couldn’t be here today. They inspired me to play the game at a higher level.’
“It’s about those jerseys that were hanging up there before. Without them, I couldn’t be here today.”@kobebryant's full speech as his No. 8 & No. 24 go up in the @Lakers rafters. #Ko8e24 pic.twitter.com/ivbZEjnAYi
— NBA TV (@NBATV) December 19, 2017
Kobe was joined by his wife, Vanessa, and daughters Natalia, Gianna, and Bianka Bryant.
Congrats Kobe well deserved!!