24 Hours After Kobe Bryant’s Major Announcement, Former Lakers Teammate Enjoys Jersey Retirement Ceremony With Family

Fierce eyes, unbridled hunger, and unmatched work ethic define Kobe Bryant. These are just a few of his characteristics. When he played the game, he struck fear in opponents. His legacy is a stuff of legends and youngsters still wanna be like Kobe. One of the fondest memories that bring together different generations was when he dropped 60 points in his final game of the NBA.

His final game also had the famous young Lakers core that has made a huge name for itself. As Kobe Bryant’s storied legacy finds further wings, one person among that now matured core also had a sweet moment.

Kobe Bryant gets a huge honor

On what would have been his 45th birthday, Kobe Bryant’s wife, Vanessa Bryant, made a huge announcement. During his birthday, she declared that the Lakers would unveil a Kobe Bryant statue.

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In the words of Vanessa Bryant, “On behalf of the Lakers, my daughters, and me, I am so honored, that right in the center of Los Angeles, in front of the place known as, “The House That Kobe Built,” we are going to unveil a statue so that his legacy can be celebrated forever”.

The Los Angeles Lakers are planning to unveil his bronze statue in front of the Crypto.com Arena, the home of the squad. The date is February 8, 2024. It is picked because the date reads as 2.8.2024. While eight was Kobe’s number during the first half of the career, he picked 24 in the second half of it. Therefore, the date enmeshes with his jersey numbers.

Outside the arena, statues of Magic Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal, Jerry West, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and announcer Francis “Chick” Hearn adorn the scenery. The statute is a long time coming for the player who Lakers legend Magic himself termed the “Greatest Laker of All Time”.

As Kobe receives this huge honor, his former teammate Julius Randle is also getting recognized.

Julius Randle gets his due from the high school

New York Knicks Power Forward Julius Randle had his jersey retired by his high school Prestonwood Christian Academy. As he has done throughout his career, the bruising Forward also wore #30 when he was in high school. On this occasion, Randle was accompanied by his long-time wife Kendra Shaw, his seven-year-old son Kyden, and his two-year-old son Jayce.

Randle’s reputation as a high-schooler was exceptional, garnering five-star ratings from various platforms. The Lakers selected him as the number seven pick in the 2014 draft. Surely, he has lived up to expectations, having earned two All-Star selections, both as a member of the New York Knicks. 

He was present when Kobe dropped 60 and the legendary Guard gave him a long embrace after the come-from-behind win. 

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