LA Lakers officially retire Kobe Bryant jerseys

World
Europe

The Los Angeles Lakers retired Kobe Bryant's No. 8 and No. 24 jerseys on December 18 at the Staples Center in LA during the half-time break of the game against the Golden State Warriors.

"We are to celebrate the greatest who's ever worn the purple and gold. He gave us five NBA championships. You (Kobe) are able to bring us all together as a city of Los Angeles for 20 years," said Erving "Magic" Johnson at the retiring ceremony.

"I thank you for staying loyal to the purple and gold for twenty years, remaining a Laker for life when it might have been easier for you to leave," said Jeanie Buss, President of the Los Angeles Lakers.

"Hopefully what you will get from tonight, is to understand that those times when you get up early and you work hard, those times when you stay up late and you work hard, those times when you don't feel like working, you are too tired, you don't want to push yourself but you do it anyway, that is actually the dream. It's not the destination," said Kobe after the No. 8 and No. 24 Jerseys appeared high at the southeast of the Staples Center.

Having played for 20 years for the Los Angeles Lakers alone in the NBA, Kobe has built different contacts both in the league and in the rest of the world. Tencent Sports has interviewed some of those contacts:

Tracy McGrady (L) and Kobe Bryant (R) used to be two of NBA's best shooting guards. /VCG Photo

"I think we all should appreciate what Kobe Bryant gave to this game (basketball). We're talking about 20 years of sacrificing and dedicating to becoming a great player, not cheating us as fans, as players. He gave 100 percent every night. As a former player and competitor, I appreciated that and I think you all should appreciate that. The guy is incredible. I go back and look at my videos and see some of the things that I have done in my career, and I was like, how can he get so much better than me," said Tracy McGrady, NBA Hall of Famer, who retired in 2013.

Paul Gasol (R) was Kobe's (L) best parnter during the back-to-back champion seasons of 2009 and 2010. /VCG Photo

"Congratulations, my brother. Just enjoy this day, enjoy this moment. You deserve everything you have worked for and got. I'm just proud of you. I was there for you. I'm sorry I'm missing this day [of your jerseys being retired] because of my duty as a basketball player. I wish I could be there for you in this special moment. But enjoy it with your family and friends. You deserve it," said Pau Gasol, Kobe's former teammate during the back-to-back champion seasons of 2009 and 2010.

Zhang Weiping (R) has witnessed Kobe's whole NBA career. /VCG Photo

"Kobe is the hero of Los Angeles and worshiped by everybody. That is a very difficult task because LA is the entertainment center of the world. You can find so many movie stars, entertainment celebrities and rap singers in this city. But Kobe has become the brightest star here, brighter than anyone else," said Zhang Weiping, famous basketball commentator in China.

Chinese fans show their love to Kobe Bryant. /VCG Photo‍

Kobe has always been a favorite of Chinese NBA fans, about which there is a joke going like "there are six billion Kobe fans in the world". In his 20-year NBA career, he gave happiness, anger, sadness, hope, disappointment, tears and so many things to Chinese fans. Three generations have watched Kobe's game, growing older and more mature, together with him. He is the Mamba Mentality, he is the Lakers, and he is the youth.

Kobe has been many things in his basketball career.

In 1996, he was the rookie selected with the 13th pick;

In 1997, he was the dunking champion of the NBA All-Star Weekend;

In 1998, he challenged Michal Jordan face-to-face and threw four air-ball shots in the game against the Utah Jazz in the play-off;

In 1999, he became the Lakers' second best scorer and began to carry his team;

Kobe Bryant #8 of the Los Angeles Lakers soars for a dunk during the 1997 NBA All Star Slam Dunk Contest February 8, 1997 at the Gund Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. /VCG Photo

In 2000, he got his first NBA champion and played his first legendary game in G4 of the NBA finals;

In 2001, he took the second ring and proved that he is one of the best players in the league;

In 2002, he received his first NBA All-Star MVP and got his third ring;

Kobe (L) and Shaq (R) brought three champions in a row for the Los Angeles Lakers. /VCG Photo

In 2003, for the first time, his PPG was higher than Shaquille O'Neal in the regular season, but they lost the championship;

In 2004, he became a disloyal man, a terrible teammate and the universally condemned;

In 2005, he finally became the owner of LA but went through a disappointing season;

In 2006, he became "the Black Mamba" and presented one of the craziest solo-performance in NBA history;

In 2007, he continued the lonely struggle and finally told the public that he wanted to leave the Lakers;

Bryant scored 81 points during a game against the Toronto Raptors on January 22, 2006 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. /VCG Photo

In 2008, he became the NBA MVP and went successfully all the way to the finals, only to lose the champion;

In 2009, he started over, got his fourth NBA champion and, his first NBA Finals MVP;

In 2010, he took down back-to-back title for the Lakers and, for the first time, defeated their mortal enemy, the Boston Celtics in G7 of the finals;

Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates after defeating the Boston Celtics 83-79 in Game Seven of the 2010 NBA Finals on June 17, 2010 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. /VCG Photo

In 2011, he could still fight, but time started to catch up with him;

In 2012, he and his team were getting old both physically and mentally;

In 2013, he began to carry his team be himself again and by the end of the season, his left Achilles tendon ruptured, taking away his last grace;

In 2014, he played only six games and had to miss the rest of the season;

In 2015, ironically, he first became No.1 in missing shots of NBA history and then passed Michael Jordan to become No. 3 on the NBA all-time scoring list;

In 2016, he decided to say goodbye and left with the most exciting farewell game for his fans.

Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers walks off the basketball court after scoring 60 points against the Utah Jazz at Staples Center on April 13, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. Bryant played his last game as a Laker and retired from basketball. /VCG Photo

Kobe Bean Bryant, like he said in his farewell poem, has always been that kid with the rolled up socks and ball in his hands.