If there is a date associated with Kobe Bryant, almost the entire Los Angeles Lakers community pays their respects to the late great guard. NBA icon LeBron James also takes the time to remember the five-time champion on his 46th birthday.
He posted a simple but effective message on X, formerly Twitter, on Friday, with a snake emoji as a tribute to the man famously nicknamed “The Black Mamba.” James also took to Instagram and shared a picture from the 2008 Olympics, in which he sang Happy Birthday to Bryant, who is seen holding his daughter.
The dynamic between these two Lakers champions is unique. Although their prime years never crossed and their teams never met in an NBA Finals, their combined star power did wonders for the NBA product. The epic Olympic duo of James and Stephen Curry has many reliving the Beijing Games, when two of the most iconic athletes of the 21st century shared a locker room.
Such an experience is sure to leave a lasting impression, especially because it was the first Olympic gold medal for LeBron James and Kobe Bryant.
James led the Lakers to the championship in 2020, more than nine months after Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter and seven others were killed in a helicopter crash. The moment went beyond basketball for him as he delivered a touching tribute to the greatest player of all time after the win.
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James’ birthday greetings follow the City of Los Angeles’ decision to decorate downtown with images of Bryant. His legacy will be used to promote the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and will surely be highlighted again at the Summer Olympics.
Before that, however, LeBron James will try to further honor Bryant’s memory by bringing his beloved franchise another championship title.
Alex House is a sportswriter who covers the NFL, NBA and MLB for ClutchPoints and has a unique writing style thanks to his extensive knowledge of New York sports. Alex lives in Connecticut after graduating from the University of Rhode Island with a degree in journalism.
