On Friday, Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant would have turned 41.
Many people around the NBA have posted nice messages on social media.
A person who has sent a post (via his Instagram Story) was the star of the Denver Nuggets, Russell Westbrook.
Westbrook wrote: “BEAN! I miss you my brother.”
Westbrook is from Los Angeles (where Bryant spent his entire career).
In addition, the two were teammates on Team USA in 2012 (they won the gold medal against Spain).
Bryant talks about Westbrook in 2016: “He plays the game with so much energy, so much aggression. I think you have to appreciate that… He’s not trying to make friends. These guys play hard every time they’re behind. It takes a lot of energy to do that. He just never seems to run out of it.”
Kobe said he sees “a lot” of similarities between him and Westbrook pic.twitter.com/8uJPdLVKkI
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) 12 April 2016
Westbrook reached 18-15 in the 33 Pairings he had with Bryant.
The 2017 MVP is coming off a season in which he appeared in 68 games for the Los Angeles Clippers.
He averaged 11.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.1 steals per game in 68 games and shot 45.4% from the field and 27.3% from three-point range.
Although he is no longer at his best at 35, Westbrook is still a reliable player who can play a role for a contender.
In the offseason, Westbrook signed a contract with the Nuggets.
He has played for the Los Angeles Lakers, Oklahoma City Thunder, Washington Wizards and Houston Rockets (in addition to the Clippers).
