One of the greatest players to ever don the Los Angeles Lakers jersey was in attendance at Staples Center on Sunday night, as Kobe Bryant watched from the sidelines as the home team gave the Atlanta Hawks a 122-10 spanking. Three years removed from his last game as a pro, Kobe is still beloved by the city as he exchanged brief but heart-warming moments with current Laker players LeBron James and Dwight Howard.
Although he never got a chance to mentor Bryant, Lakers’ new head coach Frank Vogel opened up about what it was like having the legendary superstar in the building.
Vogel said the Lakers were honored to have Kobe Bryant at the game tonight. “I got chills when the crowd started going nuts at presence,” he said.
— Bill Oram (@billoram) November 18, 2019
Bryant spent his entire 20-year career with the Purple and Gold, winning five NBA titles along the way. The now 41-year-old Bryant has amassed a Hall of Fame worthy-career that includes a Most Valuable Player citation and 18-time All-Star selections, among other glorious accomplishments.
Bryant is now fully enjoying the perks of retirement, spending more quality time with his wife and four daughters. He rarely makes an appearance at Laker games since retiring in 2016, but gladly brought along his second-born Gianna on Sunday.
The Lakers, meanwhile, has overtaken the Boston Celtics for the best record in the league at 11-2.
Inspired by Bryant’s presence, the number one defensive team in the league didn’t have much trouble putting the Hawks away, holding the lead from tip-off to the final horn.
James led the way with 33 points, 12 assists, and seven rebounds, while six other Laker players finished in double figures.
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