Lakers news: Gonzaga commit Chet Holmgren takes home same award previously won by Kobe Bryant, LeBron James

Gonzaga commit Chet Holmgren was presented the National Player of the Year award. Lakers legends Kobe Bryant and LeBron James also won the award.

The Gonzaga Bulldogs keep getting richer after a one-loss season that ended in an unfortunate loss in the National Championship game to Baylor. Now, Holmgren has received the Gatorade National Player of the Year award and inserts his name next to NBA legends such as Kobe Bryant and LeBron James, both of who will have their Lakers jerseys in the Staples Center rafters.

Even more, Holmgren was presented the award from former Gonzaga star– and likely top-five NBA Draft pick– Jalen Suggs in a truly heartwarming moment.

Here's the moment Jalen Suggs told Chet Holmgren he had won the Gatorade National Player of the Year Award:

"That's pretty cool that they had Jalen present it," said @ChetHolmgren. pic.twitter.com/NiUVQmHVlQ

— Brenna Greene (@BrennaGreene_) June 9, 2021

It is such a cool moment, and anytime you win the same award as Kobe and LeBron, you have to feel good about yourself at least a little bit. Holmgren was dominant in high school and should flourish with Gonzaga as they aim to make another deep run in the NCAA Tournament and try and finish what they started and bring home a national title.

Holmgren leaves Minnehaha Academy as one of the best high school players of recent memory. Holmgren finished his final high school season and had letters from seemingly everywhere imaginable and chose Gonzaga. The 7-footer is an absolute mess on both ends of the floor and only time will tell how much he improves while at Gonzaga.

Holmgren has also been slotted as the potential top overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, assuming he follows the one-and-done path that so many college players do in today's game. He was the number one recruit in his class for a reason, and he should have no issues becoming arguably the best college player in the nation in 2021 before taking his talents to the NBA.

It is only a matter of time before Holmgren blossoms at the NCAA level and shows everybody why he is predicted as the top player in the draft when 2022 rolls around. After all, anytime your name is next to Lakers lore such as Kobe and LeBron, you must be doing something right.