The Los Angeles Lakers are only two years removed from saying goodbye to their longtime star Kobe Bryant, as he headed for retirement. Yet it only took two years for them to reload with another all-time great, signing LeBron James to a four-year, $154 million deal to don the purple-and-gold.
While James could bring his kingdom to L.A. for the last few years of his prodigious career, Bryant's legacy is one deemed untouchable for those who have lived it from beginning to end.
Owner Jeanie Buss reflected that sentiment, noting that Bryant's body of work has put his own stamp in his legacy with the franchise — one that won't be erased or forgotten, even if The King is sitting in the throne.
“You talked about Kobe's legacy; no one will ever touch Kobe's legacy for what he did with the Lakers,” said Buss during an appearance on Fox Sports Radio, via Anthony Irwin of Silver Screen and Roll. “The fact that he stayed with the team for 20 years and won us five championships. To even question Kobe's legacy or what he means to Lakers fans; it's ridiculous.”
Bryant was at one point the only player to have spent 20 years with the same team, before Dirk Nowitzki finished out his 2017-18 season, matching the feat and now bound for his 21st, which would give him the record.
From endless heroics to filling his hand with rings, Bryant's legacy is one that remains near and dear to Lakers fans — perhaps the reason so many murals including James among the greatest is still very tough to accept.
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