Philadelphia 76ers legendary point guard Allen Iverson has become one of the many throughout the NBA landscape and beyond to pay tribute to the late, great Kobe Bryant on Tuesday. With Tuesday serving as the one year anniversary of the Los Angeles Lakers legend's passing, the Sixers great was short and sweet upon honoring his adversary on the court and friend away from it.
Iverson's Sixers infamously lost to Bryant's Lakers in the 2001 NBA Finals while this tandem of prolific scorers helped an entire generation fall in love with the game of basketball.
Long live Mamba… Miss you bro!!! @kobebryant pic.twitter.com/mysesEqsee
— Allen Iverson (@alleniverson) January 27, 2021
Kobe Bryant, a Philadelphia native, was originally selected by the Charlotte Hornets with the No. 13 overall pick in the first round of the 1996 NBA Draft out of Lower Merion High School. However, he was immediately traded to the heralded Lakers before going on to spend his entire NBA playing career in Los Angeles.
Bryant, a five-time NBA Champion, went on to retire following the 2015-16 campaign, which capped off an incredible career highlighted by just about every accolade and accomplish possible.
On the other hand, the 45-year-old Iverson was originally selected by the Sixers with the No. 1 overall pick in the 1996 NBA Draft out of Georgetown. Iverson remained in Philadelphia until the midway point of the 2006-07 season before being traded across the country to the Denver Nuggets.
In addition to suiting up for the Sixers and Nuggets, Iverson also played for both the Detroit Pistons and Memphis Grizzlies along the way. He actually made a second stop in Philadelphia in 2009-10 before calling it a career after the conclusion of that same season—one he split between the Sixers and Grizzlies.
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