Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant was DeMar DeRozan's idol growing up, so Kobe's tragic death impacted the San Antonio Spurs guard very deeply.

DeRozan is back home in Los Angeles, as the Spurs are taking on the Los Angeles Clippers. The All-Star guard arrived to Staples Center in a purple No. 8 Kobe jersey:

DeRozan grew up in Compton, California. One can only imagine how many hours and hours of tape he watched of the Lakers and Kobe growing up.

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The Kobe tributes are going to happen all season, as they should. Bryant wasn't just a Lakers icon, he was a basketball legend and someone who impacted a lot of lives.

For DeRozan and Clippers stars Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, Bryant was their Michael Jordan — a godlike figure who could do wrong and was the reason they started playing basketball in the first place. George said last week while discussing the passing of the Lakers great that there would be no PG today if Kobe didn't exist.

The Purple and Gold franchise, led by LeBron James and Anthony Davis, are going to do everything in their power to win the championship for Kobe. The Clippers are going to do the same thing.

With that said, a lot of basketball fans in LA think the Lakers and Clippers are going to meet in the Western Conference Finals. It would be a great spectacle.