Kobe Bryant wasn’t exactly the most popular player during his playing days, even on his own team. Still, that didn’t stop several of the game’s legends and former teammates from showing up to honor him during his jersey retirement ceremony.

That sight of so many legends out in support of Bryant had quite an effect on Durant, who admitted he nearly got “choked up” as he witnessed it for himself.

Per Baxter Holmes of ESPN:

Kevin Durant was moved seeing all the NBA legends who showed up to honor Kobe Bryant: “It was just amazing. It almost got me choked up to see so many basketball players out on the court at once supporting one guy. That was incredible. “

NBA players are some of the most fiercely competitive people in the entire world, and Kobe is among the most competitive of them all. But even with all the cut-throat competition on the court, those players also have a lot of respect and camaraderie with one another off the court, especially as they grow older and further away from the game.

That coming together of the NBA fraternity is apparently a big deal for Durant and is something near and dear to his heart, as it should be. While basketball is important for every NBA player, it is just a game at the end of the day and the bonds they form while playing should remain more substantive.