Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant would have celebrated his 46th birthday on Friday.
Many people around the NBA have posted messages on social media to remember Bryant.
According to Bleacher Report: “Kobe would have been 46 today.
Mamba forever 💜💛”
Kobe would have been 46 today.
Mamba forever 💜💛 pic.twitter.com/JyjldO5b6s
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) August 23, 2024
One of the people who sent a message was Basketball Hall of Famer (and Lakers legend) Magic Johnson.
His post received over 5,000 likes and 230,000 impressions.
Johnson wrote: “Happy Birthday to 5-time NBA Champion, Olympic Gold Medalist, Oscar and Academy Award winner, and my friend Kobe Bryant! We all miss you, but your legacy will live on with us forever 🙏🏾”
Happy heavenly birthday to five-time NBA champion, Olympic gold medalist, Oscar and Academy Award winner, and my friend Kobe Bryant! We all miss you, but your legacy will live on with us forever 🙏🏾 https://t.co/TuRDo1isTY
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) August 23, 2024
Bryant and Johnson are two of the best Lakers players of all time.
Recently, Johnson said that Bryant was in the conversation for the greatest player of all time (via NH TV ExperienceHi NBACentral).
Johnson: “We know Kobe has a place in that conversation, even today. Kareem, Kobe and all of them wore the purple and gold. I think about what Kobe meant to basketball around the world.”
Bryant spent his entire 20-year career with the Lakers.
His career averages are 25.0 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.4 steals per game while shooting 44.7 percent from the field and 32.9 percent from three-point range in 1,346 regular season games.
The five-time NBA champion also appeared in 220 playoff games.
As for Johnson, he spent his entire 13-year career with Los Angeles and also led the franchise to five titles.
He averaged 19.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, 11.2 assists and 1.9 steals per game while shooting 52.0 percent from the field and 30.3 percent from three-point range in 906 games.
