LOS ANGELES: Five-time NBA champion Kobe Bryant was hailed as the “greatest” Los Angeles Laker of all Monday by fellow legend Magic Johnson in a ceremony to retire Bryant’s jersey numbers. The tribute came at half-time of the Lakers’ Staples Center matchup against the defending NBA champion Golden State Warriors, with Bryant’s Numbers 8 and 24 joining other inspirational Laker icons from the team’s 70-year history. He made us rub our eyes and wonder what did we just see,” said Johnson, now Lakers president of basketball operations. “Thank you so much for tonight,” Bryant told the crowd, which chanted his name while giving him a standing ovation. The most emotional moment came when Lakers owner Jeanie Buss, who has helped keep the Lakers heritage together, paid tribute to Bryant.

Source: New Strait Times December 19, 2017 05:37 UTC