#ThankYouKobe - LA 2024 Statements on Kobe Bryant's Final Game Tonight

Los Angeles 2024 leaders Mayor Eric Garcetti and Vice Chair Earvin "Magic" Johnson today hailed global basketball icon Kobe Bryant’s profound contribution to sport, as the two-time Olympic Champion and LA Lakers legend prepares to play his final NBA game at LA’s Staples Center tonight. Bryant represented the LA Lakers throughout a glittering 20-year career featuring two Olympic gold medals, five NBA championships, 18 NBA All-Star selections and an NBA Most Valuable Player award. Most recently, Bryant – who wears LA Lakers jersey number 24 – is a strong LA 2024 supporter and appears in the bid's latest film (https://youtu.be/ZnN4p3bs2Gw).

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said:

"For 20 years, Kobe Bryant embodied the quintessential Los Angeles sports hero: fearlessly competitive, uncommonly loyal and globally admired. His legacy as a Laker and his standing as an icon in this city are undeniable. When Kobe walks into the tunnel for the final time tonight, the cheers for #24 will be for more than his talent and his championships. They will be for the countless memories he gave an entire generation of fans -- devoted and casual -- who have been inspired by the tenacity he brought to every moment on the basketball court."

Olympic gold medalist and Lakers legend Earvin "Magic" Johnson released the following letter to Bryant on his website http://theplaybook.magicjohnson.com/posts/dear-kobe:

"Dear Kobe,

For 20 years, I’ve watched you dominate the game of basketball. From the Great Western Forum to the world famous Staples Center, you have dedicated your life to becoming one of the greatest players this game has ever seen. Through your commitment to success, outstanding work ethic, and winning attitude, each year you perfected your abilities beyond expectation.

You are an example to your teammates and fans all over the world through your extraordinary achievements on the court and extensive philanthropic efforts off the court. As a 5-time NBA champion, 18-time NBA All-Star, NBA MVP and 2-time Finals MVP, you led your team by example and showed them how to achieve greatness. As a 15-time member of the All-NBA Teams and a 12-time member of the All-Defensive Teams you continued to over-deliver, but it didn’t stop there. You earned the 2nd greatest scoring performance in the NBA with 81 points in a single game and became 3rd on the NBA All-Time scoring list, forever etching your name in NBA History.

Every night you played, I couldn’t wait to watch knowing that I would witness an unbelievable shot or move that I had never seen on the court. I marveled at the skills and loved the energy you brought to the game wearing that purple and gold uniform. You never disappointed the city, Laker fans, and basketball fans worldwide. All you cared about was winning games and championships and that’s why so many people love you.

You will join a legendary list of Laker greats and Hall of Famers. Their jerseys hang proudly from the rafters in Staples Center and soon yours will shine next to them; from Gail Goodrich, Jerry West, Elgin Baylor and Wilt Chamberlain to Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Jamaal Wilkes, James Worthy and Shaquille O’Neal.

Very few people have changed the game of basketball but you will be recognized as one of them alongside my "Dream Team" teammates, Larry Bird and Michael Jordan.

I’ve enjoyed every minute of your career. Thanks for all the fantastic memories. There will never be another Kobe Bryant!

Sincerely,

Earvin "Magic" Johnson

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Magic Johnson Enterprises"

For more information visit LA24.org.

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20 Years at #1: Your best source of news about the Olympics is www.aroundtherings.com, for subscribers only