Photo by Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images
LOS ANGELES — After a 20 year NBA career and 5 NBA Championships the Lakers organization has retired Kobe Bryant’s No. 8 and No. 24 jersey. As reported by ESPN his career achievements danced across the Staples Center’s video screen and Kobe Bryant emerged from the northeastern tunnel and into a spotlight at center court.
Bryant, the third-leading scorer of all-time, gave up a glimpse at the realities of retired life as he walked in pushing his 1-year-old daughter, Bianka, inside a black, five-star stroller. His wife, Vanessa, and older daughters, 14-year-old Natalia and 11-year-old Gianna, strolled at his side as he strutted in his sleek black suit.
LOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 18: Kobe Bryant, wife Vaness Bryant and daughters Gianna Maria Onore Bryant, Natalia Diamante Bryant and Bianka Bella Bryant attend a basketball game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Golden State Warriors at Staples Center on December 18, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 18: Magic Johnson speaks at Kobe Bryant’s jersey retirement ceremony during halftime of a basketball game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Golden State Warriors at Staples Center on December 18, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images)
When it was his moment to speak, Bryant first emphasized the sweeping breadth of Lakers history and then thanked his wife, and left a few words of gratitude and encouragement for his fans.
The Mamba closed his speech sharing the statement “If you do the work, you work hard enough, your dreams come true.” And then he took it a step further to include the importance of understanding that the long nights and early mornings… that is the dream. “It’s not the destination, it’s the journey.”
LOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 18: Magic Johnson, Jeanie Buss, Kobe Bryant, wife Vaness Bryant and daughters Gianna Maria Onore Bryant, Natalia Diamante Bryant, Bianka Bella Bryant and Rob Pelinka pose for a picture during Kobe Bryant’s jersey retirement ceremony at halftime of a basketball game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Golden State Warriors at Staples Center on December 18, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images)
Congratulations Mamba! Watch the full video of Kobe’s speech below.
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