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“Love you and miss you Champ”: LeBron James posts heartfelt tribute for Lakers legend Kobe Bryant

Samir Mehdi
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LeBron James posts heartfelt tribute for Lakers legend Kobe Bryant

LeBron James honors the late Kobe Bryant with a heartfelt post on Instagram, following the Lakers 2020 championship.

LeBron James’s decision to take his talents to La La Land in the 2018 offseason received an inordinate amount of hate online; surprisingly from Lakers fans.

Lakers fans believed James would never live upto the expectations he built up, and more importantly, would never live up to the legacy of Kobe Bryant.

It is hard for anyone to live up to the legacy Bryant built for himself in Los Angeles but after 2 years in Los Angeles, the King finally delivered on his promise to bring a chip to the city; and won it in honor of his friend, Kobe Bryant.

Also read: ‘No team beats LeBron James and me four times’: Rajon Rondo explains why he decided to join the Lakers

LeBron James dedicates the 2020 Lakers championship to Kobe.

With the untimely and unfortunate passing of Lakers legend Kobe Bryant this past January, the narrative surrounding the Los Angeles Lakers shifted entirely, and almost everyone in LA was demanding LeBron and the Lakers win it all in honor of Bryant.

Well, upon doing so, LeBron could not help himself but to post an emotional message on Instagram, saying, “Hope I made you proud my brother!! Love and miss you Champ!”

Alongside his message for the Black Mamba, he also posted many images, including an edit of himself with the Black Mamba jersey on his lap, and a tweet he posted on the day of Bryant’s passing.

LeBron and Kobe’s relationship

Though the 2 had built up a strong friendship off the court, on the court, they battled it out as if they had met each other.

LeBron-Kobe duels were always a spectacle to look out for as they never backed down against one another. This is seen as a sign of respect among athletes.

Also Read: F**k you LeBron James“- Miami Heat podcast host goes off on Lakers star for ‘I want my damn respect’ statement

Kobe, according to Magic Johnson, was also at the forefront of recruiting James to come to the Lakers back in 2018.

About the author

Samir Mehdi

Samir Mehdi

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Samir Mehdi is a senior strategist for the NBA division at The Sportsrush. Ever since he was 13 years old, he’s been obsessed with the game of basketball. From watching Kobe Bryant’s highlights on YouTube to now, analyzing and breaking down every single game on League Pass, Samir’s passion for the game is unwavering. He's a complete basketball junkie who not only breaks down current games but also keenly watches ones from the 60s’ and 70s’ while also reading comprehensive books on the history of the league. Samir’s life revolves around basketball and he hopes that shows in his work. Aside from work, he loves to spend time in the gym and with his friends at social gatherings.

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