The Los Angeles Lakers, honored basketball legend Kobe Bryant, retiring his number 8 and number 24 jerseys after a stellar 20-year career. The ceremony took place at Staples Center at halftime as the Lakers faced the Golden State Warriors on Monday night. In a speech by Magic Johnson, who is the president of the Lakers, he encouraged Bryant to use his platform to help unite this country. "The thing, Kobe, is this, my brother: We need you right now. When I look in this audience, there are all races of people [who] meet, have encouraged you for 20 years. And this country has to meet, "said Johnson. "And you've managed to bring us all - the city and Los Angeles - for 20 years. I want to thank you for that. MVP three times attended the event with his beautiful wife, Vanessa Laine Bryant and Natalia Diamante Bryant's children, Gianna Maria-Onore Bryant and Bianka Bella Bryant. According to reports, Los Angeles has chosen to remove both numbers because Bryant, who retired in 2016, spent his first 10 seasons wearing the number 8 and his 10 final in number 24 Before the ceremony, a Kobe short film, Dear Basketball, was played on the Jumbotron arena. Bryant was then introduced by Magic Johnson, retired Lakers jersey.
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