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Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant (24) drives to the basket and gets fouled by Phoenix Suns small forward P.J. Tucker (17) in the first half at Staples Center on December 10, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
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Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant (24) drives to the basket and gets fouled by Phoenix Suns small forward P.J. Tucker (17) in the first half at Staples Center on December 10, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
NBA and Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant’s name garners huge respect and admiration from NBA players, fans, and the media alike. NBA fans often refer to him in debates surrounding the ‘greatest of all time’ title. The legendary shooting guard spent his 20-year career with the Lakers winning five NBA championships.
Kobe Bryant tragically passed away in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California, in January 2020. Since then, many athletes and sports personalities have paid tribute to the ‘Black Mamba’ in their own unique way. Gerald Green was the latest star to pay tribute to the Lakers legend. Green, a recently retired NBA player, works as a player development coach for the Houston Rockets.
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Green recently disclosed that he had tattooed a picture of him defending Bryant on his right arm. The tattoo shows him and Kobe in action for the Phoenix Suns and Lakers, respectively. In this photo, he is trying to block Kobe’s shot at the rim. The black and white tattoo is massive, spreading downward from the top of Green’s bicep to his inner elbow.
Green is a huge Kobe fan and once donned a #8 Bryant jersey to a game following Kobe’s death. He explained Kobe inspired him as a child, saying, “I don’t think anybody could ever achieve the things that he did. There will never be another number 8 or 24. Never.” It is no surprise then that Green inked a part of his body in Kobe’s honor. Many other celebrities, including LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and Snoop Dogg, have got tattoos to respect Kobe’s legacy as well.
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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA JANUARY 29, 2013-Lakers Kobe Bryant bites his jersey while Pau Gasol shoots a free throw at the Staples Center Tuesday. (Photo by Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
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Kobe Bryant: jaw-dropping 81-point game vs Toronto Raptors
Kobe Bryant had numerous outstanding games for the Los Angeles Lakers. But NBA fans will never forget his legendary performance against the Toronto Raptors in 2006. He pulled off a massive 81 point performance to guide the Lakers to a 122-104 victory against the Raptors.
Kobe almost came within touching distance of NBA legend Wilt Chamberlain’s 100 point game in 1962. Unfortunately, he fell just 19 points short of Chamberlain’s illustrious record. However, it was a game to remember for the ages, as Kobe had a shooting percentage of 60.9 from the field and he shot 53.8 percent from beyond the arc. Kobe Bryant certainly cemented his name among the NBA’s legends with this game.
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