Kobe Bryant Day carries a unique weight in the NBA calendar. It’s not just the date—8/24, a nod to the two jerseys he made iconic—it’s the pause it creates in a relentless season. A moment to honor a player whose drive, edge, and mentorship shaped an entire generation.

This year’s tributes were led by two veterans who knew him in different phases of their careers. Karl-Anthony Towns, a star with his best years still ahead, and Chris Paul, the seasoned floor general nearing the twilight of his, both made their gestures public. A reminder: Kobe’s reach wasn’t only in banners and rings, but in the habits and mindset of the league’s stars—a reach that, as teams quietly acknowledge, has reshaped how development itself is taught.

“ HBD Bean!! ” CP3 captioned one photo of Kobe embracing him a

See Full Page