Number 24 on the Lakers had his swansong in 2016, and he went out the same way he came in—as the best player on the court. Kobe dropped 60 in the dying embers of his NBA career in front of 19,000 fans that came just for him. But it wasn’t just about that one game; it was about the 20 years he put into the league, the rings he won, and the people he inspired along the way. One of them ended up being a fellow Olympian and present Lakers star, LeBron James.

When LeBron joined the league, Kobe was already in his prime. The Lakers legend had won three championships alongside Shaq and was consistently featuring in the All-NBA First Team. Bron might’ve been the ‘Chosen One’, but Bryant had already reached the promised land thrice in three years. The two stars battled hard over the years, playing

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