Kobe Bryant may be retired, but he still owns Los Angeles. The Lakers legend walked away for good back in April with an incredible 60-point performance in a come-from-behind victory over the Utah Jazz in the final game of the 2015-2016 NBA season. Since then, the Lakers have made steps to move on and build around their young core, but fans in Los Angeles will never forget the five-time champion.
Fittingly, when Cleveland Cavaliers superstar arrived at the Coliseum to watch the Rams make their return to Los Angeles, he was greeted by a loud chant of “Kobe” from the Lakers faithful (via Fox Sports West):
.@KingJames in the house! @RamsNFL @NFLonFOX @FOXSports @cavs #SEAvsLA pic.twitter.com/yPcRNhJfsU
— FOX Sports West (@FoxSportsWest) September 18, 2016
LeBron may be coming off a championship season in Cleveland, but Los Angeles still prefers Kobe, who has a legitimate claim to the title of “Greatest Laker of All Time”, though he may have some competition from the likes of Magic Johnson, Jerry West (who recently stated he would have left the Lakers if he could have), and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
It’s good to see Los Angeles remain loyal to the Lakers and Bryant despite their recent struggles, and to offer such a fantastic reception to a visiting star.