If there was an NBA fan out there that thought they were going to escape the 2016 NBA All-Star Game without seeing some type of ceremony or multiple instances of honoring Los Angeles Lakers retiring legend Kobe Bryant, that was put to bed quite quickly.
As part of the NBA Tip-Off show on TNT, there was obviously a lot of talk about this being Kobe Bryant’s final All-Star Game over his illustrious career. As many teams have done along the way, though, the guys at TNT and the NBA put together a tribute video prior to the All-Star Game itself that looked back at Kobe’s career while being voiced over by Bryant narrating his love/goodbye letter to basketball that he used to announce his impending retirement:
There’s so much to love about this and it’s hard for anyone, Lakers fan or not, to hold back the emotions that this brings out.