LOS ANGELES -- After his career achievements danced across the Staples Center' video screen in the pencil animation of his Oscar short-listed short film, Kobe Bryant emerged from the northeastern tunnel and into a spotlight at center court. For a man who oozed steely confidence when he entered the arena during his playing days, Bryant appeared humble, flashing aw-shucks smiles as Magic Johnson and Jeanie Buss read him love letters on behalf of the franchise he defined for two decades.
When it was his moment to speak after the unveiling of his pair of iconic jerseys, Bryant first emphasized the sweeping breadth of Lakers history and cited the jerseys that preceded his in the rafters as the source of his inspiration.