Gerald Henderson, old Philadelphian/new Sixer, grew up worshipping Kobe Bryant. In January, he wrote a really fine story in The Players' Tribune where he recounted watching Kobe play at Lower Merion, and then, year later, enountering on an NBA court for the first time.
The Lower Merion part -- being in the full gym on Montgomery Avenue in Ardmore, watching this kid that everybody was talking about -- was an obvious dream for a 9-year-old. But then, when you grow up to play in the NBA, well, most of us can only imagine the emotions.
Anyway, the first time Henderson actually spoke to Kobe was before a game.