The Los Angeles Lakers retired Kobe Bryant's No. 8 and No. 24 jerseys on Monday night in a halftime ceremony during the team's game against the Golden State Warriors.
Los Angeles opted to retire both numbers since Bryant, who retired in 2016, spent his first 10 seasons wearing No. 8, then his final 10 in No. 24.
A cast of ESPN reporters were at Staples Center to capture the scene before, during and after Bryant's big night.
Scenes from Staples
Kobe Bryant poses with No. 8 and No. 24 jerseys and his family, Lakers president of basketball ops Magic Johnson, owner Jeanie Buss and general manager Rob Pelinka.
Kobe Bryant addresses the Staples Center crowd after his No. 8 and No. 24 jerseys were raised into the rafters.
Kobe Bryant closed his halftime speech to the fans by thanking them and adding, "I love you." Then, just as he did after his 60-point finale, Bryant declared "Mamba out" and placed the microphone on the hardwood.
Shaquille O'Neal has arrived. He will DJ Kobe Bryant's pre-party at Staples Center.
Kobe said he would pick No. 24 if he had to pick one number to retire.
No. 24 or No. 8? Regardless of your preference, Kobeland has both of Kobe Bryant's numbers covered.
New Era is selling this black Kobe Bryant snapback for $8,024. Only eight were made. The hat features an 18 karat gold pin and a black ostrich visor.
Actor David Arquette poses with Laker Sign Guy's "Ko-be" sign.
Fans sitting courtside at tonight's Lakers-Warriors game will receive a Kobe Bryant "Robojam" helicopter action figure.
Kobe Bryant's No. 8 and No. 24 jerseys will be split by Chick Hearn's microphone.
The Lakers will host Kobeland, a street festival outside of Staples Center, before Kobe Bryant's jersey retirement tonight.
Players, coaches get personal
Former Lakers forward and Kobe Bryant teammate Caron Butler says he prefers the No. 8 version of Bryant to the No. 24 version because of championships.
Lonzo Ball on what Kobe Bryant meant to him while he grew up idolizing LeBron James: "I feel like my game's more like LeBron's than Kobe's so I think that's why I gravitated toward his game more but Kobe's one of the best to ever do it and I'm glad both of his jerseys [are being] retired."
Kevin Durant recalled one of his most memorable Kobe Bryant moments, back when Durant was playing for the Oklahoma City Thunder, who at the time held a big lead over Bryant's Los Angeles Lakers during a regular-season game a few years back. "We were beating them pretty good in OKC," Durant said, "and he said, 'You can have this game, [but] you can’t sit at my table.'" [Bryant, at that point, had five championships.] "That was a nice little jab right there," Durant added. "As a young player, you feel like you’re coming up quick, and you feel like you’re establishing yourself and then you have a guy who’s on another level as far as accomplishments and experience and it puts you back down on another level. It was humbling, but it was also motivation."
Brandon Ingram says he thinks every day about how he has Kobe Bryant's old locker at Staples and how much of an honor it is. He says trying to work as hard as Bryant will help him deal with the pressure of filling Bryant's void.
Kobe Bryant's former Lakers teammates like Carlos Boozer, Corie Blount and Ruben "Kobe Stopper" Patterson have strolled in already for the jersey retirement. "I wouldn't miss this for the world," Boozer said.
Since it's Kobe day, here's what Spurs coach Gregg Popovich had to say about him: "Kobe is one of those guys every coach in the world says, 'It would have been great to have an opportunity to coach that guy.' That's the best thing I could say about him. It says everything. One of the greatest players of all time. It's not just his talent or his physical skills. His mind was on a par with Michael [Jordan], Larry [Bird] and Magic [Johnson]. Guys like that knew what was going on, and then on top of that, really phenomenal competitiveness. It's not just the talent, it's the mind, the grit and the guts of who he is, and he wanted to compete night after night, which is what made him Kobe Bryant."
Warriors coach Steve Kerr was informed before the game that during his playing career, he held a 10-5 advantage over Kobe Bryant in regular-season match-ups. In those games, Bryant averaged 23.8 points and Kerr averaged 3.0, but, Kerr said with a laugh to reporters during his pregame session, "Mark that down: 10-5, one-on-one, head-to-head battles, Kobe vs. me." Kerr jokingly pumped his fist a couple times as he recited the stat.
Social reactions
Congrats @kobebryant!! Dayuumm man NOT1, NOT 2.. ok it is 2 jerseys going up! Amazing G and appreciate the inspiration from a far u didn't know growing up! #Ko8e24 #Mamba🐍 #Immortalized
— LeBron James (@KingJames) December 19, 2017
Wish I could be there tonight. Congrats @kobebryant. #Ko8e24 pic.twitter.com/a98uiRpP8k
— Stephen Curry (@StephenCurry30) December 19, 2017
You deserve this one and all the recognitions in the world. Thank you for bringing so much to the sport of basketball #brother!
— Pau Gasol (@paugasol) December 18, 2017
Te mereces este y todos los reconocimientos del mundo. Gracias por todo lo que has aportado a este deporte #hermano! #Ko8e24 pic.twitter.com/bM3ySD83jX
No better day to return to Twitter than today. On my way to @STAPLESCenter to see @kobebryant get his jerseys retired. #brother4life pic.twitter.com/GK90ERVB90
— LAMAR ODOM (@RealLamarOdom) December 19, 2017
It was an honor competing against young #8. You could see right away he had the ability and more importantly the desire to be great. #Ko8be24 pic.twitter.com/lt3vgVcQ6L
— Scottie Pippen (@ScottiePippen) December 19, 2017
Congrats Bean on a career that will be remembered for generations!! #Mamba #Ko8e24 pic.twitter.com/ZkVWNdDx6C
— Chris Paul (@CP3) December 19, 2017