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Los Angeles celebrates 'Kobe Bryant Day'

LOS ANGELES — It’s been a whirlwind retirement for Kobe Bryant.

On Monday, the Los Angeles Lakers legend rang the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange to unveil his new $100 million venture-capital fund. Tuesday, he celebrated his 38th birthday. And on Wednesday, he was back in the city where he won five NBA titles, as the Los Angeles City Council declared Aug. 24 “Kobe Bryant Day.”

The date marks the two jersey numbers (8 and 24) Bryant wore during his 20 years with the club. Laker faithful packed into the City Council chambers, frequently breaking out into familiar chats of “Ko-be, Ko-be, Ko-be,” as Mayor Eric Garcetti and a long list of city officials took turns honoring Bryant.

“Kobe Bryant has taught all of us in Los Angeles, that this city has a fighting spirit,” Garcetti said. “It doesn’t matter how down you are, it doesn’t matter what hardships you face. Keep showing up, keep practicing and, yes, keep winning.”

Seemingly every councilmember in attendance had a personal story to tell about Bryant and what he means to the City of Angels. They praised his work ethic, his loyalty to the Lakers (yes, a few shots were taken at certain league superstars) and his philanthropy, particularly his involvement in the fight against youth homelessness.

“No matter where you live in L.A. throughout our incredibly diverse city, when Kobe Bryant and the Lakers were playing, we were all Angelenos, united watching greatness the likes of which we will rarely see again,” said Councilmember Jose Huizar.

Before Bryant could take the mic, the adoring crowd joined together to serenade him with a belated rendition of “Happy Birthday.”

Flanked by his pregnant wife, Vanessa, and his two daughters, Natalia and Gianna, Bryant then briefly addressed the group, calling the experience “surreal” while keeping his eyes firmly fixated on the challenges that lie ahead.

(AP)
(AP)

“I hope that this legacy extends beyond basketball,” Bryant said. “I hope that Aug. 24, this day, is a celebration of passion and hard work, dedication and mentorship. Because teaching the next generation how to achieve greatness is really what it’s all about and together as a city we can do this.

“We only play for one thing in this city, and that’s championships … We need each other to do it. And together we will do that, and certainly we will win championship after championship.”

Speaking to the media after the ceremony, Bryant said it wasn’t until he was 17 years into his NBA career that he figured out what his post-basketball life would look like.

“What you understand as athletes, once you hang up the first passion you have to find something that you’re just as passionate about,” Bryant said. “It’s very difficult. It was difficult for me. … It’s a lot of hard work, it’s a lot of reading.”

Of course, part of this new life after basketball will be performing daddy duties for his and Vanessa’s yet-to-be-born baby girl. Bryant acknowledged that he will need his daughters’ help in explaining to their little sister why exactly their dad has a day named for him.

“She’s gonna have no idea I was actually OK at playing basketball,” he said.