This Sunday afternoon’s edition of the Lakers-Celtics rivalry is, of course, far different from any other game in the NBA’s most storied rivalry. It has been one month since the tragic passing of Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna, as well as seven others in a helicopter crash. Today’s game also precedes Monday’s public memorial for Kobe and Gigi at Staples Center. So with that on everybody’s mind, one former Boston Celtics legend paid tribute to the fallen Los Angeles Lakers icon. 11-time NBA champion and Celtics legend Bill Russell showed up to Sunday’s game wearing a white Kobe Bryant No. 24 jersey.
Respect from the greatest of rivals. Thank you, GOAT. pic.twitter.com/32IBSWEX6g
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) February 23, 2020
Lakers legend Magic Johnson also made sure to acknowledge the gesture made by Russell.
Magic Johnson with an ode to Bill Russell pic.twitter.com/sU1kmtqCnY
— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) February 23, 2020
It appears that Bryant’s NBA Finals rival Kevin Garnett is also in attendance for tonight’s meeting between the Celtics and Lakers. The Celtics ran the Lakers off of the floor in Boston on Jan. 20 in 139-107 win. Boston is on the second game of a four-game Western Conference road trip.
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