Kobe Bryant’s LeBron James tribute from 5 years ago leaves fans teary-eyed: “Crazy last tweet”

Fans were left emotional after Kobe Bryant's last tweet honoring LeBron James surfaced 5 years after he passed away.

Kobe Bryant’s LeBron James tribute from 5 years ago leaves fans teary-eyed: “Crazy last tweet”

Kobe Bryant had a special tribute for LeBron James

Five years ago, on 26th January 2020, the late great Kobe Bryant passed away in a tragic helicopter crash that left the NBA and the world stunned. Five years to that day, fans continue to honor the legacy he left behind, especially his legacy of honoring the greats of the game. Digging back in time, it’s quite emotional to see Bryant’s last tweet being about fellow Laker legend LeBron James.

Before his passing, Kobe Bryant had been an ardent fan of the game and was present at the Crypto.com Arena (Staples Center at the time) when LeBron James passed Bryant on the all-time points scored leaderboard. The two embraced and shared their respect for each other, following which Bryant would tweet his last message – an ode to James’ pushing the game forward.

YouTube video

Continuing to move the game forward @KingJames. Much respect my brother #33644.

Kobe Bryant wrote

Unfortunately, just a day after Bryant posted his heartfelt tribute, he passed away under tragic circumstances. At the time, he had been hoping to see the Lakers, under James and Anthony Davis, win the Lakers their first championship since 2010. Bryant had even played a key role in recruiting both James and Davis to join the Lakers to turn his storied franchise into title contenders again.

FS Video

Of course, as history goes, Kobe Bryant’s wishes still ended up being fulfilled. LeBron James and Anthony Davis turned up the heat and would lead the Lakers to win their first NBA championship in a decade during the 2020 NBA Bubble. They would dedicate the championship victory and their season to Bryant’s legacy in a moment that feels hard to capture in words.

RELATED
Ex-GM of $9 billion NBA franchise pities Jeanie Buss and Rob Pelinka’s troubles with Lakers trades
Bob Myers Lakers Rob Pelinka and Jeanie Buss

Fans left emotional after Kobe Bryant’s LeBron James tribute resurfaces

As the anniversary of Kobe Bryant’s passing approached, fans of the legendary basketball player were obviously emotional. Bryant had been an inspiration and idol for millions across the world, and his final tribute to LeBron James was in the spotlight. For his last tweet to be about James was quite the coincidence for fans, given the rivalry the two shared on the court.

RELATED
(Video) Anthony Edwards gets cosign from ‘OG’ Kevin Garnett with stunning commercial
Timberwolves Anthony Edwards and Kevin Garnett

Of course, it is well-known that Bryant and James shared a deep respect for each other. Since his passing, James has often spoken about the inspiration Bryant provided to him, especially at the 2008 Olympic Games where they both shared the court together. The Laker legacy that Bryant once carried is now in the hands of LeBron James, as he vowed to do in 2020.