All Magic Johnson could do was laugh when he talked about how competitive Kobe Bryant was about everything.
So, if Johnson has a statue outside Crypto.com Arena and Michael Jordan has a statue outside the United Center where the Chicago Bulls play, the Magic Man said, he knows what Kobe “Bean” Bryant would have said.
“They got a statue,” Johnson said. “Then I want a statue too.”
Johnson laughed again, his voice filled with pride because that day has come.
Bryant will have his statue unveiled Thursday outside the Lakers’ arena. He will join fellow Lakers legends Johnson, Jerry West, Shaquille O’Neal, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Elgin Baylor and Chick Hearn to be immortalized with the honor.
Bryant idolized Johnson and Jordan, two prominent figures in his basketball odyssey. Johnson won five NBA championships, all with the Lakers, the only team he played for. Bryant won all five of his titles with the Lakers, the only team he played for.