Number 24 on the Lakers had his swansong in 2016, and he went out the same way he came in—as the best player on the court. Kobe dropped 60 in the dying embers of his NBA career in front of 19,000 fans that came just for him. But it wasn’t just about that one game; it was about the 20 years he put into the league, the rings he won, and the people he inspired along the way. One of them ended up being a fellow Olympian and present Lakers star, LeBron James.

When LeBron joined the league, Kobe was already in his prime. The Lakers legend had won three championships alongside Shaq and was consistently featuring in the All-NBA First Team. Bron might’ve been the ‘Chosen One’, but Bryant had already reached the promised land thrice in three years. The two stars battled hard over the years, playing against each other 22 times. But on August 24th, the King only had one game on his mind–the last they ever played together.

James, on his Instagram story, reposted an edit of the last time he and Kobe faced off. March 10th, 2016, was a bittersweet day. We got to see two of the best that the NBA has ever seen face off for the last time, and boy, was the game worth watching. “This is my last opportunity. My last game playing against one of the greatest to ever play this game, Kobe Bryant.” We saw a younger Bron say in the edit, talking about the heavy emotions surrounding the matchup.

“He’s done so much for our league, done so much for me personally, and obviously for the Lakers organization, everybody here in California. Much respect, much love for the Mamba.” The King, underneath his story post, commented a snake and an infinity emoji. It’s always Mamba Forever for the Lakers star, and for all of us as well!

And of course, LeBron James knew the perfect way to respect Kobe Bean Bryant was to play him hard. The Cavaliers were the better team headed into this matchup, and everyone knew it. Kobe showed out, putting up 26 points in a losing cause. Cleveland won, and Bron finished with his own personal tribute to the GOAT… a 24-point masterclass.

Over the years, both LeBron and Kobe forged a bond through fire. It took some time for the two to get close, but once they did? They were locked in for life.“We was on the Olympic team, we had a great relationship there,” LBJ said. “But it was always competitive between us. We were always like, I was on the east coast, he was on the west coast.” Let’s take a glance at their relationship over the years, leading up to Kobe’s untimely demise in 2020.

LeBron James breaks down the bond between him and Kobe

“I don’t ever question myself, but when it’s coming from Kobe, it definitely meant a lot.” Earlier this year, LeBron James sat down for a tell-all interview with Pat McAfee, and one of the things he did a deep dive on was his relationship with Kobe Bryant. Based on how supportive both stars were of each other in the late 2010s, fans assumed that they shared a long-standing friendship off the court. But the Lakers legend clarified that the two “never had a real relationship” until they spent some time on the court.

And to be honest? It makes sense. LeBron was 12 when Kobe Bryant was drafted into the NBA. He grew up watching the six-foot-six shooting guard, saw him reach the top, and decided he wanted to be right there with him. And when Bron entered the league, Kobe was a wily veteran, looking to continue his dominance for years to come. There weren’t many opportunities for them to bond, or get to know each other off the court.

Obviously, the Olympics were the turning point for LeBron and Kobe as individuals. Both of them had things to prove and laurels to bring home. But the most progress that they both made was after LeBron announced his move to the Lakers in 2018. Kobe Bryant, on ESPN radio, revealed that James’ decision changed everything between them.

“I spoke to him during the playoffs, and then I talked to him last night, right after the decision,” Bryant told Stephen A. Smith. “I told him, ‘Welcome to the family, man.’ It sounds crazy, but I said, ‘Dude, you are part of the family now. So anything you need on my end, I got you. Whatever the case may be, I am here for you.'”

LeBron needed the life-long Lakers endorsement, as he was met with a lot of pushback when he came to LA. And from there on out, the two were as thick as thieves. It wasn’t an uncommon sight to see Bron and Kobe laughing together, courtside at a Lakers game. They had a healthy, strong friendship. In fact, they got so close that when LeBron James passed Kobe on the all-time scoring leaderboard? The Black Mamba gave him a hearty congratulations.

Bron talked about how big that moment was for him. “And when I passed him in the scoring record in Philly, I think he had a tweet out there like, ‘Keep on going, keep transcending the game…’ That s— meant so much to me.” As fate would have it, Kobe’s congratulations on Jan 26th 2020, ended up being the last tweet that the Mamba wrote. But that just goes to show how deep the bond between the two Lakers was. They might’ve started off as rivals, but they finished as amazing friends and colleagues.