The hoop-la over this guy! Los Angeles Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant will retire his No. 24 jersey against the Utah Jazz on Wednesday, April 13. After devoting his entire NBA career of 20 years to the California team, many celebrities and Bryant’s fellow athletes — including Olympians, basketball legends, soccer studs, football players and hockey pros — have all taken to social media to congratulate the legendary ball player on his remarkable career.
Days before Bryant’s final game, Nike released a special “Mamba Day” video featuring some of today’s brightest athletes paying their respects to the outgoing hoops star, 37. The list includes golf champions Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, NBA stars LeBron James and Kevin Durant, NFL standouts Odell Beckham Jr. and J.J. Watt, as well as tennis queen Serena Williams. The athletic wear brand also dubbed April 13 “Mamba Day,” playing off Bryant’s “Black Mamba” nickname.
Countless other athletes and stars also took to their respective Twitter and Instagram accounts to remember Bryant’s profound impact on the game. Us Weekly rounds up the posts below.
To my good friend @kobebryant. Thanks for all of the memories and inspiration. #legend #MambaDay (pic: @lakers) pic.twitter.com/GcautCkVyB
— Alex Rodriguez (@AROD) April 13, 2016
#MambaDay thanks for the memories 8,24 @kobebryant
— Aaron Rodgers (@AaronRodgers12) April 13, 2016
congrats on ur amazing career @kobebryant !! hmu next year when we both hav 2 much free time LOL! #MambaDay #realrecognizereal
— David Ortiz (@davidortiz) April 13, 2016
Congrats @kobebryant on an amazing career. One of the greatest to ever play the game! #ThankYouKobe #AliTweet
— Muhammad Ali (@MuhammadAli) April 13, 2016
@kobebryant “Heroes come and go, but legends are forever.” #mambaday #respect ?? pic.twitter.com/3F6xkMM5Bs
— Tony Parker (@tonyparker) April 13, 2016
The game is gonna miss you @kobebryant #MambaDay pic.twitter.com/gvZt7fmmAg
— Carmelo Anthony (@carmeloanthony) April 13, 2016
As a diehard @Lakers fan, thank you @kobebryant for all the memories and of course the 5 titles! pic.twitter.com/XsNb8Giy7Q
— Tiger Woods (@TigerWoods) April 12, 2016
I had the honor & pleasure calling @kobebryant my teammate. Thanks for everything you did for the game! #mambaday pic.twitter.com/fCZTV2N9sg
— Chris Bosh (@chrisbosh) April 13, 2016
.@kobebryant I’ve enjoyed every minute of your career. #ThankYouKobe for all of the fantastic memories! #MambaDay pic.twitter.com/W6X0S9kdOu
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) April 13, 2016
Dear @kobebryant, https://t.co/svt2ENoBBA
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) April 13, 2016
#MambaDay https://t.co/TAZizW0kvj
— LeBron James (@KingJames) April 13, 2016
@kobebryant #mambaday #salute ??? https://t.co/6f9p5tRSYN
— DWade (@DwyaneWade) April 13, 2016
Congrats on an amazing career! #kobe #MambaDay #legend ? pic.twitter.com/iqVzrFrWDn
— Rob Gronkowski (@RobGronkowski) April 12, 2016
Helluva career @kobebryant. Good luck with the second act. And bro, your shoes, ?. Still rock em’. #MambaDay https://t.co/Lg2jAZol47
— D-Ware (@DeMarcusWare) April 13, 2016
Spending 20 years at a job is commonplace. Spending 20 years at the highest level of basketball in the world & dominating. That’s legendary.
— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) April 13, 2016
Honoring a legend #mambaday #justdoit @nikecourt pic.twitter.com/EmS4pp4yRb
— Rafa Nadal (@RafaelNadal) April 13, 2016
#farewellmamba ??????? pic.twitter.com/pEOaojsJeL
— LA LA (@lala) April 13, 2016
To my good friend @kobebryant. Thanks for all of the memories and inspiration. #legend #MambaDay (pic: @lakers) pic.twitter.com/GcautCkVyB
— Alex Rodriguez (@AROD) April 13, 2016
You gave us everything…we thank you for that. @kobebryant #MambaDay https://t.co/mTe3F5FaXQ
— Zendaya (@Zendaya) April 13, 2016
My son says @kobebryant has played basketball his entire life & he doesn’t know what to do w/ himself now that he’s retiring I don’t either!
— Maria Shriver (@mariashriver) April 12, 2016
#MambaDay https://t.co/ON5JT3QWk9 // Photo by Robert Gauthier pic.twitter.com/eURbWXtAxl
— Red Hot ChiliPeppers (@ChiliPeppers) April 13, 2016
#MambaDay pic.twitter.com/fqTqojNkpv
— NE-YO (@NeYoCompound) April 13, 2016
@KobeBryant I still believe that you have so much left in you, I not only believe it, I know… https://t.co/1f30Uygvzb
— b r ?n d Y (@4everBrandy) April 13, 2016
Today is a SAD day in Sports… @kobebryant now its TIME for you to enjoy with your FAMILY and watching @FCBarcelona… Best WISHES!!!
— Juan Pablo Galavis™ (@JuanPaGalavis) April 13, 2016
I LOVE THIS. #MambaDay #24 https://t.co/V1Bk9MJkwu
— Michael Trevino (@Michael_Trevino) April 13, 2016
Happy #MambaDay!
So… @kobebryant, have you given any thought yet to what comes next?
Offer’s still on the table. pic.twitter.com/OPdV2XxAwe
— What a run. (@Indians) April 13, 2016
Salute. #MambaDay pic.twitter.com/mxCGgBnu18
— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) April 13, 2016
Farewell to the Red, White and Black Mamba.@kobebryant #BlackMamba #KobeDay #KobeBryant https://t.co/9eTUdZ963W pic.twitter.com/c48ifEGA3P
— NBC Olympics (@NBCOlympics) April 13, 2016
Nothing but love for #DukeFam @kobebryant #MambaDayhttps://t.co/he6v67QhCp
— Duke Basketball (@DukeMBB) April 13, 2016
Thanks for the memories, Mamba. #KB20https://t.co/PGTCGJz4wa
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) April 9, 2016
Today is @KobeBryant ‘s last game. #ThankYouKobe and good luck! ??https://t.co/5tmkEQjZg4
— Olympics (@Olympics) April 13, 2016
On the day of his final game, we honor @kobebryant. Love him or hate him, there’s no denying his legend. #MambaDay pic.twitter.com/5LMdFLXigX
— Angels (@Angels) April 13, 2016
.@kobebryant is playing his last game tonight, but it has been quite a memorable regular season for the #BlackMamba. https://t.co/6BPoUd07ws
— Twitter Moments (@TwitterMoments) April 13, 2016
8 & 24 on the floor #ThankYouKobe pic.twitter.com/j4B3W88Y5L
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) April 13, 2016
Many more to come. Watch the video above.
