Magic Johnson honors Kobe Bryant with commemorative letter

By foxsports
Published

With apologies to Jerry West, Elgin Baylor and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, it's fair to say that Kobe Bryant and Magic Johnson are the two best players in Los Angeles Lakers history. Between them, they've led the organization to 10 championships and have their names scattered atop just about every all-time statistical category. 

With Bryant's 20-year career officially coming to a close on Wednesday night, Johnson decided to pen a letter commemorating all his fellow Laker's towering accomplishments (via The Playbook):

Every night you played, I couldn’t wait to watch knowing that I would witness an unbelievable shot or move that I had never seen on the court. I marveled at the skills and loved the energy you brought to the game wearing that purple and gold uniform. You never disappointed the city, Laker fans, and basketball fans worldwide. All you cared about was winning games and championships and that’s why so many people love you. You will join a legendary list of Laker greats and Hall of Famers. Their jerseys hang proudly from the rafters in Staples Center and soon yours will shine next to them; from Gail Goodrich, Jerry West, Elgin Baylor and Wilt Chamberlain to Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Jamaal Wilkes, James Worthy and Shaquille O’Neal. Very few people have changed the game of basketball but you will be recognized as one of them alongside my “Dream Team” teammates, Larry Bird and Michael Jordan.

Bryant deserves a statue outside Staples Center, and someday he'll get it. Did he transcend the league like Magic, Larry Bird and Michael Jordan did? That's certainly up for debate, but what isn't is his iconic status as one of the greatest guards who ever lived—a roaring competitor whose tireless work ethic is borderline unparalleled.