Kobe Bryant gazed up at the Golden State videoboard on Thursday, watching as the man responsible for making him a Laker paid tribute to the retiring legend.
Warriors executive and Lakers great Jerry West spoke at length toward Bryant, who played his final game in Oakland that day.
“That was a tough one for me to get through,” Bryant said after the game. “That got me a little bit.”
Then the Lakers’ General Manager, West was the one chiefly responsible for trading all-star center Vlade Divac to Charlotte in exchange for the kid from Lower Merion High School.