"Heartbroken, Devastated" LeBron James Vows To Continue Kobe Bryant Legacy
In an Instagram post, LeBron James vowed to continue Kobe Bryant's championship legacy with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Highlights
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LeBron said he was "heartbroken, devastated" over Kobe Bryant's death
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LeBron vowed to continue Bryant's championship legacy with the LA Lakers
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LeBron made it clear he is still trying to process the shocking death
The Lakers have won 16 NBA titles in team history, one shy of the Boston Celtics' all-time record. Bryant won five titles in seven NBA Finals appearances, taking crowns in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2009 and 2010.
But the Lakers have suffered six consecutive losing seasons since their last playoff appearance, including the final three campaigns of Bryant's career.
This season, the Lakers have the second-best record in the NBA at 36-10 to lead the Western Conference, with James averaging 25.3 points, 7.7 rebounds and a league-best 10.7 assists a game.
James had reached the NBA Finals eight consecutive years and nine times in his career until last year's Lakers struggled in his first season with the club.
Bryant retired in 2016, the same year James fulfilled his life dream of winning an NBA title with his hometown club, the Cleveland Cavaliers, after having taken his first two crowns with the Miami Heat.
James led the Cavaliers into the NBA Finals the next two seasons, losing each time to Golden State, and in 2018 opted to leave Cleveland and join the Lakers.
James said his heart went out to Bryant's widow, Vanessa, and Kobe's surviving daughters.
"There's so much more I want to say but just can't right now because I can't get through it!" James wrote. "Until we meet again my brother!!"
James's message came alongside a photo of him in a Lakers uniform greeting Bryant as he rose from a courtside seat.