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Watch: Kobe Bryant watches unveiling of retired jerseys, thanks fans

FILE - At left, in a Jan. 25, 2013, file photo, Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant goes up for a dunk during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Utah Jazz, in Los Angeles. At right, in a July 12, 1996, file photo, Kobe Bryant, 17, jokes with the media as he holds his Los Angeles Lakers jersey during a news conference in Inglewood, Calif. Two numbers go into the Staples Center rafters when the Los Angeles Lakers retire the jerseys of Kobe Bryant, the five-time NBA champion and top scorer in franchise history. The Lakers will hang No. 8 and No. 24, representing both halves of Bryant's storied 20-year career. (AP Photo/File)
FILE - At left, in a Jan. 25, 2013, file photo, Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant goes up for a dunk during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Utah Jazz, in Los Angeles. At right, in a July 12, 1996, file photo, Kobe Bryant, 17, jokes with the media as he holds his Los Angeles Lakers jersey during a news conference in Inglewood, Calif. Two numbers go into the Staples Center rafters when the Los Angeles Lakers retire the jerseys of Kobe Bryant, the five-time NBA champion and top scorer in franchise history. The Lakers will hang No. 8 and No. 24, representing both halves of Bryant's storied 20-year career. (AP Photo/File)
By Juliakate E Culpepper
Dec 19, 2017

Former Los Angeles Laker Kobe Bryant had his No. 8 and No. 24 jerseys retired Monday night by the Los Angeles Lakers at the Staples Center.

Bryant’s jerseys will become the 10th and 11th jerseys retired by the Lakers following in the footsteps of superstars like Wilt Chamberlain, Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and former teammate Shaquille O’Neal.

Bryant played for the Lakers from 1996-2016 and racked up five NBA Championships, 11 All-NBA First Team nominations, an MVP title in 2008 and Finals MVP titles in 2009 and 2010.

“(Your expectations) pushed me through,” Bryant said to Lakers fans during Monday’s ceremony. “It got me through those 300s and 400s and 100s at 5:30 in the morning, so I thank you.”

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Juliakate E Culpepper
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