Only a few weeks after Kobe Bryant' s tragic death, his rival on the court, LeBron James — now in a Lakers uniform — couldn't even muster up the energy to get off his couch after the devastating news. He was hurt, and so was the world. But No. 23 knew he was responsible for carrying that Lakers torch, which the late L.A. legend passed onto him.
"I didn't really predetermine that either until I jumped," James said of his dunk against the Houston Rockets in Feb. 2020, per ESPN's Dave McMenamin. "I just jumped, and kind of figured it out, and then ... it's crazy how it's the same exact dunk, the same exact hoop that Kobe did [it on] -- what, 19 years ago or something like that? That was nice."
Seeing nothing but green grass ahead of him, James waited for teammate Avery Bradley to toss him the ball as he raced toward the basket. According to the superstar forward, his dunk — reminiscent of Bryant's in 2001 — came to his mind only after he had gone airborne.
Considering that many were still reeling over the death of the former Lakers guard, LeBron's breakaway slam was a reminder of what the organization embodied in Bryant's years with the team. It was an emotional moment, to say the least.
"It was pretty dope," expressed Lakers center JaVale McGee. "It was extremely accurate and damn near identical. That was pretty cool. ... That's really some legendary stuff right there."
James' message to the world
Even after his playing days, Bryant kept a connection to the Lakers and LeBron. Hours before his death, the Hall of Famer congratulated his former rival on social media for "moving the game forward" after he achieved another career milestone against the Philadelphia 76ers.
James also paid his respects to the five-time NBA champion when he passed him to reach third all-time in points. He mentioned how watching the teenage Kobe "being able to make that leap" from high school to the NBA greatly motivated him when he was younger.
After the tragic helicopter crash, the devastated James felt that it was his responsibility to take the reins and produce the best possible outcome for the Lakers franchise that season. Although it was a tall task, "The Chosen One" was ready to carry his team to a championship.
" I promise you I'll continue your legacy, man! You mean so much to us all here, especially #LakerNation, and it's my responsibility to put this (expletive) on my back and keep it going!!," LeBron wrote on Instagram.
Related: Rashad McCants says he respects Reggie Miller's legacy more than LeBron's: "Reggie didn't have nowhere near the pieces that LeBron had"
Delivering on his promise
The season couldn't have ended on a higher note. The 2019-20 Lakers, known for their chemistry and upbeat playstyle, won an unprecedented championship in an unforgettable year. After the season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic, James entered the NBA Bubble in Orlando with maybe the biggest chip on his shoulder he's ever had.
Determined to continue Bryant's legacy, LeBron averaged 27.6 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 8.8 assists on 56.0% shooting overall and 37.0% from the 3-point line in the Bubble. With the help of superstar teammate Anthony Davis, the duo authored some sparkling performances en route to the franchise's first NBA title since Kobe's Lakers in 2010.
Related: "I wasn't comfortable with shooting the ball at that point" - LeBron James credits shared that the 2007 loss forced him to work on his shooting
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