With the L.A. Lakers now just two wins away from a ticket to the Conference Semi-Finals, excitement and pride and are ringing through the air in Staples Center.
Of course, these past two seasons have been the generation’s only experience with playoff success, and it’s obvious that Laker Nation has been craving it for some time now.
In the closing minutes of Game 3, the fans in the arena showed a bit of love and gratitude towards the late NBA legend Kobe Bean Bryant, who died in a helicopter crash in January of 2020.
With the victory sealed, chants of his name broke throughout the venue:
Lakers fans chanting “Kobe” in the final moments of their Game 3 win 🙏 https://t.co/Q3ENLHQCxa
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 28, 2021
Bryant was a 5x Champion in Los Angeles, ushering in one of their most successful eras to date. After nearly two decades of greatness, he retired from the game in 2016 as an 18x All-Star, 15x All-NBA player, and the NBA’s third All-Time leading scorer.
To match up to that legacy can’t be easy, but this Lakers team is certainly doing an admirable job.
In perhaps the toughest and strangest seasons ever, they rose to the occasion and stepped up to the call.
The only question now is, how far will it get them this year?
