Julius Randle paid tribute to his former teammate Kobe Bryant on March 11 ahead of the Los Angeles Lakers’ game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Randle, who began his NBA career with the Lakers and played alongside Bryant during his early years, wore a classic number 8 Kobe jersey before the matchup in Los Angeles.
Randle’s gesture highlights the lasting influence Bryant has had on players who shared the court with him. The forward spent four seasons with the Lakers, learning from Bryant both on and off the court. Despite suffering a season-ending injury in his rookie year, Randle was able to play alongside Bryant during his second season, which was also Bryant’s final year in the league.
During Tuesday night’s contest, Randle led Minnesota with 14 points but struggled along with his team as the Lakers secured a 14-point win and completed a sweep of their season series. The tribute came as Randle reflected on lessons learned from Bryant about basketball and resilience after injury—lessons he credits for helping him become an All-Star forward.
The night was notable for another reason involving Bryant’s legacy: Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo surpassed Bryant’s famous 81-point game by scoring 83 points in a victory over the Washington Wizards. Afterward, Adebayo spoke about what he believed Bryant would have said to him following such a performance.
Randle’s homage underscores how much impact Kobe Bryant continues to have across generations of NBA players.
