It’s a bittersweet day for basketball fans. Los Angeles Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant will play his last game ever tonight (April 13) against the Utah Jazz at the famed Staples Center. Fans are paying as much as $700 for nosebleed seats to this game, and for good reason. The chance to watch Bryant–a five-time NBA champion and the only first guard to last 20 seasons–play his final game on his home turf is priceless. (That explains why court-side tickets are a staggering $27,500 each, according to ABC News.)
And celebrities know this. The amount of love Bryant has received today from athletes and A-listers alike is truly overwhelming. From Zendaya to Maria Shriver and Magic Johnson, people love their Black Mamba. Here are some of the most touching messages to the great Mr. Bryant:
congrats on ur amazing career @kobebryant !! hmu next year when we both hav 2 much free time LOL! #MambaDay #realrecognizereal
— David Ortiz (@davidortiz) April 13, 2016
The game is gonna miss you @kobebryant #MambaDay pic.twitter.com/gvZt7fmmAg
— Carmelo Anthony (@carmeloanthony) April 13, 2016
Thank you for the memories @kobebryant! #MambaDay pic.twitter.com/deSgXYsljq
— Bryce Harper (@Bharper3407) April 13, 2016
#MambaDay https://t.co/TAZizW0kvj
— LeBron James (@KingJames) April 13, 2016
All Hail #MAMBADAY @KobeBryant pic.twitter.com/WgNGDVVDur
— Mike Trout (@MikeTrout) April 13, 2016
You gave us everything…we thank you for that. @kobebryant #MambaDay https://t.co/mTe3F5FaXQ
— Zendaya (@Zendaya) April 13, 2016
As a diehard @Lakers fan, thank you @kobebryant for all the memories and of course the 5 titles! pic.twitter.com/XsNb8Giy7Q
— Tiger Woods (@TigerWoods) April 12, 2016
I had the honor & pleasure calling @kobebryant my teammate. Thanks for everything you did for the game! #mambaday pic.twitter.com/fCZTV2N9sg
— Chris Bosh (@chrisbosh) April 13, 2016
gr8 to watch u play @kobebryant will miss it. u the best!!! #MambaDay pic.twitter.com/kbMMtw9tji
— Alex Ovechkin (@ovi8) April 13, 2016
My son says @kobebryant has played basketball his entire life & he doesn't know what to do w/ himself now that he's retiring I don't either!
— Maria Shriver (@mariashriver) April 12, 2016
Congrats to the toughest competitor I’ve faced @kobebryant. Incredible career #MambaDay pic.twitter.com/sB5HROw1j7
— Mike Conley (@mconley11) April 13, 2016
“I thought I was working hard until I met him!” –@kobebryant on MJ. Congrats to Kobe as he retires from the @Lakers! pic.twitter.com/1QvTwbP1dL
— Michael Jackson (@michaeljackson) April 13, 2016