The NBA's All-Star weekend is really the only time during the season that the whole league comes together. Players are given the opportunity to see friends that play for different teams, and in the case of Kobe Bryant this year, celebrate his last time participating in the game.
Bryant will retire at the end of the 2015-16 season, and the All-Star weekend doubled as an early public retirement ceremony for the five-time champion, but he received some love from his peers behind the scenes as well.
TMZ Sports uncovered video of Bryant and his wife Vanessa at a celebratory dinner with fellow All-Stars Chris Paul, Dwyane Wade, and Carmelo Anthony. The three NBA stars roasted Bryant on stage, with highlights including Wade giving Bryant a year-long Netflix subscription to occupy all of his newfound free time, and Paul presenting Kobe with a cane to help him get around in his old age:
Melo also called Bryant his "big brother," and it was fun to see the obvious appreciation Bryant's contemporaries have for him, with Bryant saying he was "deeply honored" by all of the love from his friends. The retirement tour hasn't been without it's bumps, but moments like this have been pretty cool nonetheless.
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