NBA Star Russell Westbrook Posts Sincere Instagram Story For Kobe Bryant

Denver Nuggets star Russell Westbrook made a post to his Instagram story for Kobe Bryant.
Feb 14, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Western Conference forward Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers (24) hugs All Star game MVP guard Russell Westbrook of the Oklahoma City Thunder (0) as he leaves the court for his last NBA All Star Game at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
Feb 14, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Western Conference forward Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers (24) hugs All Star game MVP guard Russell Westbrook of the Oklahoma City Thunder (0) as he leaves the court for his last NBA All Star Game at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images / Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

Sunday marked the five-year anniversary of Kobe Bryant's passing.

The Los Angeles Lakers legend is one of the most influential players of all time, and many around the NBA world made posts for him.

One person who made a post (via his Instagram story) was Denver Nuggets star Russell Westbrook.

Westbrook wrote: "24 8 Miss you bro"

Russell Westbrook IG Story
Russell Westbrook IG Story / Jan 27

Westbrook and Bryant faced off 33 times over their careers.

In those machups, Westbrook had an 18-15 advantage.

NBA
Jan 8, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (left) moves the ball as Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (right) defends during the third quarter at Staples Center. The Oklahoma City Thunder won 117-113. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-Imagn Images / Kelvin Kuo-Imagn Images

Their most recent meeting came on Apirl 11, 2016, when the Thunder beat the Lakers by a score of 112-79.

Westbrook had 13 points, ten rebounds and 14 assists.

Westbrook after that game (h/t Lakers Nation): "Growing up in LA. Young boy watching the Lakers and watching him kind of take over the town and to be here now in the NBA. Being a part of his last game is something special to me. It's a blessing and it's something I'll never take for granted."

Bryant spent all 20 seasons of his career playing for the Lakers.

He led them to five NBA Championships.

The 18-time NBA All-Star had career averages of 25.0 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.4 steals per contest while shooting 44.7% from the field and 32.9% from the three-point range in 1,346 games.

As for Westbrook, the future Hall of Famer is in his first year playing for the Nuggets.

The nine-time NBA All-Star has also spent time with the OKC Thunder, Los Angeles Lakers, Houston Rockets, LA Clippers and Washington Wizards over 17 years.


Published |Modified
Ben Stinar
BEN STINAR

Ben Stinar is the NBA reporter for Fastbreak on FanNation.