Athletes, teams pay tribute to Kobe Bryant before his final game

The sports world is saluting Lakers legend Kobe Bryant before the final game of his career.

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Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant will play the final game of his 20-season career on Wednesday, and many athletes and teams across the sports world have found ways to pay tribute to Bryant upon his retirement.

FC Barcelona created a tribute video for Bryant that included comments from Andres Iniesta and Gerard Pique. TNT analyst and former player Charles Barkley wore special “Mamba Day” shoes on air and said it had been “an honor and privilege” to watch Bryant play. 

Many NBA teams hosting Bryant for the final time honored him with pre-game tribute packages.

[youtube:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkUl4sSjp9k]

[youtube:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIn50SAaefc]

Some NBA legends, such as former Lakers guard Jerry West and Hornets owner Michael Jordan, gave Kobe their own special goodbyes.

Other athletes took to Twitter to salute Bryant.

Thank you for the memories @kobebryant!🙌🏼🔥 #MambaDay pic.twitter.com/deSgXYsljq

— Bryce Harper (@bryceharper3) April 13, 2016

To my good friend @kobebryant. Thanks for all of the memories and inspiration. #legend #MambaDay (pic: @lakers) pic.twitter.com/GcautCkVyB

— Alex Rodriguez (@AROD) April 13, 2016

Can't wait to wear these babies #mambaday #justdoit pic.twitter.com/OITqpQjRER

— Genie Bouchard (@geniebouchard) April 12, 2016

Honoring a legend #mambaday #justdoit @nikecourt pic.twitter.com/EmS4pp4yRb

— Rafa Nadal (@RafaelNadal) April 13, 2016

All Hail #MAMBADAY @KobeBryant pic.twitter.com/WgNGDVVDur

— Mike Trout (@MikeTrout) April 13, 2016

Thank you for the memories @kobebryant!🙌🏼🔥 #MambaDay pic.twitter.com/deSgXYsljq

— Bryce Harper (@bryceharper3) April 13, 2016

Thank you my friend, for everything that you did for this city, we will miss you. YOU ARE THE BEST! 👍🏽👌🏽🏀#mambaday pic.twitter.com/EDpp6Nz9gK

— Yasiel Puig (@YasielPuig) April 11, 2016

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

Nike rolled out a Mamba Day campaign, and stars such as Odell Beckham Jr., Rob Gronkowski, Tiger Woods, Alessandro Florenzi, Mo Farah and Allyson Felix all contributed by tweeting corresponding images. The shoe company also released a video with athletes discussing their Kobe memories.

[youtube:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Hi0skAwlHM]

Rapper Kendrick Lamar made a tribute video of his own with a song mentioning the highlights of Bryant’s career.