Lakers News: 6-Time Champ Pays Birthday Tribute To Kobe Bryant

Two of the NBA's greatest of all time.

On what would have been his 45th birthday, the late great Kobe Bryant received plenty of good wishes from various members of the NBA family.

Taking to Instagram to pay his respects to the Laker lifer, Scottie Pippen showed appreciation for his compatriot on the court, saluting him for his career and great legacy he left behind. 

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A post shared by Scottie Pippen (@scottiepippen)

Pippen made a name for himself with the Bulls in their 90s dynasty, being the Robin to Michael Jordan's Batman en route to six championships within eight years. 

Earning a reputation as one of the NBA's best defenders of all time, Pippen also revolutionized the small forward position as a wing who was exceptional at passing and distributing to other teammates. 

Bryant took after Pippen's defensive reputation building a name for himself as one the best guards on that side of the ball in the history of the game as well. 

The Laker was a gifted scorer and leader and Pippen saw such an ability first hand in the 2000 Western Conference Finals. 

With the Trail Blazers at that time, Pippen and Portland were minutes away from a Finals berth when Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal spearheaded a furious Laker comeback that would kick start the first of three straight championships.

Shaq's alley-oop dunk from the Black Mamba is a moment etched, not just in Laker history, but the NBA's story as Bryant would go on to win his first of five titles at the expense of Pippen and company. 

To his credit, Pippen doesn't seem too bothered by such a moment, at least enough to wish his fellow Hall of Famer a happy birthday, just as most of the NBA world has done for the legend. 

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