Magic Johnson & One More Lakers Legend Send Emotional Message on Kobe Bryant’s Birthday

Every Aug. 23, the same 2008 clip comes back: LeBron James leading Team USA teammates in singing “Happy Birthday” to Kobe Bryant on his 30th. This year, the messages came from two men who actually wore the same purple and gold. Magic Johnson and Pau Gasol both posted on what would have been Kobe Bryant’s 48th birthday.

Magic Johnson wrote, “I want to wish a happy heavenly birthday to Kobe Bryant!”

Pau Gasol went further: “As a teammate, as an opponent at times and, more importantly, as a brother, always uncondicional and eternal love. Happy birthday hermano, miss you.”

The posts arrived Sunday as the basketball world marked the date Kobe Bean Bryant was born in 1978.

Magic Johnson, the face of the Showtime Lakers, later served in the front office as an adviser and later became the Lakers President of Basketball Operations. Pau Gasol spent parts of seven seasons as Kobe’s teammate and won the 2009 and 2010 championships beside him.

Four of Gasol’s six All-Star nods came in Los Angeles. When he entered the Hall of Fame in 2023, the path had already been walked by the teammate he still calls brother.

The Lakers’ official account posted the same day: “Icon. Legend. Laker. Happy Birthday, Kobe.” Tomorrow, Aug. 24, Los Angeles observes Kobe Bryant Day - the 8/24 date that matches the two numbers he wore.

Pau Gasol Calls Kobe Bryant a Brother on What Would Have Been His 48th Birthday

Gasol’s tweet was the most personal of the day’s tributes. “Teammate” and “opponent at times” cover the basketball record. “Brother” and “eternal love” cover everything after.

They reached the Finals together in 2008. Then won the next two titles. Gasol has posted similar messages on previous birthdays, and the language has not softened.

Magic Johnson has made the date an annual ritual as well. Last year he listed Kobe as husband, girl dad, entrepreneur, friend, five-time champion, and “one of the greatest to ever lace them up.”

This year’s version was shorter. But the feeling was the same. Kobe and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna died in a helicopter crash in January 2020. Six and a half years later, the same two Lakers legends are still one of the ones who speak first.

Kobe Bryant would have turned 48 on Sunday. Magic Johnson and Pau Gasol did not send statements through a team or a foundation. They posted in their own voices, one from the generation that built the modern Lakers and one from the generation that won the last two titles of that era.