The Los Angeles Lakers were on the road once again on Sunday night with NBA history set to be made at the Target Center. Kobe Bryant came into the game against the Minnesota Timberwovles only nine points shy of passing Michael Jordan on the NBA’s all-time scoring list with many anticipating he’d pass that mark early.
With a trip to the charity stripe late in the first half, Kobe was able tie and then pass Jordan by hitting both free throws to improve his career point total to 32,293. Bryant now sits behind only two players who happen to be former Lakers Karl Malone (36,928) and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (38,387) on the list of the league’s greatest scorers.
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Once the news broke of Kobe passing Jordan on Sunday, the reactions started to pour in on Twitter. Along with the Lakers congratulating the face of the franchise for arguably his greatest milestone yet, many others expressed their admiration and respect for the future Hall of Famer.
Here’s a compilation of the notable former and current players to congratulate Kobe for his latest achievement:
Magic Johnson (Twitter: @MagicJohnson)
Congrats to @kobebryant on passing his idol Michael Jordan for 3rd on the NBA All-Time scoring list!
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) December 15, 2014
Laker fans we've been so blessed to watch Kobe Bryant, one of the top 5 or 6 best players ever, play in a Lakers uniform!
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) December 15, 2014
LeBron James (Twitter: @KingJames)
Congrats Bean! @kobebryant #ThirdAllTime #LivingLegend
— LeBron James (@KingJames) December 15, 2014
Los Angeles Lakers (Twitter: @Lakers)
With those two free throws, Kobe Bryant adds to his legend by becoming the third-highest scorer in NBA history. pic.twitter.com/f0rhADUk4j
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) December 15, 2014
Michael Jordan via ESPN’s Baxter Holmes (Twitter: @BaxterHolmes)
Michael Jordan statement on Kobe Bryant: pic.twitter.com/5kWDGe4osc
— Baxter Holmes (@BaxterHolmes) December 15, 2014
Richard Hamilton (Twitter: @RipCityHamilton)
Congrats to my bro @kobebryant for passing MJ on the NBA all- time scoring list. #WellDeserved #Congrats http://t.co/079aVXhjrJ
— Rip Hamilton (@ripcityhamilton) December 15, 2014
Brandon Jennings (Twitter: @BrandonJennings)
Congrats @kobebryant that's a lot of buckets mannnnnn pic.twitter.com/Xkn7uywnvx
— BRANDON JENNINGS (@BrandonJennings) December 15, 2014
James Worthy (Twitter: @JamesWorthy)
Congrats! to @kobebryant who patterned his game after MJ. #Lakers pic.twitter.com/M4B9pYKo6L
— James Worthy (@JamesWorthy42) December 15, 2014
Pau Gasol (Twitter: @PauGasol)
I'm so proud of @kobebryant on the Tremendous accomplishment on surpassing #MJ on the all-time scoring list. Keep making history brother!
— Pau Gasol (@paugasol) December 15, 2014
Caron Butler (Twitter: @realtuffjuice)
Congrats to @kobebryant on his milestone #Great#Mamba#Family pic.twitter.com/t3Ae3Ak12j
— Caron Butler (@realtuffjuice) December 15, 2014
Reggie Miller (Twitter: @ReggieMillerTNT)
Congrats to the Black Mamba (Kobe) on passing the Black Cat (MJ), two of the best to ever do it.. #GreatnessPersonified
— Reggie Miller (@ReggieMillerTNT) December 15, 2014
Nick Young (Instagram: SwaggyP)
Jeremy Lin (Twitter: @jlin7)
Congrats @kobebryant on 3rd all-time!! And a great team win for 3 in a row! #kobegetsbuckets #purpleandgold
— Jeremy Lin (@JLin7) December 15, 2014
Jamal Crawford (Twitter: @JCrossover)
Salute to @kobebryant, one of the best we've ever seen. pic.twitter.com/HNkDFOhbww
— Jamal Crawford (@JCrossover) December 15, 2014
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Twitter: @kaj33)
@NBA @kobebryant Congrats to #KobeBryant on reaching another milestone. I just couldn't say it in 140 characters.. https://t.co/SWgkLkhtIh
— Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (@kaj33) December 15, 2014
Ryan Kelly (Instagram: RyanKelly34)
Jordan Clarkson (Instagram: jclark5on)
Carlos Boozer (Instagram: mrcbooz)
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