Highlights, Top Reaction from Kobe Bryant's Lakers Jerseys Retirement Ceremony

The list of all-time great Los Angeles Lakers reads like a who's who of basketball royalty, but the list of players with two different jersey numbers hanging in the Staples Center rafters is a short one.

Kobe Bryant.

Bryant's Nos. 8 and 24 were retired by the Lakers on Monday during halftime of their game against the Golden State Warriors in a celebration that started with his Dear Basketball video essay on the jumbotron:

Lakers president of basketball operations and franchise legend Magic Johnson, owner Jeanie Buss and Bryant himself gave speeches during the ceremony, with each highlighting a different thing about his career.

Johnson reflected on the memorable performances from the superstar and turned heads when he called Bryant the "greatest who ever wore the Purple and Gold." He exclaimed "there will never, ever be another Kobe Bryant" before Buss explained the Lakers' decision to retire both jerseys boiled down to the fact Bryant would have qualified for the Hall of Fame for just his career in each of them.

Given his place in Lakers lore, Bryant's jersey retirement ceremony was going to be an event worthy of extended celebration regardless of what number was chosen. Picking both added an element of uniqueness, but it wasn't without statistical merit.

NBA on TNT and Micah Adams of ESPN Stats & Info broke down just how incredible Bryant's career was in each jersey, let alone when his production was combined:

"

Two jerseys. One Mamba. #Ko8e24 pic.twitter.com/dYslXvpt9i

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) December 18, 2017"

The jerseys were unveiled after Buss' speech and before Bryant took the microphone and thanked his wife, Vanessa, as well as his daughters. He also expressed his love for the Lakers fans and ended with "Mamba out."

For all the statistical marvels that led to the celebration and speeches, Bryant's former coach, Phil Jackson, reminded everyone of the most important total:

Jackson wasn't the only marquee figure from Bryant's career to weigh in on his place in history Monday.

Former teammate Shaquille O'Neal ranked Bryant ahead of the likes of Magic Johnson, Wilt Chamberlain, Jerry West and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar when discussing the best players to ever wear a Lakers uniform:

It wasn't just Lakers who reacted, as LeBron James and others in the sports world pointed to the inspiration Bryant provided:

Plenty of basketball legends were in attendance:

Bryant is well on his way to the Basketball Hall of Fame as a five-time champion, league MVP, two-time NBA Finals MVP, 15-time All-NBA member, 18-time All-Star and two-time scoring champion, but the memorable moments defined his career as much as his resume of accomplishments.

Fans will always remember the 81-point night against the Toronto Raptors in 2006, the 60-point performance in the final game of his career in 2016, the famous alley-oop to O'Neal in Game 7 of the 2000 Western Conference Finals against the Portland Trail Blazers that spearheaded three straight titles or even the two made free throws after he tore his Achilles in 2013. 

It is those moments as much as anything that seared Bryant into the psyche of a generation of NBA fans as one of the most remarkable players to ever take the floor in Lakers or basketball history.

Monday's celebration was the culmination of those memories for the only NBA fanbase he ever knew.