LeBron James pays tribute to late Kobe Bryant after NBA title: 'Hope I made you proud my brother'

NBA superstar LeBron James wrote a heartfelt tribute to the late Kobe Bryant days after clinching the Los Angeles Lakers’ 17th championship title.

“Hope I made you proud my brother!! Love and miss you champ!” James wrote in the caption of his Instagram post along with a photo of him and Bryant’s No. 24 jersey.

View this post on Instagram

Hope I’m made you proud my brother!! Love and miss you Champ!! ??? #BlackMamba 24•8•2❤️

A post shared by LeBron James (@kingjames) on Oct 14, 2020 at 7:41pm PDT

After Bryant’s untimely demise last January, James, who joined the Lakers in 2018, vowed to continue the NBA star’s legacy.

“I promise you I’ll continue your legacy man!” James wrote. “You mean so much to us all here especially #LakerNation?? and it’s my responsibility to put this sh*t on my back and keep it going.”

View this post on Instagram

I’m Not Ready but here I go. Man I sitting here trying to write something for this post but every time I try I begin crying again just thinking about you, niece Gigi and the friendship/bond/brotherhood we had! I literally just heard your voice Sunday morning before I left Philly to head back to LA. Didn’t think for one bit in a million years that would be the last conversation we’d have. WTF!! I’m heartbroken and devastated my brother!! ?????. Man I love you big bro. My heart goes to Vanessa and the kids. I promise you I’ll continue your legacy man! You mean so much to us all here especially #LakerNation?? and it’s my responsibility to put this shit on my back and keep it going!! Please give me the strength from the heavens above and watch over me! I got US here! There’s so much more I want to say but just can’t right now because I can’t get through it! Until we meet again my brother!! #Mamba4Life❤️?? #Gigi4Life❤️??

A post shared by LeBron James (@kingjames) on Jan 27, 2020 at 6:43pm PST

After securing the NBA title following a 106-93 victory over the Miami Heat, the Lakers’ Anthony Davis said in a post-game interview that they dedicate their championship victory to Bryant.

“He was a big brother to all of us. We did this for him.”

AD on winning the championship for Kobe #NBAFinals pic.twitter.com/mrMt3gDm8Y

— NBA TV (@NBATV) October 12, 2020

“Ever since the tragedy, all we wanted to do is do it for him, and we didn’t let him down,” Davis said. “It would have been great to do it last game in his jerseys, but it made us come down even more aggressive, even more powerful on both ends of the floor, to make sure we close it down tonight. I know he’s looking down on us proud of us. I know Vanessa proud of us, the organization’s proud of us. It means a lot to us.”

Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna were among the fatalities in a helicopter crash that killed seven other people in Calabasas, California last January.