Where has all the time gone? For most of us on the fringes of being a millennial, it was just yesterday that Kobe Bryant was taking to the NBA court as a wide-eyed teenager and potentially the next great player.
Now, decades later, Bryant has turned 40 years old. It just makes no sense. We really want to know where all of those years went.
Kobe himself agrees.
.@kobebryant feeling 40 years young 💪 pic.twitter.com/ykO80iJqoz
— ESPN (@espn) August 23, 2018
As the Black Mamba celebrates his 40th birthday the only way he can, the sports world paid tribute on Thursday.
“I don’t think words can explain what Kobe Bryant meant to the game of basketball.”
Current NBA players pay tribute to the Black Mamba 🏀🐍 pic.twitter.com/OifHCsPnzP
— NBA TV (@NBATV) August 23, 2018
Celebrating @KobeBryant's 40th Birthday… with his TOP 40 PLAYS! #Kobe40 pic.twitter.com/0i2T0AMX1t
— NBA (@NBA) August 23, 2018
Kobe's rookie highlights with the @Lakers 🔥
Happy Birthday to the 5x champ, @kobebryant. #Kobe40 pic.twitter.com/EL0KJQ0uBb
— NBA Draft (@NBADraft) August 23, 2018
The number 40 is nothing new for @kobebryant. #Kobe40
🔊 Sound on 🔊 pic.twitter.com/dfstU5znw5
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) August 23, 2018
Today is Kobe Bryant's 40th birthday
Kobe scored 40 points in a game 122 times in his career. Only Wilt Chamberlain (271) and Michael Jordan (173) did it more frequently. pic.twitter.com/yLICEFcuPX
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) August 23, 2018
Lamar Odom with an emotional birthday message for Kobe Bryant pic.twitter.com/9AoUbPXlCR
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) August 23, 2018
Happy birthday to one of my mentors and my favorite player of all time @kobebryant
— Isaiah Thomas (@isaiahthomas) August 23, 2018
Happy 40th birthday to @kobebryant. He had so many memorable moments on the court but for whatever reason one of my favorites will always be talking to him before a preseason game in Ontario six years ago. Kobe at his IDGAF best. #Kobe40 pic.twitter.com/4Nd0AtxSNp
— Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) August 23, 2018
Happy 40th Birthday to NBA legend and #Eagles fan @kobebryant! #Kobe40 | #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/FOQJBZkgqW
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) August 23, 2018
Welcome to the 40 club, @KobeBryant! Blessed to call you a teammate all those years, and a friend! #HBD #TBT pic.twitter.com/KAY6c1uHVw
— Derek Fisher (@derekfisher) August 23, 2018
.@kobebryant and @SHAQ reminisce on all the ups and downs that defined their relationship in L.A. pic.twitter.com/crGSVNe6KU
— NBA TV (@NBATV) August 23, 2018
Happy 40th to @kobebryant 🐍👑 ! My biggest inspiration #mambamentality #MambaDay pic.twitter.com/pcmVQmtgq4
— Elina Monfils (@ElinaSvitolina) August 23, 2018
Happy b day to the Goat @kobebryant
— Darius Slay (@bigplay24slay) August 23, 2018
Happy Birthday Kobe Bryant!!
Celebrate by watching "The Book of Antetokounmpo" by @KobeBryant:#Kobe40 | #FearTheDeer pic.twitter.com/Lhd29stfmx
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) August 23, 2018
Happy 40th to my guy @kobebryant #MambaMentality 🙌
— kuz (@kylekuzma) August 23, 2018