Former Lakers players commemorate Kobe Bryant on his 48th birthday
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Aug 23, 2026, 9:06 PM
Last updated Aug 23, 2026
August 23 marks what would have been the 48th birthday of Lakers great Kobe Bryant, who died in a helicopter crash in January 2020. Former teammates and other NBA figures took to X (formerly Twitter) to share tributes. Pau Gasol expressed his love for his teammate, calling him family, while Caron Butler and Mychal Thompson also commemorated the occasion with heartfelt messages. Lakers legend Magic Johnson wished Bryant a happy heavenly birthday.
- •Kobe Bryant would have turned 48 on August 23, 2026.
- •Pau Gasol referred to Bryant as family in his tribute.
- •Caron Butler and Mychal Thompson shared their memories of Bryant.
- •Magic Johnson also posted a birthday tribute on social media.
- •Bryant remains an iconic figure in basketball history.
- 9:06 PMYahoo Sports — Former Lakers players wish Kobe Bryant a happy birthday
"Sunday, Aug. 23 would've been Lakers legend Kobe Bryant's 48th birthday.
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