Devin Booker gets ‘Be Legendary’ tattoo to honor Kobe Bryant
Mar 4, 2020, 10:51 AM | Updated: 4:01 pm
The final time Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker played against Kobe Bryant in 2016, the late Los Angeles Lakers star signed a pair of shoes with the message telling Booker to “Be Legendary.”
Now, Booker has a reminder for life.
Booker’s first tattoo is a particularly meaningful one. On the Suns star’s arm is a copy of the message Bryant gave him. Booker shared pictures of it to Instagram on Monday.
Booker was just a rookie in Bryant’s final season, but by the time the Suns and Lakers matched up on March 23 for Bryant’s final game against Phoenix, it was already clear Booker had the talent to develop into an elite scorer.
That night, Booker dropped 28 points on 12-for-22 shooting and had seven assists as Phoenix downed the Lakers.
After the game, the 19- and 37-year-olds talked. Photos remain of Bryant smiling at Booker while icing down.
Devin Booker got "Be Legendary" tatted on him. Kobe wrote the same message on the KOBE XI PEs he gave Book in 2016 💜💛
(via @DevinBook, h/t Sneakercenter/Instagram) pic.twitter.com/D1jgnhcPXs
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) March 4, 2020
Bryant died in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, Calif. on Jan. 26. The crash killed nine people, including his 13-year-old daughter Gianna.
The basketball world has mourned since his passing. Different tributes around the league have honored him, including changing the name of the All-Star MVP trophy to the NBA All-Star Game Kobe Bryant MVP Award.
Booker now has a piece of Bryant with him forever as he tries to honor the legend’s legacy.
