Trae Young, Devin Booker Put Up Mamba-like Stat Lines As Tribute To Kobe Bryant

On the evening of his death, it seemed as if Kobe Bryant still wanted his presence to be felt inside the court for one last time.

As each of the 16 teams scheduled to play on Sunday paid their respects to the Los Angeles Lakers legend, newly announced NBA All-Star Game starter Trae Young and Phoenix Suns star Devin Booker took the tribute to their fallen hero to a higher level as they appeared to have put on the Black Mamba suit and posted stat lines that certainly identified the five-time champion.

The Atlanta Hawks sophomore guard wreaked havoc against the Washington Wizards, scoring 45 while taking 24 shots, and hitting 81 percent from the free-throw line - all these while abandoning his no. 11 jersey number to gear up instead with no. 8 – Bryant’s jersey number during the first half of his decorated career.

The 21-year-old former fifth overall draft pick also dished out 14 assists, making him the first player to have a 45-point double-double while taking less than 25 field goal attempts against the Wizards since Bryant on December 17, 2006.

Booker, on the other hand, finished with 36 points in the 114-109 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies while also taking 24 shots.

And this is where it gets more interesting and quite mind-blowing.

Apart from taking the same number of shot attempts that match Bryant’s famed second jersey number, the two players accounted for a combined 81 points – the 2008 MVP’s illustrious career-high in scoring. And as if it could not be more bizarre, their field goals made likewise totaled 24 with Young hitting 13 and Booker with 11.

At the start of the game against Memphis, Booker was seen holding back his tears while the Grizzlies held the leather to burn the 24-second shot clock as the team’s share of a tribute. Young, meanwhile, purposely took an eight-second backcourt violation at the onset of their match against the Wizards.

After the game, Young took to Twitter and said, “That one was for you. Rest easy, Kobe.”

And when he learned about the numbers he produced, the rising spitfire guard could not help but think that the late basketball icon was with him on the court. “Can’t make this up. He was with me tonight.”