Portland Trailblazers All-Star Damian Lillard has dropped a new track honoring the late Los Angeles Lakers legend, Kobe Bryant. The recently-revealed cover star for NBA2K21 pays homage to the 2008 league MVP and five-time NBA champion Bryant, who died along with his daughter Gigi and eight others in a January 26 helicopter crash near Calabasas, Calif. The NBA Hall of Famer was 41 years old.
Lillard has always had reverence for Bryant. Back in February, Damian dedicated his scorching 48-point game against the Lakers to Bryant. Kobe praised the Blazers star as a rookie for his mental toughness and winning mindset. On his new track, Dame D.O.L.L.A. shouts-out the late Lakers icon and his late daughter and explains what Bryant meant to him as a baller.
"#8 was crazy. But, 24 was scary," D.O.L.L.A. raps, referencing Kobe's Lakers jersey numbers. "Respect his name or else he might show up as Bloody Mary. Won't forget the things he mentioned -- how to get a Larry. Whatever necessary, he tried to help prepare me."
"They tell us never look in the eyes of a killer. I did out of respect for the greatest at Staples Center. The closest thing to M.J. and no I ain't talking Thriller. It ain't an I in team but a me in it. Please remember, Bean."
As Dame D.O.L.L.A., Lillard has dropped three independent rap albums and worked with stars like Lil Wayne and Juvenile. Kobe has been a fixture in rap lyrics for years. Perhaps most notably, Lil Wayne released "Kobe Bryant" in 2009. Weezy performed the song at this year's BET Awards as a tribute to Bryant and Gigi.
Check out Dame D.O.L.L.A.'s "Kobe" below:
* HEADER CREDIT: Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers arrives for the game against the Los Angeles Lakers as he passes a sign to honor Kobe and Gigi Bryant at Staples Center on January 31, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)