Tonight, the Los Angeles Lakers officially retire each of Kobe Bryant's jersey numbers (8 and 24) that he wore during his legendary 20-year career. To celebrate, Nike released new versions of its iconic MVPuppets ad campaigns.
The ads, which first appeared back in 2009 during the NBA Playoffs, featured LeBron, Kobe, and their neighbor Lil Dez as puppet roommates in various situations centered around the "rivalry" between the two superstars that ranged from LeBron's infamous powder toss to Kobe getting on LeBron's case about his (at the time) zero championships.
Each of the new 30-second ad spots sees the two sitting on a beach alongside the newly retired number 8 and 24 jerseys. Kobe discusses what hobbies his jerseys will take up in retirement, little kids asking their uncles which Kobe was better, and lifting the burden off of LeBron of having to create two legacies for himself.
Nike is also releasing a special Air Force 1 to celebrate the jersey retirement as well with a black snakeskin upper (of course), and each of Kobe's numbers stitched on the left and right heel, respectively. Check out the three hilarious commercials below.
