Los Angeles Lakers

Kobe Bryant congratulates Warriors on Twitter, calls himself 'vet's vet'

Published Jun. 17, 2015 2:00 p.m. ET

foxsports

There have been several generations of NBA young guns who have come and gone under the watchful eye of Los Angeles Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant. Every few years, a new batch of usurpers to his throne arises, and Bryant (at least lately) has been forced to watch someone else win his rings.

On Tuesday night, it was Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors who lifted the Larry O'Brien trophy. Bryant had voiced his belief earlier in the Finals that the Warriors were playing like they had a margin for error that didn't really exist. But with the championship clinched, Bryant congratulated Golden State on all the hard work while taking a moment to reflect on the passage of time:

When the players you've known since they were preteens beat the vet you've known since he was a teen #vetsvet #CongratsWarriors #ThisIsNOW
— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) June 17, 2015

For some people, such reflection might lead further down the road to retirement. For Bryant? Who knows? It might just be a kick in the butt that makes him want to score 60 the next time he sees Curry and the rest of the new NBA champions.

And lest anyone forget his own lengthy list of accomplishments, Bryant offered this on his Instagram account as a reminder: