Magic Johnson Remembers Kobe Bryant on 'Kimmel': 'He Went Way Too Early' - Watch Here!

Magic Johnson appeared on Tuesday’s (January 28) episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live! and opened up about his longtime friend, the late Kobe Bryant!

The fellow NBA star and now retired athlete didn’t cancel his appearance and instead appeared on the show because, as he explained it, “Kobe wouldn’t have want me to cancel.”

“Kobe would want us all to carry on and be great in our lives,” Johnson told Jimmy. “And we should do something positive, whether it’s making sure that we love our family or giving back to an organization in his name. We should do something great, because he was such a great man, great husband, great father, incredible basketball player.”

“For 20 years, to wear the Laker purple and gold. And love playing the game, and then to see him just become a great father and husband, and he was enjoying life and went way too early,” Magic continued.

As Kimmel noted of the two basketball stars (who both played for the Lakers, but never at the same time), “You were his idol. That’s something.”

“We idolized each other,” Magic assured – Watch the full interview here!

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